The York University Lions wrestling team took to the mats at the 2019 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) wrestling championships in Guelph, Ont., at the Gryphons Athletic Centre on Saturday. As a team, the Lions achieved seven top-five finishes, but it was Shevonne Witter-Watts who shone the brightest as he brought home the silver medal in the men’s 57-kg category.
Witter-Watts defeated Francesco Fortino of the McMaster Marauders in a tight match 17-15 to advance to the gold medal final. In the final, he met up with Ligrit Sadiku of the perennial powerhouse Brock Badgers and lost by a score of 11-0 to wind up in the silver medal position. The medal at the conference finals is a first for second-year wrestler Witter-Watts, as he finished in fourth place in his rookie season last year. More details on the York Lions website.
Lions defend home turf at York Open, Crew sets new school record in weight throw
It was a successful weekend for the York University Lions track and field team at the 48th annual York Open at the Toronto Track & Field Centre, where they earned 10 podium finishes.
Thrower Brittany Crew led the way with a new school record of 19.80m in the weight throw, erasing her own record of 19.38m she set in 2015. The mark leaves her as the No. 1-ranked thrower in U SPORTS, and she’s on track for another dominant season at the OUA and U SPORTS championships. She also continued her dominance in the shot put event, winning with a throw of 17.16m.
On the track, the York Lions relay teams had a dominant meet, with the 4x200m women’s relay team of Mikeisha Bobb, Christy Ihunaegbo, Marvelous Agbonwaneten and Diana Boa winning gold in a time of 1:42:42, which is a new season’s best. The men’s 4x200m relay team of Daniele Orsini, Mark Hutchinson, Tohma Van Bergen and Quinn Charles also won the gold, with a time of 1:31:71. The Lions “B” team of Brandon Shokour, Demari Grant, Majeed Zabsonere and Sodiq Ibrahim won the bronze medal in a time of 1:33:77. More details.
Lions pick up big win on road over Lancers
The York University Lions women’s hockey team picked up a big win on Saturday as they defeated the University of Windsor Lancers 3-1 at the Windsor Arena in Windsor, Ont., on Feb. 2.
In the first period of the game, neither team was able to get a goal past the other. The Lancers were able to get 10 shots on goal against the Lions; however, they were all saved by York’s goaltender Eva Hall. The Lions were able to get eight shots on goal against the Lancers, but they too were unable to get to the back of the Lancers’ net. More details.
Lions defeat Paladins 3-0 at Tait
The York University women’s volleyball team defeated the Royal Military College Paladins 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Tait Mackenzie Centre.
The Lions cruised through three sets to earn their seventh win this season and are now sitting in fourth place with seven games left in the regular season.
The Lions led the Paladins through the first two sets, taking the first set 25-16. Despite the Paladins’ lead at the start of the first set, the Lions earned seven consecutive points to pick up a large 9-3 lead. The Lions entered the midway break with a 10-point lead, 16-6, and won the set after a kill by Sarah Williams. More details.
On Sunday afternoon, the Lions were defeated 3-1 by the Queen’s University Gaels at the Tait Mackenzie Centre. The Gaels topped the Lions in the first two sets; however, a strong third set by the Lions forced the game into a fourth set. Despite a comeback attempt by the Lions, the Gaels took the final set to win the game 3-1.
The Lions opened the match leading the Gaels with a kill by middle Aleksandra Steins. The Gaels led the Lions 2-1 shortly after and maintained their lead throughout the set. By the mid-set break, the Gaels were leading 16-11, but the Lions nearly tied the game with four consecutive points, trailing 18-16 near the end of the set. Despite a strong attempt by the Lions, the Gaels took the first set 25-19. More details.
Comeback in third set leads Lions to defeat Paladins 3-0
The York University men’s volleyball team defeated the Royal Military College Paladins 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Tait Mackenzie Centre.
