Our process in grading the winter performances of Queen’s Interuniversity teams was highly unscientific. It is based quite simply on our perceptions of how each team performed, both in the regular season and playoffs, relative to their projected performances. The impressive results and high calibre of our teams made the grading process difficult. Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches and s who worked so hard to bring the University results to be proud of.
Men’s basketball
B-
The team followed up a promising 11-11 campaign last year with a drop to 6-16 this year. Having squeaked into the playoffs, however, the team showed great spirit in defeating U of T as heavy underdogs in the first round, and its lopsided second-round loss came against the formidable Carleton Ravens, the eventual national champions. The team also boasted one second-team OUA all-star in guard Simon Mitchell.
Women’s basketball
B+
The team finished with an 11-11 record—a small step backwards after finishing 13-9 the previous season—but did wins against nationally-ranked teams. The team managed a gutsy win against Carleton in the OUA quarter-final, but lost a heartbreaking semifinal to U of T on a buzzer-beating shot. Claire Meadows garnered OUA East all-star status, while Teddi Firmi was named to the OUA East
all-rookie team.
Men’s curling
A-
The men’s team had some excellent results this season, posting a 3-0 record at the Eastern Sectionals while its vice was at the junior nationals, and following it up with a 6-1 record at the Cross-Over tournament. They also managed a silver medal at the OUA championships after a close semifinal win and a championship loss to Laurier.
Women’s curling
A-
Queen’s came close to raising the OUA banner, losing a 9-8 nail-biter to the host Brock Badgers in the Ontario final. A 6-1 record at the Cross-Over tournament in Peterborough gave the team the momentum they needed to excel in their pursuit of an Ontario title.
Men’s fencing
B
As a team, men’s fencing finished in the middle of the pack, which is understandable after some top fencers graduated last year. The team did boast some impressive individual performances, though, most notably in the medals won by men’s foil captain Ryan Nelson and men’s team captain Zach Williams, also of foil. They were both named OUA all-stars.
Women’s fencing
B
The women’s team finished in the middle of its league, finishing fifth overall at the OUA championships. The team’s individual highlight came when Joanne Ko won her individual event, epee. She was awarded the Dr. Al English Women’s Epee Trophy, marking the fifth-straight year it has gone to a Queen’s fencer.
Figure skating
A+
The team continued its dominance of the figure skating scene in Ontario, capturing yet another OUA championship banner—its third straight. This impressive final result was bolstered by wins at the Queen’s Invitational and the Laurier Invitational, making the Gaels golden in every tournament they skated. An impressive six skaters were named to the OUA all-star team.
Men’s hockey
C+
Hockey began a new chapter under the direction of new head coach Kirk Muller, but had a rocky first season. The team looked competitive early in the season, but finished third of four teams in the weak OUA Mid East division at 7-15-1-1. The lone bright spot for the team came at the historic
Carr-Harris Cup when the Gaels overcame a two-goal deficit late in the game to a 4-3 win against RMC. Brady Olsen was the team’s offensive life, ranking first on the Gaels with 24 points and third in Ontario with 18 goals.
Women’s hockey
A-
The Gaels enjoyed another strong season, earning an impressive 14-8-2-0 record and gaining a bye to the OUA Final Four, winning their last five games of the season to secure that place. The team faltered slightly in the playoffs, however, losing the OUA semifinal and the bronze medal game by one goal each time. The team boasted two nominations to the OUA all-rookie team, and one of them—Victoria Kaufmann—was named OUA Rookie of the Year. Amanda Stenson was a second-team OUA all-star.
Nordic skiing
B-
The Gaels had a tough road to success this season, largely due to a lack of snow that hindered the team’s ability to train. Both the men and women earned strong personal results, and the women’s team managed a fourth-place finish at the OUA championships in Sudbury. The men’s team also had a good middle-ground showing, finishing sixth overall.
Men’s swimming
C
The men’s team was short-staffed at the OUA championships, entering only eight of an allowed 18 swimmers, but managed a ninth-place finish nonetheless. Adam MacLellan was the only men’s swimmer to qualify for the CIS championships, where he swam in the consolation finals in all three of his events. In the process, he broke long-established team records.
Women’s swimming
B
The Gaels posted their best results in some time. At the OUA championships, the team finished fifth overall, and proceeded to a 13th-place finish at the national championships. Katy Perry, the team’s captain, led the charge, hanging three OUA medals around her neck and making three separate finals at the national level. Brittany Segeren was the team’s other standout athlete, earning medals in tandem with Perry, and tly breaking the Queen’s records in all three breaskstroke events.
Track and field
A
The team had a superb showing at the CIS championships, earning three silver medals, breaking a Queen’s record, and having two athletes named as All-Canadians. Twenty Gaels qualified, marking the third-best total in Queen’s history. The team may well have been the best Queen’s squad of all time. They earned 155 total medals in competition, 20 more than the previous school-high total. The team also produced 69 all-time top-10 performances and eight Queen’s records. Finally, the team set 269 personal bests over the course of the year. When all was said and done, the men and women both finished fifth in Ontario with a total of seven OUA medals.
Men’s volleyball
A+
Men’s volleyball had a stellar season, improving on their last 34 years of competition in 2005-06. After winning the OUA title in a straight-set victory, Queen’s earned a fifth-place finish at the CIS championships, including their first two wins in CIS competition since 1972 and a consolation-final win. The Gaels have a second-team all-Canadian and first-team OUA all-star in setter Devon Miller, the OUA Libero of the Year in Steve Willis, and several of the OUA all-rookie team and second
all-star team.
Women’s volleyball
C
Women’s volleyball failed to earn a berth in the playoffs, finishing with a disappointing 5-14 record. It was a young team, however, and coach Chris Galbraith occasionally fielded an all-rookie lineup on the floor. The year got progressively tougher for the Gaels as fatigue and injuries set in. Individually, Amanda Digel was a second-team OUA all-star, and Sally Speake was a defensive stalwart with 58 blocks, good for second in the OUA. Seven more players will graduate this summer.
Men’s wrestling
D
The men finished last out of seven teams at the OUA championships, but did show progress as they nearly doubled their points earned over last year. Eric Bertrand had the best result for the men, finishing fourth in the heavyweight category. The remainder of the men’s competitors finished between fifth and seventh in their respective categories.
Women’s wrestling
B-
The women’s team featured captain Shannon Mullins front and centre. She was the lone qualifier for the CIS championships, where she finished sixth in the 55-kilogram category. Prior to that, she won the OUA silver medal and was named an OUA all-star. Katie Pasic finished sixth in the 59-kilogram category, while Shannon Westgarth finished fifth in the 72-kilogram category at the OUA championships.
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