SCHEDULE & STATS 2017-18 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
2016-17 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
DATE
OPPONENT
TIME
DATE
OPPONENT
SCORE
Fri. Oct. 27 Sat. Nov. 4 Sun. Nov. 5 Fri. Nov. 10 Fri. Nov. 17 Sat. Nov. 18 Sun. Nov. 26 Sat. Jan. 13 Sat. Jan. 14 Fri. Jan. 20 Sat. Jan. 21 Sat. Jan. 27
at Nipissing at RMC at Queen’s vs. Ryerson vs. Guelph vs. Waterloo vs. Trent vs. Queen’s vs. RMC at Ryerson at Toronto at Windsor
8pm 3pm 3pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 6pm 2pm 4pm 8pm 1pm 2pm
Fri. Nov. 4 Sat. Nov. 5 Sat. Nov. 12 Sat. Nov. 13 Sat. Nov. 19 Sat. Nov. 26 Sun. Nov. 27 Sat. Jan. 14 Sat. Jan. 15 Fri. Jan. 27 Sat. Jan. 28 Sat. Feb. 4
vs. Nipissing at McMaster at Ryerson at Toronto at Trent vs. Queen’s vs. RMC vs. Ryerson vs. Trent at Waterloo at Guelph at Nipissing
L L W W W W W L W W W W
3-0 3-0 3-0 3-2 3-0 3-1 3-1 3-2 3-0 3-1 3-0 3-1
Sun. Jan. 28 Fri. Feb. 9 Sun. Feb. 11 Fri. Feb. 16 Fri. Feb. 18 Sun. Feb. 25
at Western vs. Brock vs. McMaster vs. Nipissing at Trent vs. Toronto
3pm 8pm 4pm 8pm 6pm 4pm
Sat. Feb. 11 Sun. Feb. 12 Sat. Feb. 18 Sun. Feb. 19 Fri. Feb. 24 Sat. Feb. 25
at Brock vs. Toronto at Queen’s at RMC vs. Windsor vs. Western
W W W W W W
3-1 3-2 3-0 3-0 3-1 3-0
2016-17 PLAYOFF RESULTS DATE
OPPONENT
SCORE
Sat. Mar. 4
vs. Waterloo
L 3-1 #
# OUA Quarter-finals FINAL REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: 15-3 FINAL PLAYOFF RECORD: 0-1
2016-17 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
Name
SP
K/S
SA
B/S
A/S
D/S
PTS/S
9 4 2 5 7 1 3 10 16 13 6 14 11 12 17 15 8 18
Alex Duncan-Thibault Spencer Kingzett Toure Nwakwesi Spencer Dakin Kuiper Tim Jensen Andrew Shotbolt Robert Thompson Aleksander Grzegorczyk Adam Harner Logan Mend Amir Paknahad Owen Kerr Kirsten Duncan-Thibault Patrick Andula Davis Gordon Jules Muhawe Jade Cameron Patrick Jensen
62 48 52 52 34 37 53 20 2 57 15 10 7 4 16 61 53 26
4.50 2.17 1.48 1.40 1.50 1.62 1.25 1.15 0.5 0.60 0.73 0.50 0.71 0.25 0.25 0.00 0.02 0.00
23 4 10 7 4 5 10 3 1 15 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 1
1.16 0.40 1.06 0.92 0.56 0.24 0.43 0.25 0.50 0.47 0.13 0.40 0.00 0.50 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.16 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.06 0.08 0.17 0.10 0.00 10.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.25 0.39 0.23 0.04
1.08 1.19 0.50 0.58 0.68 0.81 1.06 0.65 1.50 1.61 0.53 0.40 0.43 1.00 1.06 2.20 1.00 0.62
5.7 2.5 2.4 2.2 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0
2
YORK LIONS
SEASON OUTLOOK A short playoff run notwithstanding, it was a magical season for the York Lions men’s volleyball team last year and one they are looking to recreate as they take to the court for the 2017-18 campaign. A season that began with uncertainty quickly morphed into a tremendous run for the squad. Coach Michael Wahbi was brought in just weeks before regular-season action began and the team started the year 0-2. But from that point on they lost just one more time in 16 matches, vaulting to the top of the OUA East with a 15-3 record. The year did not end in the way the Lions had hoped with a quarter-final exit, but they learned a lot from the experience and will use that as they embark on Wahbi’s second year at the helm. “The team really bought into a culture and a philosophy and it was a remarkable season,” Wahbi says about how the year unfolded. “We learned at the end, however, that the quarter-final match is one of the hardest to win. We prepared, but we played not to lose instead of playing to win and that caught up to us at the end. We are going into this year with a mindset that we can never prepare too much, and that we need to ignore everything else and just focus on the match in front of us.” The biggest change to the roster is the departure of OUA East player of the year Alex Duncan-Thibault, who graduated at the end of the season and is now playing professionally in Italy. However, most of the rest of the roster returns and is better than ever after