Men's soccer and both men and women's cross country land in top ten of recent U Sports power rankings
On Sept. 26, U Sports released their weekly power rankings for Canadian university teams across several sports. The men and women’s cross country team ranked fifth and ninth in their respective standings, while men’s soccer slid into eighth in the national circuit.
Just before the release of the rankings, both cross country teams put on a solid performance at the Vigars and Salter Western Invitational on Sept. 23.
On the women’s team, veterans Hannah Goodjohn and Rosalyn Barrett both placed in the top 10 at the meet, finishing with times of 30:14 and 30:25. Their efforts helped push the team to fourth place overall, just missing the podium by one point. The St. Francis Xavier University X-Women finished with 116 points.
Their efforts helped push the team to fourth place overall, just missing the podium by one point. The St. Francis Xavier University X-Women finished with 116 points.
For the men’s team, rookie Kamran Brar completed the race as the top runner , nabbing the thirty-fourth place out of 147 qualifying runners with the Marauder’s best time of 26:38. Brar led the team to an eighth place finish, along with top-50 finishes from Connor Lashley, Lukas Vadeika, Noah Mulkewich and William Weist.
Prior to the release of the U Sports rankings, the men’s soccer team snagged a tough 1-0 victory over the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on Sept. 22. Sachin Sargeant, a returning member from last year’s Ontario University Athletics championship team, scored a late-game goal in the second half of the match that propelled the team to their fourth win of the regular season.
Following the game, the Marauders played their second match against the Golden Hawks on Sept. 24, winning another tightly contested game 1-0 with a penalty shot by sophomore Damiano Refosco. The win pushed the team to a four-game win streak and an overall record of five wins and two losses for the season.
The win pushed the team to a four-game win streak and an overall record of five wins and two losses for the season.
With these early successesacross both sports, the Marauders have put themselves in a good position for the rest of the season.
The McMaster equestrian team brings experienced riders together to compete in several horse shows across Ontario
The student-run McMaster University equestrian team competes within the Ontario Collegiate Equestrian Association. Since the group was established in 2006, members have been involved with both hosting and attending five horse shows throughout the year in preparation for the OCEA finals hosted at the end of the regular season.
For practices throughout last year, the team hosted training in the High Performance Area space in the David Braley Athletic Centre along with limited riding practices.
“We work with a barn called Vector Equestrian and they have a really busy lesson schedule for themselves. They very kindly fit us in when they can, usually before big shows. . .Other than that, people kind of have to practice on their own time,” said communications coordinator Molly O’Toole.
In order to try out to be a member of the team, riders must be able to jump a two foot or larger course, either carry or be willing to obtain an Ontario Equestrian membership and actively be involved in a lesson program through a home facility or Vector Equestrian.
For team lessons, horses are loaned for use through Vector Equestrian. Along with providing horses, Vector Equestrian also loans saddles, bridles, saddle pads, horse boots, martingales and additional tack out to the team.
Riders must procure their own riding apparel, riding boots and helmet; however, the team assists in lending or selling their personal show apparel equipment for teammates to use.
While lessons are not offered for students outside of the competitive roster, the team encourages those with prior riding experience to register for lessons and development programs with Vector Equestrian.
The team competes in five horse shows across the year against the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario Tech University and Brock University in the OCEA’s Central Ontario circuit. Qualifying teams and riders from the Central, North, West and East Zone also take part in the OCEA finals at the end of the season.
Team members compete in a hunter under saddle class discipline, where riders are judged on equitation, position and technique on a flat course without jumps and a hunter over fences class discipline with several course jumps that are judged on technique and execution. All riders compete on horses donated by hosting schools and private owners for the event.
“What’s really interesting and unique to the collegiate and university horse showing is that obviously no one owns their own horse. . .You are kind of thrown onto a random horse and have to compete on a horse you haven’t ridden before,” said O’Toole.
What’s really interesting and unique to the collegiate and university horse showing is that obviously no one owns their own horse. . .You are kind of thrown onto a random horse and have to compete on a horse you haven’t ridden before.
Molly O’Toole, communications coordinator, McMaster equestrian team
In last year’s OCEA Central Zone standings the team finished atop several categories at the end of season.
Sammy Saunders captured the Open Reserve Champion while Sophia Vetzal and Aislin Osborne took home Intermediate and Intermediate Reserve Champion titles respectively. Other notable finishers include Hailey Kadonoff, who finished in fifth as the top-placing McMaster athlete in the Novice division, and Dana Lin, who received third place in the Entry division.
