Football
The men’s football team had themselves quite the year, finishing the 2016 regular season with an impressive 7-1 and ultimately becoming, Yates Cup Champions in a historic fourth quarter comback. In both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, the Hawks finished at 4-4. This year however, the Hawks stormed back to win the Yates Cup after being down 21 points in the second half to the Western Mustangs. This was the first time in 10 years that the Hawks were able to defeat the Mustangs. The Hawks were unable to advance to the Vanier Cup after dropping the Uteck Bowl to the eventual Vanier Cup champions the Laval Rouge et Or.
Football Awards
The victorious season from the Golden Hawk football team earned them some serious hardware in this year’s OUA awards. Head coach Michael Faulds headlined the awards by winning U- Sports Coach of the Year, he turned the football program around since his first year as bench boss four seasons ago with a 1-7 record this year finishing the season at 7-1 and becoming Yates Cup champions for the first time since 2005. Other notable awards for the Hawks included Godfrey Onyeka, Malcolm Thompson and Nakas Onyeka named U- Sports First Team All Canadians and Kwaku Boateng was named a Second Team All Canadian.
Alec Elliot
Laurier swimmer Alec Elliot got the chance to compete in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janerio; he had a strong showing and just missed the podium with a time of 58.35 in the 100 metre fly final.
Swimming
The Laurier swim team got off to an amazing start this season. Jasmine Raines and Kate Vanderbeek both took home five gold medals at the deBray Divisional Championships. Vanderbeek, a backstroke specialist, took home three gold medals in backstroke and another two in relay. Raines, a breaststroke specialist, won three events in her specialty and another two came paired with Vanderbeek in relay.
Justin Serresse
Justin Serresse has swiftly taken over the head coaching role for the men’s basketball team since he was hired this past May. Serresse took over as the new bench boss after long-time head coach Peter Campbell announced his retirement last season. Campbell, a Laurier fan favourite, was head coach of the program for an impressive 16 years. Seresse and the men’s basketball team have turned around from a shaky start and are now 5-4 and sit atop the OUA west division.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team is off to an impressive campaign heading into the winter break with a record of 7-2, good enough for second place in the OUA west division. The team has been led by Nicole Morrison and Kaitlyn Schenck who have a combined 295 points so far this season. The Hawks will look to continue their momentum after the break as they host Carleton on Jan. 6.
Golf
The golf team had a successful 2016 season that was highlighted with Austin Ryan taking home gold at the OUA golf championships, shooting back-to-back 69’s, giving him a combined score of four under par for the tournament. Eric Flockhart also had a solid season winning three consecutive gold medals.
Niklas Bauer
Niklas Bauer had himself quite the year as he led the men’s soccer team to host a playoff game this season. Bauer finished the regular season tied for first in OUA points with 19 and second in goals with 15. He also won OUA athlete of the week twice this season. Bauer, who took up the game when he was only fiveyears-old is hoping to one day fulfill his dream of playing professionally after graduation.