last year’s run. “Our roster is deeper than last season. At any given point, someone can come into the match and make a key play, and that will impact the team in a positive fashion.” Six of the team’s eight leading scorers from last season make up a talented and balanced offensive attack. Leading the way is third-year middle blocker Toure Nwakwesi, who had a breakout sophomore campaign to earn OUA East second-team all-star honours. Fellow middle blocker Spencer Dakin Kuiper, as well as veteran outside hitters Tim Jensen, Andrew Shotbolt and Robert Thompson, are all coming off career seasons and will look to fill the void left by Duncan-Thibault. Running the offence will be fourth-year setter Logan Mend, who asserted himself last season as one of the best at his position in the conference. He earned OUA East firstteam all-star honours, led the conference in assists per set as the only player to average double digits and also contributed with 1.61 digs and 1.2 points per set. He spent
this summer playing on the beach, representing Canada at the U21 world championships in China and then suiting up for Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games, where he won bronze, and those experiences have only added to his already impressive arsenal. The offence will also get a boost from the return of outside hitter Tyler Covach, who did not play last year. The last time he was on the court with the Lions, in 2015-16, he ranked second in team scoring and among the OUA’s top 20 with 3.1 points per set. The libero position will be anchored by Jules Muhawe, who was second in the OUA last year with 2.2 digs per set. Added to this group is an exciting rookie class that features talent across all positions, including middle blockers Andriy Sozanskyy and Alexandre Rioux, outside hitter Andrew Tauhid, libero Andrew Jones and Queen’s transfer Michael Sherbut, a setter. All of this talent has Wahbi and his team dreaming big about what might be possible this season. “I would love to be in an OUA final and I don’t think there is any reason we can’t be there. My expectation is to get to the final weekend, and then anything can happen when you are at the show!” As the Lions learned last year, it will take a lot of hard work to get to where they want to be. But if they play the way they are capable of and use last year’s experience as a learning opportunity, the sky is the limit for this team.
We are going into this year with a mindset that we can never prepare too much, and that we need to ignore everything else and just focus on the match in front of us. MICHAEL WAHBI , HEAD COACH
2017-18 VOLLEYBALL
3
HEAD COACH MICHAEL WAHBI HEAD COACH Michael Wahbi joined the Lions coaching staff in 2016, returning to his alma mater and a team that he previously coached for six years. He was the interim coach for the 2016-17 season and then named the head coach for the 2017-18 campaign. In his debut season as the helm, Wahbi led a tremendous turnaround in which the Lions won six more games than the previous year to finish in first place in the OUA East. He was named the division’s coach of the year at the end of the season, York’s first recipient in 19 years.
Blues from 2011-14, and before that coaching with the Lions from 2004-10. He is also the director of the Waves Volleyball Club in Etobicoke, the newest high-performance club within the Ontario Volleyball Association. Wahbi’s other coaching roles have included serving as the head coach of the Pakmen U18 Black team (2015-16), the 14U Pakmen team that won the OVA silver medal in 2013 and the Region 5 Summer Games team that won the bronze medal in 2010. He was also an assistant coach to Jeff Chung for the gold-medal winning U19 Team Ontario team in 2012. Wahbi, who is currently completing Level 4/5 of the Advanced Coaching Diploma Program with the Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario, graduated from York in 2002 with his honours degree in sociology. He is also a health and physical education teacher in Etobicoke.