The team’s season concluded at the OCEA finals, which were held from Mar. 24-26 and took place at the Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Cedar Valley, ON.
With a record number of tryouts this year, O’Toole said the team is optimistic that they can build on their previous season’s successes with both new and returning riders on the roster.
“We’re just looking forward to another fun year of riding and showing. . .Last year the team did really well overall so we’re just hoping to have another great season,” said O’Toole.
We’re just looking forward to another fun year of riding and showing. . .Last year the team did really well overall so we’re just hoping to have another great season.
Molly O’Toole, communications coordinator, McMaster equestrian team
While tryouts for the team concluded on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6, students can still follow along with the team’s season on their Instagram and Facebook. More information can be found about the group on both their personal and McMaster Athletics and Recreation website.
In the coming school year, the HPA is going to allow more McMaster teams to use its space, free of charge
Created in 2021, the McMaster University High Performance Area was built to give varsity athletes a space to be coached for sport-specific workouts. The space houses an array of equipment including squat racks, Keiser units and a turf field.
The facility is a world-class space, bringing prestige to the university and, most importantly, helping the student athletes that attend McMaster to reach their full potential.
While the HPA has been up and running for the past two years, only teams within the U SPORTS league—including sports such as, swimming, wrestling, soccer and women’s rugby—were allowed to make use of the space without payment.
While the HPA has been up and running for the past two years, only teams within the U SPORTS league—including sports such as, swimming, wrestling, soccer and women’s rugby—were allowed to make use of the space without payment.
This set up left teams that participate in the Ontario University Athletics league, such as the baseball, fencing and golf teams, without a space to weightlift, train and be coached in the strength and conditioning field.
In the past, the only way for these teams to access the HPA was to pay out of pocket. Compounded with other payments these athletes need to make for their sport, such transportation and equipment fees, these costs have often not been reasonable for them to pay.
“Last year what we did was [OUA sports teams] paid per coach, so they only paid for the coach’s time. But really the students had to pay for a building in their own facility,” said manager of HPA and High Performance Programs Ben Bahrami.
This year, Bahrami opted to change this set up. As of this semester, OUA teams will be allowed to train in the HPA free of charge during specified open hours.
“I’ve proposed removing the team-specific training for any essentially teams that aren’t U SPORTS level and anyone that’s OUA, and some of our U Sports teams that just have a lot of class conflicts with their team times. Anyone in that category essentially comes in during open hours. This way they can have access more than the one or two hours they’re scheduled in,” said Bahrami.
The goal is to allow more athletes to use the space, help to maintain their health throughout the season and the offseason, and help them reach their goals.
“We want to provide a high enough product for students who came to McMaster to then go to the professional ranks or to play for a national team, so you have to provide that high level but also provide a basic program for someone that just wants to stay healthy and play sports for a few years,” said Bahrami.
“We want to provide a high enough product for students who came to McMaster to then go to the professional ranks or to play for a national team, so you have to provide that high level but also provide a basic program for someone that just wants to stay healthy and play sports for a few years,”
Ben Bahrami, HPA and High Performance Programs Manager
This change could bring some drawbacks, with the HPA space being a limited 3700 square feet and containing only 10 racks, which can lend itself to overcrowding.
“That's kind of the biggest challenge is balancing out the resources versus everything you want to do and everyone that wants to do X, Y and Z for their own development,” said Bahrami.
Ultimately though, this change will hopefully be a great step for McMaster sports moving forward as allowing more athletes to access high performance spaces will improve the student athlete experience and help teams and athletes reach their goals.
As we begin the new school year, women's volleyball, men's soccer, wrestling, cross country and men's volleyball are the teams to keep a close eye on
The 2022-2023 year of sports at McMaster University was one to remember. With championship wins, great individual performances and numerous events packed with fans, there is plenty to be proud of. As we look ahead to the upcoming year, here are teams you should be sure to keep your eye on.
Women’s Volleyball
The 2022-2023 season for McMaster’s women volleyball team ended prematurely with close loss to York University in the Ontario University Athletics quarterfinals.
Next season, the team will look to turn things around. A number of returning OUA all-star veterans will look to lead the team to greater heights. Notable players include Sullie Sundara, who hopes to continue a run of great form after a second commanding season, and Hayley Brooks, the team’s defensive minded libero.
