Durham College’s (DC) tradition of athletic success continued on the basketball and volleyball courts this winter, and a new curling team took to the ice.
Whether representing the Green and Gold around Ontario, travelling to other provinces or hosting the nation’s best right here at home, these athletes made us ‘DC Proud’ all winter long.
Men’s Basketball
A nearly flawless season saw the men’s basketball team become OCAA champions for the first time since 1997. The Lords added to their trophy case with a silver medal finish at the CCAA national championships.
Mark Stoop was unstoppable on the court, collecting a laundry list of honours including CCAA All-Canadian, East Player of the Year, East First Team All-Star, OCAA Championship MVP, and CCAA Championship Second Team All-Star.
Hot on his heels was Jasean Elliott, who was named East Defensive Player of the Year, East First Team All-Star, OCAA Championship All-Star, and CCAA Championship Second Team All-Star.
Other standouts included Rudy Fakih (East Sixth Man of the Year), Miles Hall (East Second Team All-Star, CCAA Championship First Team All-Star), Rashane Smith (East Second Team All-Star, East All-Rookie Team) and Javade Marne (East All-Rookie Team, OCAA Championship All-Star).
“What an incredible year for everyone involved with the men’s basketball team,” said Scott Dennis, Athletic Director. “They went on a remarkable run to capture their first OCAA championship and CCAA medal since 1997. Trailing Humber by seven at halftime on their home court, they showed tremendous resilience to battle back and win the title. It was a perfect way for Head Coach Desmond Rowley to cap off his career—retiring at the very top.”
Women’s Basketball
Battling against Ontario’s best, the Lords finished with a 5-9 record, good for fifth place in the competitive East Division. They were eliminated from OCAA contention after losing a qualifying game.
Four-year veteran Onika Leveridge was a force on the court, and the future looks bright with young impact players like Sarah-Jane Laplante.
“The women’s basketball team proved all season long that they can compete with the best in the OCAA, earning a spot in the top ten rankings throughout the year,” said Dennis. “I’m excited to watch the program continue to grow and achieve its goals.”
Men’s Volleyball
With an 11-7 record, the Lords held their own in the East, finishing fourth. Their quest for OCAA glory ended prematurely with a loss in the qualifying game.
Trent Engel was a bright spot for the team, collecting a number of honours including East Rookie of the Year, East Second Team All-Star and East All-Rookie Team. Piet Kuypers was another standout, being named East First Team All-Star.
“The team continued to make strides, battling hard to secure home court advantage in the OCAA playoffs,” said Dennis. “With several key players returning and a strong group of recruits coming in, the team is well-positioned for a promising 2025-26 season.”
Women’s Volleyball
With a 14-4 record, the Lords finished second in the East in a season filled with strong performances and valuable growth.
Hosting the CCAA National Championship was a highlight, and the Lords held their own against the best teams in Canada. With strong performances up and down the lineup, they fell short of the medal round but made DC proud.
The team’s future is bright, with newcomer Elizabeth McFarland racking up Rookie of the Year, East Rookie of the Year, East First Team All-Star and East All-Rookie Team honours.
Jessie Buck was an East First Team All-Star, while Katherine Konkle, Chelsea Oke and Brooke Young were all named East Second Team All-Stars.
“Although the OCAA playoffs ended earlier than hoped for our women’s volleyball team, they bounced back with an impressive performance at the CCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship, earning their first national victory since 2004,” said Dennis. “The entire Athletics team shined off the court, proudly representing Durham College as hosts of the top eight teams in the country. It was a memorable year of volleyball and community spirit and we’re already looking forward to first serve in the 2025-26 season.”
Curling
In 2024-25, Durham College returned to the varsity curling scene for the first time since 1996, fielding a men's team and a mixed doubles squad.
After defeating Ontario Tech University and the University of Guelph in the fall, they participated in two collegiate competitions this winter. They competed in the Mountaineers Bonspiel, hosted by Mohawk College, in preparation for the OCAA Championship. At the bonspiel, the mixed doubles team picked up a win over Humber College.
Our student-athletes left a great impression at the OCAA Championships in February, with our mixed doubles team of Mariah Laroco and Matthew Panylo taking home the Hap Holman Fair Play Award, presented to the team that best exemplifies fair play during the tournament.