He has coached volleyball at the university, club and high school levels for the past 15 years. His varsity tenure includes serving as the lead assistant coach with the Toronto Varsity
4
YORK LIONS
ASSISTANT COACHES JOHN LUU
SAM SCHACHTER
ASSISTANT COACH
ASSISTANT COACH
Jon Luu joined the Lions coaching staff in 2016. He previously played for the George Brown Huskies, where he made the OCAA all-rookie team and was honoured with the school’s rookie of the year award. He is currently also a student at York pursuing his degree in kinesiology and health science.
DAVID TA ASSISTANT COACH
Dave Ta joins the Lions’ coaching staff in 2017, bringing a combined 20+ years of experience in playing and coaching the sport of volleyball to athletes of all ages and abilities. As a NCCP Trained – Performance Coach, he was recently selected to work with the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) in their High Performance Regional Program and previous to that he was an assistant coach for the Region 5 Ontario Summer Games boys’ team.
Sam Schachter, a former Laurier graduate, OUA rookie of the year, and CIS first-team all-rookie team member, will be joining the Lions as an assistant coach for 2017-18 season. Prior to his recruitment to Laurier, Schachter was a Region 5 Ontario Games gold medalist and won a bronze medal with his 18U club team at the national championships. Schachter was awarded rookie of the year with the Golden Hawks, and enjoyed two outstanding seasons before switching to a full-time career on the FIVB world beach volleyball tour, where he’s earned multiple medals and participated in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Schachter and his partner are currently ranked 10th in the world on the FIVB Tour and are two-time Canadian national champions. Schachter also owns and operates On2 Volleyball, a business geared to coaching high-level beach volleyball players with competitive aspirations.
Ta is currently the head coach of REACH Volleyball Club’s 17U Boys, where he successfully led his team to a secondplace finish in the province for their inaugural season. He is also completing his NCCP Level 3 Volleyball Canada Performance Coach Accreditation.
GRANT LYNCH ASSISTANT COACH
Grant Lynch is serving as a student coach with the Lions this season while continuing his studies in the engineering program. He previously spent two years as a middle blocker with the Lions from 2014-16, appearing in 21 matches and 59 sets.
PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
YORK LIONS
BRUCE NGUYEN – TEAM MANAGER BRIAN RICHARD – HEAD STUDENT THERAPIST CATHY SALVO – ASSISTANT STUDENT THERAPIST 2017-18 VOLLEYBALL
5
OFFICIAL PARTNER Luxury Student living located at York University Campus opening in August 2017
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Limited number of units left. Apply today to guarantee your room this fall. For more information call 647-360-2273 or check out our website at quadatyork.ca.
YORK LIONS
PLAYER PROFILE ROB THOMPSON
BY STELLA ISAAC Rob Thompson is a fourthyear human resources, business commerce major (don’t worry, he might return next year) and is the co-captain of the York University men’s volleyball team. Changing positions three times throughout his York career and finally settling on left-side hitter, Thompson is a veteran when it pertains to surmounting challenges in volleyball, which he claims is very much a mental sport.
He was in the seventh grade when he started playing volleyball at a competitive level. He was “the athletic guy” in his elementary school. He was good at basketball and better at volleyball. That year, at 13 years old, Thompson joined the Vaughan Wolf Pack, a volleyball team for youth as young as 14 years old. With the encouragement of his older brother, who played for the same team but an older age category, Thompson tried out for the team and made it. During his first tournament, Thompson was a setter. “I will never forget this game,” he said. “Every time the other team served, I got called for a lift. We lost 25-2.”