With newly appointed head coach Nathan Janzen leading the squad, this Marauders team will be one to look out for. Janzen leads the Canadian youth national volleyball team and has previously served as an assistant for the Marauders women’s volleyball team. He will likely have his sights set on capturing a national title, especially with the Marauders hosting this year's U Sports national tournament.
Men’s Soccer
Last season saw the men’s soccer team capture a historic OUA title. After this previous success for the team, they will be looking to continue their impressive form this coming year.
Next year’s roster will miss Miles Green, who led the team in total goals scored, and Ahmad Mansour, the team’s dominant centre-back. However, quality remains in the squad, with key returning players such as Gianluca Spadafora, the team’s captain and OUA second-team all-star, and Ethan Cagalj, an OUA second-team all-star goalkeeper.
Another change to the team’s head coach will be another challenge for the Marauders this season though. Interim head coach Tristan Joyce will be looking to prove himself in the coming season. Joyce is a former Marauder men’s soccer player who graduated from the program in 2021.
Wrestling
Both the men and women’s wrestling teams continually impress and the Marauders consistently found themselves on top of the podium in the 2022-2023 season.
Serena Di Benedetto on the women’s team had a phenomenal first season where she went undefeated, medaled gold in the OUA finals and finished in second at U Sports Nationals. As she goes into her second year, she will be one to watch closely.
On the men’s side, first-year Karanveer Mahil also showed well in his rookie season. Mahil topped the podium numerous times throughout the year and medalled silver in the OUA finals. At U Sports Nationals, Mahil earned himself gold to cap off an impressive first season.
After an impressive regular season for the team, four Marauder wrestlers and head coach Ahmed Shamiya went on to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games. At the event, Mahil and Di Benedetto both earned medals and they will certainly be looking to continue to their successes this coming winter.
Cross Country
This team had plenty to be proud of in the 2022-2023 season. On the men’s side, Max Turek, Andrew Davies and Alex Drover helped in creating a historic year for their team. Turek won gold at both the OUA finals and the U Sports Nationals, with Davies and Drover finishing just behind him in both competitions.
The women’s team came up with impressive results throughout the year as well. Second-year Rosalyn Barrett placed third in OUA Championships and thirtieth at U Sports nationals. Hannah Goodjohn, a fourth-year, placed eleventh in the OUAs after a consistent season for the Marauders.
Head coach Paula Schnurr also earned her own accolade throughout the season by winning OUA coach of the year. As she heads into the new season, she will look to fill the holes left by her graduated runners, including Turek and Davies.
Men's Volleyball
After a dominant past season which saw the team capture the provincial banner, the men’s volleyball team is consistently one of McMaster’s top teams.
Sam Cooper dominated with 47 kills over the last season. His departure to the Polish professional league will leave a hole in the team, one hopefully that a younger player may fill.
Maxime Gratton also dominated the year with 109 kills. He will be looking to improve upon his past season and combine with veteran Peter Rugosi after two years of experience.
Last year’s heartbreaking loss in the U Sports semifinals will have the team hungry for more, with new head coach Brad Douwes looking to fill the gaps and step into the massive shoes left by former head coach Dave Preston.
The McMaster Athletics and Recreation department organizes in- game events to highlight the importance of Black History Month
Observance of Black History Month holds great significance globally, and in Canada, it is observed in February to pay tribute to the contributions of Black communities across the country. This celebration presents a unique opportunity for people to acquaint themselves with captivating stories accounts of Black history.
Albeit the thorough controversies surrounding the university and their treatment of Black athletes over the years, McMaster University sports community took time this month to reflect and uplift the Black voices and stories. The Athletics and Recreation department organized a range of events such as in-game occasions to celebrate the month and to honor its Black athletes across all sports.
On Feb. 1st, the Marauders cited that “With a focus on Black Excellence: Maintaining the Momentum, McMaster will kick off the month with a day-long Black Expo in the Student Centre atrium”.
At the beginning of the month, it was announced that there would be a couple Black History Month games across the department, with various varsity teams participating. The objective of these games would be to promote the cause and provide McMaster clubs with the opportunity to host booths during half time intervals. On Friday, Feb. 3, the men's and women’s volleyball teams started off the first two games for the event.