“It was exciting to see the Lords return to OCAA curling this winter, proudly representing the school at the championship,” said Dennis. “The men’s team came just one shot short of advancing to the medal round, while the mixed team was honoured with the Hap Holman Award.”
“It’s the first time that sitting volleyball has been included at a national level,” said Joe Millage, a former Director of ParaSport and Head Coach of the Lords team.
He got the volleyball rolling last summer when he approached DC Athletics and Recreation Director Scott Dennis about incorporating the sport, and he’s been amazed by the support from the college.
“Normally, I have to plead with people to give it a try. It took him about 10 seconds to say, ‘we’re in’,” said Millage. “Durham College truly embodies the spirit of inclusiveness.”
DC’s new team in the exciting and accessible sport hit the practice court last fall, and interest has been steadily growing ever since. Over the course of the season, the team grew from a handful of athletes to almost 30.
Recreation Therapy student Ashley Green was the first one on the court. With years of experience in the sport, she was eager to share it with her fellow DC students, and she helped lead the way for the team throughout the year.
“It’s been a great season and a lot of fun getting to play competitively and meeting a lot of new people along the way,” she said. “We had good turnouts for the practices each week, and everyone had good sportsmanship. “
The growing sport will continue to have a home at DC. The Ontario Volleyball Association is recruiting their first provincial sitting volleyball team, and the camp is scheduled to be held here in June.
Next season, the Lords will return to the court, and Green can’t wait.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to play, and I hope to make DC proud.”
Last week, Durham College (DC) played host to the best collegiate volleyball players in Canada.
The 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball National Championship took over DC’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre as seven of the country’s best teams travelled to the Oshawa campus for the annual tournament.
As hosts, the Lords were guaranteed a spot and put in a competitive showing over three games. They defeated the Mount Allison Mounties in straight sets and dropped games to two teams who went on to win medals: the tournament champion Lakeland Rustlers and the bronze medalist Vancouver Island University Mariners.
It was an effort to be proud of according to Scott Dennis, Athletic Director.
“It was great to get a win on the board as the host school. There’s always a lot of pressure to get that win, and they were able to pull it off,” he said.
It was a fitting end for the team, after they were eliminated from the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) playoff race earlier than they would have liked.
“They rebounded and really proved that they belonged on the national stage.”
For the athletes on the team, competing in the National Championship on their home court was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they made sure to soak it all in.
“Competing at nationals was an unforgettable experience. The energy from all the fans and the atmosphere on the court was incredible, and it’s something I’ll always remember,” said Brooke Young, a four-year veteran of the team. “What made it even more special was sharing that experience with my teammates. It was on a whole new level and it’s something I am determined to reach again next season.”
As hosts, DC received rave reviews. For afternoon games, students from local elementary schools were invited to attend and cheer on the athletes. The evening games were a hot ticket and the finals sold out, thanks in part to the nearby Humber Hawks making it to the gold medal game.
The Championship was complemented with additional events like a sitting volleyball tournament, a community skills clinic and tournament, and a CCAA Women in Sport Leadership Conference.
“We wanted to make it a celebration of volleyball,” said Dennis.
The multi-day event was just that, and DC head coach Tony Clarke was pleased to see it come together.
“Hosting the national championship was an amazing opportunity for the college and our community. Bringing the top teams across the country to showcase their talents was awesome,” he said. “Our athletes were grateful to be part of the event. Thank you to the host committee and Durham College athletic staff for creating memories that will last a lifetime.”
For the first time in almost 30 years, the Durham Lords Men’s Basketball team are Ontario champions.
Earlier this month, our Durham College (DC) Lords tore through the competition at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championships to win their first Men’s Basketball title since 1997.
“Winning this championship is an incredible moment for our program, our players, and our school. To bring home gold is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of this team,” said Head Coach Desmond Rowley.
Their journey to OCAA victory began at home in February, when they defeated the Fanshawe Falcons in a qualifying match and then got past the Mohawk Mountaineers in the quarter-finals. At the OCAA tournament in Etobicoke in March, they topped the St. Clair Saints in the semi-finals by a score of 85-80 before meeting the Humber Hawks in the gold medal game, where they won 67-61.