Although Thompson went from being the best player at his school to being the last pick for pickup-up games with his new team, he continued to work hard, acknowledging that life is full of challenges, and persevered through the humbling experience. That same year, he improved greatly and won many accolades including most valuable player and most improved player. It is with this background and experience that Thompson currently leads the Lions. “If someone would have told me after that game that I would be captain of the York volleyball team, leading 18 men, I wouldn’t have believed it.” As captain, Thompson tries to ensure that he can help his teammates play at their optimal level on the court. It is also crucial, as Thompson says, that every player on the team realizes that they are “one team, one family.” Thompson says that this sense of cohesion contributes to a strong team. “I want to ensure that everyone who goes on the court, comes off the court.” Thompson has come a long way from that kid who ‘lifted’ his team to a 25-2 loss to the captain of a team that finished first in the OUA East last season and was the most improved team in the conference. The left-side hitter understands that volleyball is a journey and he encourages his teammates to “trust the journey and trust the process behind the journey.”
Thompson felt like giving up. He had even asked his coach and later mentor, Anthony Niro, if he could bump the ball instead. “No,” Niro told him. “This is going to make you grow.” This, as Thompson said, was his first big challenge. “I told myself, ‘you can give up and take the easy route or you can work hard.”
GETTING TO KNOW JOSIAH If you were a superhero, what super powers would you have? Wolverine’s regenerative healing power What is your favourite movie? The Love Guru If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken and pasta with no sauce If you weren’t a volleyball player, what sport would you play? Basketball
2017-18 VOLLEYBALL
7
THE PLAYERS 8
JADE CAMERON
• A hard-working player who brings energy to the team • Four-time volleyball team MVP in high school • Won ROPSSAA championship in 2013
LIB • 6’0 • 175 • 5th Year
OH • 6’5 • 185 • 3rd Year
Kinesiology & Health Science Mississauga, Ont. St. Joan of Arc C.H.S.
Physics Kitchener, Ont. Preston H.S.
Year SP 2013-14 34 2014-15 16 2015-16 42 2016-17 53 Total 145
Year SP 2014-15 18 2015-16 77 Total 95
A 3 4 8 12 27
D 23 13 45 53 134
SA 3 0 1 0 4
PTS 4 0 1 1 6
KIRSTEN DUNCAN-THIBAULT
OH • 6’4 • 180 • 2nd Year Mathematics for Commerce Scarborough, Ont. E.S. Etienne Brule
11
TIM JENSEN
OH • 6’4 • 195 • 5th Year Finance Business & Economics Hamilton, Ont. St. Jean de Brebeuf C.S.S.
Year SP 2013-14 24 2014-15 14 2015-16 40 2016-17 34 Total 112
8
K D 11 8 8 9 39 33 51 23 109 73
B 3 1 19 19 42
PTS 13.5 9.5 53 66 142
K D 13 19 200 118 213 137
B 0 30 30
• Returns to the line-up after missing all of last season • Finished second in team scoring, kills per set and digs per set in most recent year with the Lions • Has a dynamic arm swing and a high volleyball IQ • Previously attended the U18 Team Ontario high performance camp
PTS 15 239 254
Mathematics for Commerce Binbrook, Ont. Bishop Ryan C.S.S.
10
• The team’s top rookie scorer last year • Has exceptional passing skills and good court vision • Played for the MAC volleyball club along with fellow Lions rookie Patrick Jensen • Earned high school volleyball team MVP honours in each of the last two years
Year SP K D B PTS 2016-17 20 23 13 5 30.5 Total 20 23 13 5 30.5
7 • Team co-captain • Tied for fifth in team scoring and fourth in kills per set last year • A left-handed hitter who has a mechanical mind for the game • Was a multisport athlete in high school and won multiple tournaments with volleyball team • Older brother of Lions libero Patrick
ANDREW JONES
LIB • 5’11 • 180 • 1st Year Kinesiology & Health Science Newmarket, Ont. Sir William Mulock S.S.
SPENCER DAKIN KUIPER
Geography Lethbridge, Alta. Chinook H.S.