In an impressive display of athleticism, the men's volleyball team dominated their opponents, the Royal Military College Paladins, with a resounding victory of three sets to none (25-16, 25-8, 25-6). This win added to their already impeccable record of 15 consecutive OUA wins at the time.
The women's volleyball team also shone in their game against the same opponents, achieving another sweep to cap off the first two games of the Black History Month event. Both teams showcased their strength and skill, leaving fans in awe of their performance.
For the second set of games, the maroon colors were defended with pride by the men's and women's basketball teams as they took on the Waterloo Warriors. The men's team proved their mettle on Feb. 17 with a decisive 83-64 win, further solidifying their position in the OUA table.
The women's team followed suit with an impressive 81-61 victory, concluding the highly successful Black History Month games that took place on campus. Fans were excited by the teams' displays of skill and teamwork and the university community rejoiced in the celebration of Black excellence and culture.
In addition to the games taking place, the Athletics and Recreation department partnered up with the Black Student Athlete Council to create space for various clubs such as Mac Africans, Black Space, MACaws to host stands at the game settings and promote the event.
Just like every other year, the McMaster athletic community did not miss out on the chance to honor Black athletes and their accomplishments throughout the campus. In addition to publicizing the observance and paying tribute to the athletes, the Athletics and Recreation Department enticed the student community to the events around campus by hosting four different Black History Month games, whilst providing an opportunity for different clubs to take part in the initiative with their booths at the games.
After the scandalous controversies that were surrounding the sports scene at McMaster with allegations of racism among other problems, this is the least that the Marauders can do for their Black students in their path to corrective action.
Top-ten finishes in the women’s freestyle and pursuit headline the Marauders’ performance on the Walden Trails
The McMaster University Nordic ski team competed at the Ontario Cup in Naughton, Ontario on Jan. 21 and 22. Within the university category for the seven point two kilometre freestyle, Anna Harris finished in sixth, claiming the top position in the race for the Marauder women. In the 10 kilometre pursuit, Anna placed fifth while Emma Waddington took home the eighth spot for the maroon and grey team.
Prior to the event, McMaster athletes gathered to compete at the Candy Cane Cup in Gatineau, Quebec last year on Dec. 10 to Dec. 11. Anna and Laura Harris finished 50th and 56th in the open female 10 kilometre free technique interval start. Anna also placed 46th overall racing in the one point three kilometre classic sprint heats.
On the first day of the Ontario Cup, both the Marauder men and women took part in the seven point two kilometre freestyle.
With a time of 22:12.8, Anna finished sixth in the university women’s category for McMaster. Waddington followed closely behind in eighth to give the Marauders two athletes in the top 10. Other competitors for the school include Ingrid Pederson, Olivia Rowan and Laura, who finished 13th, 28th and 29th respectively.
“It’s interesting because [Nordic ski’s] an individual sport but the team is definitely really important, especially if you’re a social person. A lot of us are really motivated by training together and having that sense of community is really motivating,” said Anna.
“It’s interesting because [Nordic ski’s] an individual sport but the team is definitely really important, especially if you’re a social person. A lot of us are really motivated by training together and having that sense of community is really motivating.”
Anna Harris, Nordic Skiing Team
For the men, Errol Bowman completed the race in 19:09.5 to finish in 10th place for McMaster. The time was one minute and forty seven seconds off of the race leader Alec Maclean, who placed first in the race for the University of Guelph.
Nick Sammon (20th), Graham Buchan (23rd), William Pihlainen-Bleecker (26th) and Christian Dizon (27th) rounded out the rest of the skiers for McMaster.
The Marauders returned to the trails on the second day of the competition for the 10 kilometre classic pursuit, which features a two race series with a classic interval start and a delayed start determined by the time behind the leading skier in the initial race. For the Ontario Cup, athletes were ranked according to their total combined time in both the races.
Although placing in eighth during the first race of the pursuit, A. Harris rebounded to complete the second race in sixth with a time of 33:52.4 to finish fifth in the event. Waddington was finished in tenth and ninth in the respective halves of the pursuit to land in eighth overall for the Marauders.
Bowman completed both the pursuit’s races in 13th and skied a total time of 50:46.9 to finish 11th as the top performer for the McMaster men.
“The team’s plan from here to OUAs is just really get that specific ski training as much as we can in Hamilton and getting on the snow as much as we can. We’re all pretty excited for [the championships],” said Waddington.
