Mountaineers varsity highlights – November 16, 2023
For the second time in six days, a Mohawk Mountaineers team came away with a win against a top-five nationally ranked opponent.
Last week, it was women’s basketball, beating the fourth-ranked Humber Hawks. This week, men’s volleyball pulled out a 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-22, 14-25, 15-13) victory over the No. 1 nationally ranked Fanshawe Falcons.
As well, the women’s volleyball team, won their fifth game of the season, winning 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-19) over the Falcons.
Men’s and women’s cross country traveled to Truro, Nova Scotia this past weekend to compete in the CCAA Championships. The men’s team placed 11th overall in their division and the women finished ninth. Five individual Mohawk runners placed in the top-50.
The biggest news out of Truro was that Mountaineers head coach David Hopton was named CCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year. Hopton becomes the third coach in Mohawk history to win CCAA coach of the year in their respective sport.
Mountaineers curling participated in their first bonspiel of the 2023-24 season. Competing in the University of Guelph Bonspiel, the men played a perfect 6-0 tournament to finish first, going undefeated against Ontario universities.
Additionally, Abigail Woods of the women’s soccer program was the recipient of the Ray Lewis Youth Community Service Sport Award at the Sport Hamilton Breakfast of Champions.
Athletes of the Week
Skyla Minaker - Women's Basketball (Sarnia, ON)
Minaker returned to the Mountaineers lineup this past week against the No. 4 nationally ranked Humber Hawks after sitting out the previous two games. Starting and playing 34 minutes versus the Hawks, Minaker provided Mohawk with a team-high 19 points on five-of-10 shooting, and added six rebounds, five assists and two steals en route to the Mountaineers upsetting the Hawks 65-56.
Jerry Jr. Mercury - Men's Basketball (Scarborough, ON)
Mercury has led Mohawk in scoring in all five games this season and that continued this past week against the Hawks. In an 18-point comeback that saw the Mountaineers win 78-77, Mercury scored a career-high 34-points on 14-of-23 shooting and added 14 rebounds, for his second consecutive double-double and third of the season. He also had four assists and two steals in the game. Mercury is currently second in the OCAA in scoring. Mohawk has a perfect 5-0 record.
Mercury was also named OCAA Star of the Week.
Upcoming Game Schedule
Volleyball
- Nov. 18 – Mohawk volleyball will play cross-city rival Redeemer Royals in Ancaster with the women’s match starting at 1 p.m. and the men playing at 3 p.m.
- Nov. 22 – Volleyball will be back in the DBARC to host the Sheridan Bruins. Women will play at 6 p.m. and the men follow at 8 p.m.
Basketball
- Nov. 18 – Both basketball teams will also be in Ancaster to play the Royals in a quad-header. The women’s game tips off at 6 p.m. and the men play at 8 p.m.
- Nov. 22 – Basketball will remain on the road when they travel to play the Fanshawe Falcons. Tip-off for the women’s game is 6 p.m. and the men are scheduled for 8 p.m.
All Mountaineers home games are free to attend.
Games are also streamed online, and can be watched here.
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