K 0 73 73
D 0 30 30
B 1 48 49
PTS 1 112.5 113.5
PATRICK JENSEN
LIB • 6’0 • 175 • 2nd Year
5
• Two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian • Ranked third on the team in blocks per set last year and was fourth in scoring • A hard-working middle blocker who leads by example • Spent two seasons with the College of the Rockies Avalanche in the CCAA, earning team and conference academic excellence awards
M • 6’6 • 190 • 5th Year
Year SP 2015-16 2 2016-17 52 Total 54
ALEKSANDER GRZEGORCZYK
• A strong right side hitter with an arm like a whip • Played for the Scarborough Titans volleyball club • Four-time volleyball team MVP in high school • Younger brother of former OUA East MVP OH • 6’3 • 180 • 2nd Year Alex
Year SP K D B PTS 2016-17 7 5 3 0 5 Total 7 5 3 0 5
11
TYLER COVACH
18 • A versatile defensive player with exceptional ball control • Played for the MAC volleyball club with Lions teammate Aleksander Grzegorczyk • Younger brother of team co-captain Tim
Business & Society Hamilton, Ont. St. Jean de Brebeuf C.S.S.
Year SP A D SA PTS 2016-17 26 1 16 1 1 Total 26 1 16 1 1
13 • A physically strong athlete with great court vision • Represented Jamaica on the U19 national team at a NORCECA tournament • Helped high school team win two York Region championships and was a two-time York Region all-star • Won provincial and national medals with Aurora Storm club team • Father, Paul, and uncle, Mark, are former York basketball players and are both in the York Sport Hall of Fame • Sister, Justine, is a member of the Lions women’s volleyball team
LOGAN MEND
S • 6’5 • 215 • 4th Year Humanities Naramata, B.C. Penticton S.S.
Year SP 2014-15 32 2015-16 74 2016-17 57 Total 163
K 5 23 34 62
A D PTS 43 15 12 675 87 65 574 92 66 1292 194 143
12 • OUA East first-team all-star • Led the OUA with 10.07 assists per set, the only player to average double digits • Represented Canada at the U21 world beach championships in China and won a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games this past summer • Has an excellent volleyball IQ and fantastic set distribution • A former member of the BC U17 provincial team • Two-time athlete of the year in high school and earned first-team all-star honours at provincial championships
YORK LIONS
THE PLAYERS 15
JULES MUHAWE
LIB • 5’11 • 170 • 4th Year
Commerce, Management Orleans, Ont. College Catholique Samuel-Genest
Year SP 2014-15 55 2015-16 66 2016-17 61 Total 182
K 0 0 0 0
A 20 24 24 68
TOURE NWAKWESI
• Led the Lions and was tied for second in the OUA in digs per set • Won the Ontario Winter Games silver medal with club team • Won three straight city championships with high school team and reached OFSAA final in 2012 M • 6’7 • 220 • 3rd Year • Three-time high school Law & Society volleyball team MVP Brampton, Ont. Mayfield S.S
Year SP 2015-16 6 2016-17 52 Total 58
D PTS 108 0 139 2.5 134 0 381 2.5
ALEXANDRE RIOUX
18
K 9 77 86
D 2 26 28
B 3 55 58
PTS 11.5 127 138.5
M • 6’3 • 175 • 1st Year
S • 6’1 • 180 • 2nd Year
Psychology Ottawa, Ont. E.S.C. Franco-Cite
• OUA East secondteam all-star • Appeared in every match and ranked third in team scoring and eighth in the OUA in total blocks • An athletic, hardworking middle blocker • Is very explosive at the net and has great jumping abilities • Won U16 national championship with Pakmen volleyball club • Reached three straight ROPSSAA finals with high school teaM
MICHAEL SHERBUT
• An undersized middle blocker who reads the play well • Has a rapid arm swing • Spent six years with the Ottawa Mavericks club team
Business Economics Calgary, Alta. Rundle College Senior H.S. / Queen’s University
2
16
• Spent one season with the Queen’s Gaels as a back-up setter • A calm and collected setter who runs a systematic offence and has great leadership qualities • Won multiple Alberta provincial medals with club teams • Former member of the Alberta provincial beach team
Year SP K A D PTS 2015-16* 5 0 6 0 0 Total 5 0 6 0 0 * With the Queen’s Gaels
ANDRIY SOZANSKYY
M • 6’5 • 185 • 1st Year Kinesiology & Health Science Mississauga, Ont. Bishop Allen Academy
17
• An intelligent middle blocker who provides a lethal middle attack and is a dangerous server • Spent four seasons with the Pakmen club team, winning four provincial medals including a gold in 2016, and won a national silver medal in 2017 • Helped high school team win the OFSAA bronze medal in 2014
2017-18 VOLLEYBALL
ANDREW TAUHID
OH • 6’2 • 170 • 1st Year Law & Society Toronto, Ont. Agincourt C.I.