The Marauders will take on one more Ontario Cup from Feb. 17 to 19 in Lakefield, Ontario. Then, to round out their season, the team will travel to Huntsville, Ontario and compete at the Ontario University Championships from Feb. 21 to 24 at the Arrowhead Provincial Park.
A fiery start for the McMaster men's volleyball team yields their fourth consecutive win
The McMaster University men’s volleyball team continues to impress. The reigning provincial champions and U Sports national contenders finished strong against the Waterloo Warriors for a perfect record of four wins and zero losses on Nov. 12.
The early season success comes with little surprise considering McMaster’s perfect regular season record the year prior and an experienced core unit with returning players such as outside hitter, Sam Cooper, and middle, Tyler Pavelic. Both players came up big in McMaster’s most recent four-set victory over the Warriors.
The Marauders swiftly won the first set by a score of 25-20. However, the team lost their initial momentum early into the second set. Despite fighting back from a McMaster time-out, the red and grey team lost the set 23-25.
“I think we started off strong, we were doing everything we said we were going to do. Second set, they came out firing and I think we let off a little bit. Right there, it was clear we had to switch it up,” said Pavelic.
With McMaster landing fewer defensive blocks than usual and a crafty Warriors offence, the team sought to make some changes. The Marauders were able to adapt with a few in-game adjustments and finished with a strong second half.
“After that set, I think we just picked [the energy] up, we just communicated more about what we needed to do before the whistle even blew. At that point, we were able to build some more momentum into that set,” explained Cooper.
"After that set, I think we just picked [the energy] up, we just communicated more about what we needed to do before the whistle even blew. At that point, we were able to build some more momentum into that set,"
Sam Cooper, Outside Hitter
McMaster won the third set by a large margin of 25-16 and ran with the momentum to a final set score of 25-18 for an emphatic finish. Cooper led the team’s offensive effort with 13 total kills or unreturned attacks. Pavelic finished with four defensive blocks and six offensive kills. Returning players, Maxime Gratton and Mateusz Wlodarski, also came up big on the offensive end.
Despite the perfect record thus far, the McMaster team remains level-headed. The team still has a long season ahead of them with 18 scheduled games, including two exhibition games against Long Beach State University.
“We’re trying to stay realistic. We’re obviously happy about our wins and that’s what we’re looking to do – win as much, secure as much home court advantage as possible – but also trying to keep the balance of not getting too cocky so we’re ready for any opponent. We prepare the exact same for every opponent that we take on,” said Cooper.
McMaster continues to level up their defensive and offensive strategies with a focus on high-ball attacking, service pressure, service reception, small-ball defence and block defence. With most of their games taking place over the weekend, the team can regroup and identify areas of improvement during the week.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to go undefeated so far. I think we just got to keep learning from our mistakes, what’s not going well and kind of fix it throughout the week and be able to execute it on the weekends so we can come out and continue on that pace run,” explained Pavelic.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to go undefeated so far. I think we just got to keep learning from our mistakes, what’s not going well and kind of fix it throughout the week and be able to execute it on the weekends so we can come out and continue on that pace run.”
Tyler Pavelic, Middle
There’s lots more in store for this McMaster team and its fans. Looking ahead, McMaster is on the road for two away games against Toronto Metropolitan University on Nov. 18 and Brock University on Nov. 20. The fan-favourite team will return on Nov. 25 for a six-game home stand.
To keep up with the team, visit their website or Instagram. Students of McMaster University can attend games free of charge in Burridge Gym, only needing their student cards for entry.
Events like the VLC's games night help to strengthen the tight-knit student athlete community
Pick any sport at McMaster University, head out to the game and you’re very likely to end up sitting next to some Marauder athletes from a different sport. This is one of many great reasons why so many athletes enjoy their time at McMaster – the community feel.
Given that Canadian university sports don’t have a following anywhere near what might be found with their American counterparts, their teams have had a long tradition of coming out and supporting one another. They fill the stands and cheer on their peers, just as their peers had done for them in their regular season.
As a direct result, athletes from all different sports develop relationships amongst one another, creating the community feel that one can normally find from the athletics department today. To continue fostering these relationships, the Varsity Leadership Committee has taken initiative on several occasions to bring athletes closer together, the most recent effort being their games night.
