Gaiters’ season recap

The2022-2023 calendar years of sports at Bishop’s were eventful. The Gaiters’ positions in their respective leagues deserves a full recap.

The lacrosse team proved again to be a dominant force in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA), finishing league play 6-2, and subsequently knocking down Carleton University in a play-in game to clinch a spot to the Baggataway Cup for the second consecutive season. Matching up with Brock University, the team that defeated them the season prior, the Gaiters lost again in a neck-and-neck battle that went down to the final minutes, barely coming up short for a 7-8 loss.

The boys finished with an 8-4 record, and saw six members of the team being named All-Canadians. This included Jake Gasperetti, Karl Szabo, Antoine Tremblay, Max Naysmith, Sebastien Elie, and Hank ‘The TANK’ Wulder all receiving the honours. 11 players are graduating in the winter semester, leaving the team in the hands of young players who will need to be prepared to step into their new roles.

The varsity cheerleading team had a good year of competition where they put together notable performances. Michelle Garrison was named an RSEQ First Team All-Star alongside Olivia Rehman on the Second Team. Most of the team is returning, and they look to keep building and developing as a unit in the upcoming season.

The women’s soccer team struggled to scrape wins together, often finding themselves on the losing side of close matches. Bright spots were rookie Michaela Marenchin who was selected to the All-Rookie team, as well as Kyra Simons who was awarded the Leadership and Community Award. The award was an acknowledgement of her efforts off the field, namely her involvement in the Bishop’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Committee. Next year, with 10 incoming players already signed, the team looks to build, progress, and find more momentum in the win column.

Gaiters football lost in the semi-final matchup of the RSEQ, defeated by Mount Allison University to the bewilderment and shock of the home crowd, losing in dramatic fashion in the last minute of play. Left with a bitter taste in their mouths, the team has already begun training for the fall season, now with a new defensive coordinator.

To add to that note, Jake Kelly recently took part in the CFL Combine where he put on one of the best overall performances of all participants, posting the highest vertical jump and the fourth fastest 40-yard dash. A breakout athletic performance strengthened the reality of pursuing a professional career.

Women’s hockey has shown great development from last season, establishing themselves as serious competitors in only the program’s second year in USports. They went 12-13 in the conference, losing in the playoffs to Concordia, the defending national champions, and the runner-ups

Sherbrooke, Université de Montréal, and Université Laval. The team will look to continue to build upon last season in these spring training games and give the women a chance to play rugby while the weather permits before the end of the school year. These matches offered an interesting opportunity to play against these D3 schools, compare the difference between rugby in Canada versus the United States, and USports versus D3. Being just off the coast, the team will also be able to spend time down at the beach and explore Biddeford, a town home to one of the earliest European settlements in the 1600s. With the games taking place this weekend, we wish the women’s rugby team the best of luck in their games and hope they have a great time basking in the warmer weather and playing the sport they love. in 2023. Marie-Camille Théorêt and Neleh Vigneau Sargeant were selected as league All-Stars, along with Justine Turcotte and Regan Garreau on the All-Rookie Team. Dominic Desmarais was named the Coach of the Year in the RSEQ.

Men’s rugby put together another solid season in which they fell short by two points in the RSEQ Semi-Final to McGill University, the eventual league champions. Kyle Corrigan, Marshall Mather, Louis Millet, Jack Shaw, Matt Shufelt, and Jack Wallace were announced as FirstTeam All-Stars in the RSEQ. After the season, Jack Shaw was signed to play for Rugby ATL, of the Major League Rugby, where he has been playing thus far in 2023. Despite the graduation of major players, a skilled rookie class will look to help continue the team on a steady trajectory of success. Reigning Coach of the Year Nic Clapinson manages the team.

Concluding the year in February, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams put together strong seasons, seeing them make it to the RSEQ final. Unfortunately, both fell short to poised Université du Québec à Montréal squads.

The women went 15-3 on the year and were considered viable contenders at the national stage for the entirety of the season. Deborah Aboagye was named the Defensive Player of the Year, Jael Kabunda was named a Second Team All-Star, Victoria Gauna was named to the First Team, and Amaiquen Siciliano received her third league MVP award along with her third time being named as a First Team All-Canadian. First-year Head Coach Dianna Ros was also awarded, being named the RSEQ Coach of the Year.

The men finished the season 9-9 in Quebec, and showed great flashes of competitive spirit and talent. Étienne Gagnon was the Rookie of the Year in Quebec, and was also named to the All-Canadian Rookie Team. David Navarro was named to the RSEQ Rookie Team, and Charles-André Robert was named to the First All-Star Team.

The women, now with five players graduating, all of whom played big roles, will be looking to re-structure around their younger players that will carry the program for the next few years.

The men have some experience under their belt and only one graduate, so there is optimism and high hopes moving forward. Understanding their untapped potential, the team plans to spare no time continuing to grow and build during the off-season.

Gaiters athletics will be officially wrapping up the year next week as all student-athletes will be gathering for the end-of-year banquet. Gaiters golf will also be traveling to Komoka, Ontario on May 2 for the national tournament, where 4 RSEQ All-Star Gaiters will be competing in Landen Harison, Shawn Robillard, Michael Brazel, and Avery Mack. Looking into 2023-2024, Gaiter fans can undoubtedly be optimistic for an exciting year of sport at Bishop’s University.