14
• An incredible jumper who can score at will • Spent two seasons with Team Ontario and won National Team Challenge Cup in 2015 • Won provincial bronze and national silver with Pakmen club team in 2017 • Won provincial title and earned OVA all-star honours with Scarborough Titans in 2016 • Helped high school team win the OFSAA championship in 2015
AMIR PAKNAHAD
6
• An explosive right side who is a disciplined blocker • Played for the Galaxy volleyball club • Was high school volleyball team captain and earned team MVP honours OH • 6’5 • 188 • 2nd Year Kinesiology & Health Science North York, Ont. Brebeuf College School
Year SP K D SA PTS 2016-17 15 11 8 4 16 Total 15 11 8 4 16
ANDREW SHOTBOLT
OH • 6’2 • 170 • 3rd Year Human Resources Management Markham, Ont. Bill Crothers S.S.
Year SP 2015-16 10 2016-17 37 Total 47
K 10 60 70
D 4 30 34
SA 0 5 5
PTS 10 70.5 80.5
ROBERT THOMPSON
OH • 6’2 • 180 • 4th Year Mathematics for Commerce Maple, Ont. St. Jean de Brebeuf C.S.S.
Year SP 2014-15 56 2015-16 13 2016-17 53 Total 122
K 1 0 66 67
D 14 5 56 75
B 0 0 23 23
PTS 3 0 90 93
1
• Tied for fifth in team scoring last year • Has quality passing skills and exceptional jumping ability • Won the OFSAA championship with high school team in 2014 • Won the U16 provincial silver medal, silver at western national championships and bronze at eastern national tournament with Markham Stingers club team • Sister, Lindsay, is a member of the Lions women’s basketball team
3
• Team co-captain • Ranked seventh in team scoring and third in service aces • A steady ball handler with exceptional jumping ability • Won U17 Ontario championship with club team in 2013 • Won gold medal in beach volleyball at Ontario Summer Games • Earned York Region volleyball all-star honours in 2014 with high school team
9
HISTORY U SPORTS / CIS AWARDS U SPORTS / CIS BRONZE MEDALS 1988-89
U SPORTS / CIS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2014-15 – Josh Henderson
U SPORTS / CIS FIRST-TEAM ALL-CANADIANS 2016-17 – Alex Duncan-Thibault 2014-15 – Ray Szeto 2012-13 – Ray Szeto 1988-89 – Bill Knight
U SPORTS / CIS SECOND-TEAM ALL-CANADIANS 2015-16 – Arthur Szwarc 2013-14 – Ray Szeto 2003-04 – Darren Goss 2002-03 – Mingo Miguel 1997-98 – Richard Van Huizen 1993-94 – Dexter Abrams 1989-90 – Dexter Abrams 1988-89 – Dexter Abrams 1983-84 – Dave Samek 1981-82 – Dave Chambers
U SPORTS / CIS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM 2014-15 – Josh Henderson 2013-14 – Nicolas Pirnat
OUA AWARDS OUA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
OUA FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
2004-05, 1993-94, 1992-93, 1988-89, 1981-82, 1980-81, 1979-80, 1973-74, 1972-73
2016-17 – Alex Duncan-Thibault, Logan Mend 2015-16 – Arthur Szwarc 2014-15 – Ray Szeto 2013-14 – Ray Szeto 2012-13 – Ray Szeto 2006-07 – Ryan Anderson 2004-05 – Ryan Anderson, Jason Kinoshita 2003-04 – Darren Goss, Ryan Anderson 2002-03 – Mingo Miguel 2001-02 – Ben Smyth 2000-01 – Mingo Miguel 1998-99 – Paul Costantinou, Duane Lunn 1997-98 – Joel Jansen, Richard Van Huizen 1996-97 – Joe Kupina, Richard Van Huizen 1995-96 – Djordje Ljubicic, Richard Van Huizen 1994-95 – Djordje Ljubicic, Glen Smith 1993-94 – Dexter Abrams, Djordje Ljubicic 1992-93 – Dexter Abrams, Djordje Ljubicic, Glen Smith 1991-92 – Adrian Adore, Djordje Ljubicic