On Nov. 1 the VLC hosted a night between all varsity clubs, Ontario University Athletic teams and U Sports teams, where members could come out, meet one another and have a fun time. Several teams made an appearance including men’s and women’s volleyball teams, the baseball team, the field hockey team, the women’s rugby team, the men’s and women’s basketball team, the rowing team, the tennis team, the men’s and women’s soccer team, the wrestling team, the cross-country team and the figure skating team.
They ended up bonding over games such as twister, anomia, uno and an interesting post it note pair game, where each athlete received a sticky note, not knowing what was written on it. They had to ask questions about their sticky note until they figured out the word, then they had to fine the lone person with the shared word on their sticky note.
The games went a long way towards the end goal of continuing to improve the connection between athletes at the school.
“[There were] a lot of people. Every single team had probably between one to five people show up. . . As varsity athletes, we all share a similar space around the school. By forming these connections, I think it really strengthens this community and provides that support,” said Steven Japundzic, a member of the basketball team who attended the games night.
As varsity athletes, we all share a similar space around the school. By forming these connections, I think it really strengthens this community and provides that support.
Steven Japundzic, event attendee
Although the athlete community is naturally forming given the similar and relatable lifestyle between athletes at the school, events like these are critical in maintaining that culture. They keep the athlete connection strong.
“We’re already a pretty tight knit community, but I think it’s events like this that upkeep that kind of thing, and really reinforce that. Opportunities like this, people can come together and strengthen those bonds that are already there, but also make some new ones. It’s events like this that lead to the community we have at McMaster,” explained Japundzic.
It’s events like this that lead to the community we have at McMaster.
STEVEN JAPUNDZIC, EVENT ATTENDEE
It’s because of organizations like the VLC that the culture within McMaster athletics continues to grow year after year. As athletes continue to support each other on, and off the field, the connection to one another is strong as ever. Maybe someday soon this support for the teams will start to replicate outside of the athlete population as well.
Exploring the impact of the Women on Weights program offered by the Pulse Fitness Centre
Time constraints. Fear of injuries. Lack of gym knowledge. Looking silly. These are some concerns addressed by trainers through the Women on Weights program offered at the Pulse Fitness Centre.
This six-week program covers various resistance training techniques as well as gym etiquette, aerobic training, nutrition, the importance of exercise and the body. Taught by certified trainers, the program provides fundamental knowledge and skills to enhance participants’ confidence and comfort at the gym.
“When I was starting out by myself, I would have never gone into the gym alone because of that intimidation factor – being in a male-dominated area [or] being surrounded by a lot of machines that you have no idea how to use. The purpose of this program is to engage and teach women of all ages and abilities the importance of exercise,” explained Elizabeth Lang, trainer and life sciences student.
The purpose of this program is to engage and teach women of all ages and abilities the importance of exercise
Elizabeth Lang, Women on Weights program trainer and Life Sciences student
The Pulse was set to offer three Women on Weights classes in the fall semester with ten participants in each class. However, due to popular demand and a growing waitlist, the program was expanded to five classes.
To ease participants into the gym setting, the Women on Weights program is designed to progress in difficulty and slowly introduce participants to new weightlifting movements and machines. Having taught this program twice, Meghan Kostashuk has started to notice similar trends in participants.
“In the first week, a lot of the girls are very shy [or] anxious and have never been in a gym environment or haven’t been in a gym environment since high school. By the time the sixth class rolls around, all the girls are doing movements that they would never ever do, like deadlifting, squatting with a barbell, bench-pressing,” said Kostashuk, trainer and a biochemistry student.
The consistency and length of the program allows learners to develop practical skills in a short time frame. Both Lang and Kostashuk described the appreciation that participants have expressed for the program. For instance, past participants have often expressed more personal comfort in open-concept areas after learning how to use the machines in the gym.
“I was worried that I would injure myself or just look kind of silly because I didn’t know what was going on. There’s a lot of information online but sometimes it can be overwhelming . . . I definitely got a lot more confident in myself and my ability to go to the gym alone,” explained Celina Ruan, a past participant of the Women on Weights program.
The program provides participants with a wealth of information while also giving them an opportunity to make new friends and accountability partners through the classes. Once the six-weeks of Women on Weights comes to an end, trainers will often encounter past participants exercising together at the gym.
“I think there’s definitely been a really big impact on the girls. I still see some of the girls around the gym all the time and they’ll always come up to me and be like “I’ve been going to the gym with so and so from our class, we’ve become gym buddies and we go together all the time and we hold each other accountable,” and that’s such a nice thing to see,” said Kostashuk.
