Wilfrid Laurier University
GOLDEN HAWK NEWSLETTER
“Building Champions, Building Traditions”
Volume 13, Issue 1 Each year, I am amazed by the dedication and achievement of Laurier’s athletes. Wearing their purple and gold with Dr. Max Blouw pride, our athletes are true leaders who continue to inspire the entire Laurier community. Yet after their competition is finished, and after they hang up their jerseys, our Laurier athletes continue to inspire us. They apply their leadership values to making a difference in our communities – as students and as volunteers. This year our Laurier athletes enjoyed another successful season, punctuated by an outstanding performance from the women’s curling team, who won three gold medals in three months, as well as another provincial championship from the women’s hockey team. Cheerleading also continued to shine on the national stage as they won their fifth straight national championship. As we take our first strides into Laurier’s second century, we look forward to building on 100 years of past athletic traditions and celebrating new achievements. Thank you for your ongoing passion, commitment and contributions – you have helped to form the Laurier community that we are today. continued on page nine...
Fall 2012
Women lead charge for Hawks in 2011-12
Women’s curling made Laurier history in 2011-12 as they became the first women’s team to win consecutive national titles.
The 2011-12 athletic season was one that brought female student-athletes to the forefront of the University’s attention thanks to some significant onfield performances. From women’s curling capturing their second straight national championship to women’s soccer’s Alyssa Lagonia winning CIS Player of the Year honours, it was truly a special year for the Hawks’ female squads. While the women stood out in their respective sports, the Golden Hawks once again stood out as a whole in their success both on and off the field. 38 different Laurier student-athletes earned OUA All-Star honours while another eight were recognized as CIS All-Canadians. Hard work in the classroom also paid off as 52 athletes earned academic honours at the OUA and CIS level, with this success coming on the heels of research showing Laurier student-athletes regularly out-perform their non-athlete counterparts at Wilfrid Laurier. Here is a closer look at the headlines which played out over the course of the season. As was the case last season, the women’s curling team was the class of the Golden Hawks in 2011-12. Led by skip Laura Crocker, the Hawks started the year in Japan representing Team Canada at the Kariuzawa Internation Curling Championship. Playing against some of the best teams in the world, Laurier won a thrilling semifinal over Japan before dis-
Women’s hockey regained their familiar place on top of the OUA podium after a two-game sweep of Western.
posing of Switzerland in extra ends to win gold. In February, Laurier travelled to Guelph for the OUA Championships where they once again made it through to the gold medal game. Taking on Western, the women controlled the match from start to finish to win their third provincial title in five years. With two gold medals to their credit, the Hawks looked for the trifecta at the CIS/CCA Championship in March. After finishing first in the round robin, Laurier went right to the finals where they dominated the host Brock Badgers to become the first Laurier women’s team to win back-to-back CIS banners. Crocker, vice Sarah Wilkes, second Jenny Gates and lead Cheryl Kreviazuk all earned CIS AllCanadian honours while Maurice Wilson captured his second-straight CIS Coach of the Year Award. Coming off a disappointing 2010-11 campaign, the women’s hockey team was determined to regain their spot as one of the top programs in the country. With an incredibly deep and talented lineup, highlighted by OUA All-Stars Laura Brooker and Alicia Martin, Laurier steamrolled the competition during the regular season, losing just once, an overtime setback to the Guelph Gryphons. Their 25-0-1 record against OUA competition was good enough to help them earn the No. 1 ranking in the CIS for the first time since 2006. A new playcontinued on page 4...
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