OUA BRONZE MEDALS 2014-15
OUA EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016-17 – Alex Duncan-Thibault
LIBERO OF THE YEAR 2006-07 – Rob Dyba
OUA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2014-15 – Josh Henderson 1999-00 – Simon Van Bommel
DALE IWANOCZKO SPORTSMAN AWARD 2016-17 – Alex Duncan-Thibault 2013-14 – Greg Ivan 2011-12 – Karim Khalil 2002-03 – Mingo Miguel
OUA COACH OF THE YEAR 2016-17 – Michael Wahbi 1997-98 – Wally Dyba 1996-97 – Wally Dyba
1990-91 – Dexter Abrams, Adrian Adore 1989-90 – Dexter Abrams, Adrian Adore 1988-89 – Dexter Abrams, Bill Knight, Jacob Wiktorek 1987-88 – Bruce Dunning 1986-87 – Tony Martino 1985-86 – Alex Ketrvynsky, Dave Samek, John Spicker 1984-85 – Steve Burtch, Dave Samek 1983-84 – Dave Samek, Walter Zanel 1982-83 – Steve Burtch, Dave Chambers, John May 1981-82 – Mark Ainsworth, Dave Chambers, John May, Dave Samek 1980-81 – Mark Ainsworth, Dave Chambers 1979-80 – Mark Ainsworth, Dave Chambers, Lino Girardo 1978-79 – Mark Ainsworth
OUA SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS 2016-17 – Toure Nwakwesi 2014-15 – Josh Henderson 2013-14 – Greg Ivan 2012-13 – Felipe HumanaParedes
2008-09 – Reid Hall 2007-08 – Reid Hall 2006-07 – Paul Podstawka 2005-06 – Ryan Anderson, Sholan Trivedi 2003-04 – Daniel Bache 2002-03 – Darren Goss 2001-02 – Darren Goss, Mingo Miguel 2000-01 – Darren Goss, Jamal Thomas 1999-00 – Duane Lunn, Simon Van Bommel 1997-98 – Paul Constantinou, Steve Mackey, Andrew Sulatycki 1995-96 – Joe Kupina
OUA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM 2014-15 – Josh Henderson 2013-14 – Nicolas Pirnat 2011-12 – Marko Dakic 2010-11 – Ray Szeto 2009-10 – Marvin Macalino 2007-08 – Tom Podstawka 2005-06 – Adam Podstawka 2004-05 – Paul Podstawka, Sholan Trivedi
YORK AWARDS YORK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
CHARLES SAUNDERCOOK AWARD
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
1992-93 – Dexter Abrams
2001-02 – Mingo Miguel 1991-92 – James Dalziel 1978-79 – Larry Simpson
2015 – Djordje Ljubicic 2011 – Dexter Abrams 2008 – John May 2005 – Mark Ainsworth 2002 – Dave Chambers
YORK ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2014-15 – Josh Henderson
10
YORK LIONS
JOIN THE PRIDE York University’s student-athletes have been competing against rival institutions on the Canadian sports scene for over 40 years. Provincial and national team titles, combined with numerous athletes and coaches who have participated on many of Canada’s national teams, attest to the success of York’s varsity program. Since the inception of organized sports competition in 1965, York has won 173 provincial banners and 36 national titles. Athletics & Recreation offers 19 varsity sport teams that compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The varsity sport teams are guided by a tremendous coaching staff that is composed of NCCP certified professionals, many of whom also hold leadership positions in provincial and national sport organizations. The staff includes more than 100 dedicated full-time and part-time coaches.
ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT At York, we understand that academic and financial support are significant keys to success at the university level and we have a number of programs in place to provide all the support necessary for student-athletes to thrive.
PROVIDING ATHLETES WITH WINNING STRATEGIES (PAWS) Athletics & Recreation has placed the highest priority on supporting its student-athletes in all facets of university life, focusing specifically on helping foster success in the classroom. The PAWS Program provides tutoring across multiple subjects for all students, mentoring from senior student-athletes, academic advising through our academic services coordinator and many of our faculty, and access to our vast network of alumni.
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS York University is committed to helping students with demonstrated financial need meet the direct education costs associated with university studies (tuition, books and mandatory course fees). Financial assistance can be provided from a variety of sources including OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, private awards and employment. Athletics & Recreation understands the importance of providing Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) to entering student-athletes and has developed a number of awards, valued at $22,500 each ($4,500 per year up to five years). These awards are given annually to elite student-athletes that have achieved an 80% entering average and maintain a 6.0 grade point average.
Programs are created for both in-season and off-season workouts. Every training session is designed for the needs of the athlete and individual sport. The training phase and focus changes throughout the year and are based on the competition schedule and off-season periodization program. The strength and conditioning coaches also work closely with the athletic therapy group on rehabilitating injured players. All Lions have access to the varsity strength and conditioning centre, which is for the exclusive use of our student-athletes. Training here allows you to work in a high-performance environment where all equipment and programming is selected with the needs of the high-performance athlete in mind.
SPORT INJURY CLINIC The Gorman/Shore Sport Injury Clinic features a full staff of athletic therapists and team doctors with significant experience in the medical field, and many of the doctors are recognized as some of the top experts in the country in their specific fields. In addition to sport medicine physicians, York employs a large variety of specialists including an orthopedic surgeon, dentist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, cardiologist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, osteopath, pedorthist and a mental health specialist. The team brings to York experience at multiple Olympic Games and world championships, as well as with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports. The sport injury clinic is a teaching clinic, with students from York University’s Athletic Therapy Certificate Program completing their clinical placements under the direct supervision of the clinic manager and supervisor. Because of this, most medical care for student-athletes is free of charge. Each varsity team is assigned at least one student athletic therapist who spends the entire season with the team and attends all practices and games. Lions student-athletes also have access to a fully-equipped clinic for all of their treatment needs.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING York University is one of only a handful of institutions in Canada that has two dedicated strength and conditioning coaches for its student-athletes. The Lions work closely with strength and conditioning staff, who create programs based on the needs of the athlete and coaches on high-performance lifts and movements. Team and individual workouts are available and education on all aspects of strength and conditioning is provided, including proper warm-ups and cool-downs, plyometrics, power, energy systems development, strength and flexibility.
2017-18 VOLLEYBALL
11
LIONS GEAR
TICKETS
SUPPORT YOUR LIONS! For your Official York Lions merchandise, visit the Pride Shop, located in the lobby of the Tait McKenzie Centre. Check out our exciting and new 2017-18 selection.
YORK STUDENTS FREE With the presentation of a valid YU-card at the door for all regular-season home games. Adults $10.50 Alumni/York Staff $7.50 Seniors (over 55) $7.50 Non-York Students $7.50 Youth (under 13) Free Family Pass $40.00 Prices include taxes and $0.50 service fee. Group rates available for 10 or more paying guests. Email carusso@yorku.ca for details.
yorkulions.ca/tickets
GET FIT AT TAIT! Are you spending the time in the gym but not getting the results that you desire? Are you a beginner or getting back into fitness and don’t know where to start? Do you want to make the best use of your limited available workout time? Campus Recreation staff are all certified personal trainers.
Wear RED
at select games and you could win!
Live entertainment, themed nights, surprise giveaways, food trucks and much more await you at a York Lions event!