In addition to the Women on Weights program, Kostashuk teaches an introductory lifting program in partnership with the McMaster University biochemistry and biomedical sciences society. Moving forward, Kostashuk hopes to open a similar program for students of all gender identities and programs.
“With clients I’ve always tried to instill the idea in them that no matter how much weight you’re lifting, no matter how new to an exercise you are, no matter how new you are to the gym, there’s always a space for you,” said Kostashuk.
With clients I’ve always tried to instill the idea in them that no matter how much weight you’re lifting, no matter how new to an exercise you are, no matter how new you are to the gym, there’s always a space for you
Meghan Kostashuk, Women on Weights program teacher
McMaster students and David Braley Athletic Centre members can participate in programs for a reduced price. The Women on Weights program will also be offered in the upcoming winter semester. To learn more about the program and other classes offered by The Pulse, visit their website.
The Marauders earn 13 medals and the top spot at the McMaster invitational in a dominant start to their season
The McMaster wrestling team took on their first season meet of the year at the McMaster University invitational held on Oct. 30. Hosted at the university’s own Burridge gymnasium, the Marauders came away with multiple medals across different weight classes from both the men and women’s divisions. Overall, the team pulled away with a first place victory, scoring 85 points to edge past the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas who managed 84 points in the contest.
Following their home opening dual meet against Alberta on Oct. 29, the Marauders entered their regular season high off of last year’s silver medal performances at the Ontario University Athletic Championships. Featuring rosters packed with youth and talent, both the men and women teams dominated the McMaster invitational with outstanding matches on the mats.
On the women’s side, athletes Ligaya Stinellis, Serena Di Benedetto and Macy Malysiak secured gold medals for the 50kg, 53kg and 56kg events respectively. A three-time competitor for Team Canada and a new recruit for the team this year, Di Benedetto won by technical fall over Taylor Mcpherson for an impressive start to the season. Stinellis and Malysiak, who landed podium placements at their individual events during last year’s championships, also delivered strong performances for the Marauders.
Individual success at the meet aside, it was very important for members, such as Malysiak, to take advantage of the regular season for the team’s growth, development and playoff preparation. They managed to do just that, making the most of the meet.
“Like our coaches say, everybody wants to win, but you sometimes want to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and situations so that you can learn from them. All these tournaments are just a learning block before the big ones,” said Malysiak.
“Like our coaches say, everybody wants to win, but you sometimes want to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and situations so that you can learn from them. All these tournaments are just a learning block before the big ones.”
Macy Malysiak, women's wrestling team
Rounding out the other medalists, Betty Huang, Similoluwa Jayeoba and Tehani Blais captured three more silver medals for the women’s team. Vanessa Fonrose also added a bronze medal for her performance in the 76kg matches.
Leading the charge for the men’s team, Gregor McNeil took home the team’s lone gold, winning by injury default against Mahir Sabat from York University in the first place 61kg match. Francesco Fortino, Irman Kang and Jonathan Vecchio also earned three silver medals for the maroon and grey team. Finally, both Gianluca Fortino and Howard Moffatt ended with third place finishes in the 65kg and 90kg matches respectively.
Along with Di Benedetto, McNeil is also a first year recruit for the McMaster wrestling program with past experience on Team Canada. Of the 13 total medals won by the Marauders, six were won by athletes in their debut season with the wrestling program. Such achievements speak volumes to the team’s future potential.
“I honestly am just consistently excited because this is the best recruitment class that we’ve had for a long time . . . I do think that we are achieving more than we have in the past and so I think that this is going to continue on in the long run,” said Stinellis.
“I honestly am just consistently excited because this is the best recruitment class that we’ve had for a long time . . . I do think that we are achieving more than we have in the past and so I think that this is going to continue on in the long run.”
Ligaya Stinellis, women's wrestling team
After the meets, both the men and women’s teams rank high atop the U Sports wrestling power rankings. On the leaderboards, the women came second place in the country while the men finished in third.
The Marauders will soon travel to Toronto, taking the mats at the Toronto Metropolitan University invitational on Nov. 13. Later in the winter, they will take on the OUA wrestling championships on Feb. 11 and the U Sports championship held from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26.
With seven more meets still on their schedule, both teams will have plenty of time to prepare for the postseason title run in 2023.
