Jordan Finkelstein
Sports Reporter
The men’s rugby completed a perfect season by adding a handful of awards to its collection.
Members of the Humber Hawks men’s and women’s rugby teams took home a slew of end-of-season OCAA awards for their outstanding play and success in 2013.
The men’s team won this year’s OCAA championship on Nov. 17. Award winners included: Jason Rice, James Mitchell and John Sheridan. Rice was awarded OCAA Player of the Year and he was also named an OCAA All Star, along with his teammate, Mitchell. On top of the all-star distinction, Mitchell was also this year’s OCAA Scoring Champion, while Sheridan was named Rookie of the Year for the West division.
The women’s team, which was champion of the West division, finished with a silver medal at the provincial championship. The OCAA award winners included Charlene Mocon, Kelsey Bardy, and Head Coach Brett McCully. Mocon was named OCAA Rookie of the Year, and was also a provincial all-star along with her teammate Bardy. Coach McCully was named OCAA Coach of the Year.
Fabian Rayne, the head coach of the men’s rugby team, said he’s proud of his players for exceeding expectations this past season.
“These players have matured so much through the years,” he said. “Every season we’d come back and each of these guys had grown mentally. They were more dedicated to the sport and the team.”
Rayne said he has “tremendous respect” for the progress these players have made with the Hawks.
“Rice is the leader of this team and he deserved the awards he won from the OCAA,” he said. “He has brought us a lot of success. Mitchell also has tremendous skill. Going forward, I think Mitchell has the full capability of becoming the next leader of this team.”
Humber will be looking for more awards and titles when the new season begins in September 2014.
