Apollo Hess of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns competing at the U SPORTS Swimming Championships in Victoria, British Columbia. The meet took place from February 23 to February 25, 2023. (Photo: AP Shutter)

By Justin Goulet

College and university sports recap: February 28, 2023

Feb 28, 2023 | 10:35 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A couple of post-secondary teams at Lethbridge College concluded their athletic seasons over the weekend, while the University of Lethbridge (U of L) Pronghorns competed at the U SPORTS Swimming Championships on Vancouver Island.

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE KODIAKS

The Kodiaks men’s and women’s volleyball teams concluded their respective seasons by competing at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) championships from Thursday, February 23, 2023 to Saturday, February 25.

The men’s volleyball team competed at the tournament in Fort McMurray. In their first game on Thursday, February 23, the Kodiaks lost 3-1 against NAIT. Lethbridge College then fell in the consolation semi-finals 3-1 against The King’s University to end their run at the tournament. The Briercrest College Clippers were declared champions after defeating Red Deer Polytechnic 3-1 in the finals on Saturday, February 25.

The women’s volleyball team was at the championship tournament in Red Deer. On Thursday, February 23, the Kodiaks beat The King’s University 3-2. On Friday, February 24, Lethbridge College lost 3-1 against the University of Alberta-Augustana. On Saturday, February 25, the Kodiaks lost 3-2 in the bronze medal match against the host Red Deer Polytechnic. Jamie Brown was named the Kodiaks ACAC player of the game with 15 kills, 11 digs and three service aces in what was her last game with the Lethbridge College team. The Lakeland College Rustlers won the tournament with a 3-0 win against the University of Alberta-Augustana in Saturday’s final.

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The Lethbridge College men’s and women’s futsal teams competed at the ACAC South Regionals at Medicine Hat College.

On Friday, February 24, the men’s futsal team lost 5-1 against Olds College. On Saturday, February 25, they finished in a 2-2 tie against Ambrose University. Later in the day, they defeated Prairie College 9-3. On Sunday, the Kodiaks finished in a 4-4 tie against SAIT.

The women’s futsal team beat Olds College 4-3 on Friday, February 24. They followed that up with an 11-1 victory against Ambrose University on Saturday, February 25 and a 12-0 win against Prairie College that same day. On Sunday, February 26, the Kodiaks lost 3-1 against SAIT.

UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS

The U of L swim team closed out the season by competing at the U SPORTS championships in Victoria, British Columbia from Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25.

In total, 14 athletes from Pronghorn Athletics took part in the event, which was the largest team in programs history to compete at the U SPORTS championships. Apollo Hess won a bronze medal in the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 28.30 during the first day of the meet. Hess’ teammate Tristan Bennett placed fourth in that event. On the women’s side, Delaney Lehman broke the U of L school record with a personal best time of 26.05 in the 50-metre freestyle.

On day two of the competition, Chris Alexander captured gold with a time of 25.91 in the 50-metre backstroke. Hess earned another bronze medal, this time in the 100-metre breaststroke. In the A-final freestyle, Pronghorn Raine Arden finished fourth. Lehman broke another school record later in the meet, while competing in the 50metre backstroke.

During the last day of the championships, Apollo Hess finished fourth in the 200-metre breaststroke. Overall, the Pronghorns finished sixth in the men’s team rankings, and 13^th in the women’s rankings.

The track and field team competed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the Canada West Track and Field Championships on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25. Jinaye Shomachuk and Lauryn Morris received major awards from Canada West. Shomachuk earned the Performance of the Meet award, while Morris won the Rookie of the Year award.

At the championships, Shomachuk won gold in the women’s weight throw. She had a throw of 18.90 metres, which was almost three metres further than silver medalist Alexis Johnson, of the University of Calgary. On the men’s side, Pronghorn Andreas Troschke was named Canada West champion in weight throw for the third straight year. Second-year Lauchlan Irish won bronze in the triple jump.

In total, six track and field team members qualified for the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships, which take place from Thursday, March 9 to Saturday, March 11 in Saskatoon. The qualifiers include:

• Andrea Troschke – weight throw
• Xavier Crosby – weight throw
• Lauchlan Irish – triple jump
• Jinaye Shomachuk – weight throw and shot put
• Naomi Klassen – weight throw
• Lauryn Morris – shot put

In other Pronghorn Athletics news, Jessica Haenni of the women’s basketball team has been named a Canada West third team all-star. Haenni averaged 17.5 points per game during the 2022-2023 season.

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