The Lions made a big comeback in the third set, from a six-point deficit to defeating the Paladins in straight sets. The Lions are sitting in fourth place in the OUA East standings, with a 5-6 record with seven games left in the regular season.
The Lions sailed through the first two sets, hardly giving the Paladins the chance to lead. In the first set, the Lions entered the mid-set break with a 16-11 lead. Andrew Shotbolt earned the final kill to end the set with a 25-16 win. More details.
The next day, the Lions were defeated 3-2 after five sets by the Queen’s University Gaels on Sunday afternoon at the Tait Mackenzie Centre.
The Lions jumped out to a 2-1 lead over the No. 9 Gaels, but Queen’s came back and won the last two sets to defeat the Lions. The Gaels are sitting in first place in the OUA East standings with a 12-3 record, while the Lions remain in fourth place with a 5-7 record.
The Gaels had a strong first set, leading the Lions 16-9 by the mid-set break. The Lions managed to cut the large lead to just four points, 24-20; however, the Gaels earned the final point to take the set 25-20. More details.
Lions defeated by Gaels on Friday night
The York University men’s basketball team was defeated 111-71 by the Queen’s University Gaels on Friday evening at the Athletics & Recreation Centre in Kingston, Ont.
The Gaels had a strong game against the Lions and controlled the glass throughout the game by out-rebounding York 47-29. The Lions did a good job getting the free throw line throughout the game, making 24 out of 34 free throws (70.6 per cent).
The Lions were quick to lead the Gaels 7-4 in the first quarter after a steal by Somto Dimanochie led Prince Kamunga to nail a three-pointer. Four minutes into play, the Lions continued to lead the Gaels; however, after a jump shot by DeAndrae Pierre, the Gaels tied the game 11-11 after sinking a three-pointer. The Gaels made a free throw to lead the Lions by one point and maintained their lead to end the quarter 24-16. More details.
Lions topped by Gaels on Road
The York University women’s basketball team competed against the Queen’s University Gaels and fell 80-64 at the Athletics & Recreation Centre in Kingston, Ont.
The Gaels picked up a seven-point lead on the Lions midway through the first quarter. Despite the deficit, the Lions added eight consecutive points to lead the Gaels 15-14. Lauren Golding made a jump shot to increase the Lions’ lead on the Gaels. The Gaels nearly tied the game, but one last jumper by Haley Bowie allowed the Lions to lead the Gaels 19-18 by the end of the first quarter. More details.
Lions topped by Blues in Monday matinee game
The York University Lions men’s hockey team lost 6-1 against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Monday, Jan. 28 in a matinee game at the University of Toronto.
In the first period of the game, the Blues’ Joey Manchurek scored the first goal of the game at 5:31 with an assist from Justin Brand and Matt Campagna. Ten minutes later, Manchurek scored again with an assist from Aidan Wallace and Willy Paul. The Blues led 2-0 after the first 15 minutes until the Lions responded at 18:58 with their first goal from Sal Filice, with captain Scott Feser and Justin Bean picking up assists. More details.
On Friday, the Lions lost 5-3 against the University of Windsor Lancers during an away game in Windsor, Ont.
In the first period of the game, the Lions had 12 shots on goal against the Lancers. York was able to capitalize off one of the dozen shots, at 7:26, when Justin Bean scored the first goal of the game. That goal was assisted by Morgan Messenger, his 12th assist of the season, and Stefano Pezzetta, his seventh assist of the season. The Lancers were able to shoot seven shots on goal, but none were able to find the back of York’s net. More details.
On Sunday night, the Lions finished off a busy week by losing 3-1 against the Brock University Badgers during a home game at Canlan Ice Sports.
In the first period of the game, neither team was able to secure a goal, though York was able to produce 11 shots and the Badgers were able to fire 10 shots on goal against the Lions.
The Badgers started off the second period of the game with an unassisted goal from Brody Silk at 17:16. With minutes to spare in the second period, the Lions responded with their only goal of the game, at 18:46, by Peter De Coppi. It was his second goal of the season. More details.