Mark Stoop was named the championship MVP thanks to his stellar performance in the final game, leading the Lords with 20 points and 10 rebounds while adding three steals, three assists, and a block.
The Lords hosted last year’s OCAA championships, and claimed the bronze after falling short against Humber in the semi-finals. That made this victory even sweeter, according to Scott Dennis, Athletic Director.
“This championship means everything to our program. Our team came into this season with a sense of unfinished business. To bring an OCAA title back to Durham College for the first time since 1997 is a testament to their hard work and belief in each other,” he said. “Desmond has built this program into a championship contender year-after-year. We couldn’t be prouder of this group and what they’ve accomplished.”
The Lords will be back in action soon as they head to Quebec next week to compete in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship.
“We’ve faced adversity, we’ve grown together, and now we’ve earned the right to compete on the national stage in Montreal,” said Rowley. “I couldn’t be prouder of these guys, and we’re not done yet.”
Update – March 17, 2025
The Lords made the most of their trip to the National Championship in Montreal and made Durham College proud by bringing home the silver medal.
After victories over the University of New Brunswick-Saint John Seawolves and Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, they reunited with their provincial rivals, the Humber Hawks, in the gold medal game. In a competitive outing, the Lords fell just short by a score of 76-70.
“We are incredibly proud of this team for not only winning the OCAA Championship but also earning a silver medal on the national stage,” said Scott Dennis, Athletic Director. “To bounce back after a tough loss just one year ago and show this level of resilience speaks volumes about their character and determination. They’ve set a new benchmark for Durham College basketball, and we are excited for the future.”
The Durham Lords made a strong showing in many sports this fall – including women’s softball, men’s baseball, women’s rugby sevens, men’s rugby, soccer and golf – and cheers were heard throughout the playing fields.
For the first time, the Durham College (DC) women’s softball team made it all the way to the top, winning the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association National Championship. Congratulations! In celebration, we thought we’d go deep with longstanding team captain Gracie Hearns and coach of the year Jamie Baker, to see the kind of effort required to make it to go big:
SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S SOFTBALL TEAM CAPTAIN GRACIE HEARNS
Team captain Gracie Hearns has played softball since she was four years old and has been captain of the women’s team at DC since second year. In April, she will graduate from the Business Marketing program (she also completed a diploma in Interactive Media Design). She talks about what team life looks like and how softball fits in with academics.
Congratulations on an amazing season. How does it feel?
Playing here is everything that I hoped and dreamed of growing up. It was just such an incredible feeling to be like a part of Durham College history, being the first national gold medal for us and an undefeated season. So just being part of that history that people are going to continue to talk about, and other teams are going to know about for a long time, it feels incredible to be a part of that.
What does your team look like?
There are 18 roster players, four coaches, two athletic trainers and a student manager. It’s a lot of people. In my four years, we've had such a great atmosphere on the team and no issues. It's a lot of time with each other for two months. So, I've been pretty blessed to have really awesome teammates throughout those four years. And amazing coaching staff and the athletic trainer, student managers, everybody has a role. I have nothing but good things to say about everybody on the team.
What’s your practice schedule?
For the first two months of the year, which is the college softball season, it's almost every day that includes either a practice or a workout. We have 24 games in a regular season in about two months. It’s a busy season to get that many games in, plus any exhibition games, nationals and provincials. So, it's a lot going on in two months, but there's nothing that I'd rather be doing.
How do you fit your studies in?
A lot of my study time is on bus trips to games, especially to Windsor or Ottawa. The majority of our practices take place later in the evening, generally after 6 p.m. A couple of them go to 9 or 10 p.m. You try to find time in this busy schedule, an hour here, hour there. For my schooling, I take morning classes, just because it makes it a little bit easier to fit in those practices and game times.
What other training do you do?
During the season, we have a program made for us, called the strength and conditioning program, which Durham Athletics has for all the teams. During our first bit of the season, it's a lot of keeping our body loose, and then after that, the workout portion is a lot of building up to more heavy weights, while still implementing exercises that help our sport. Then we do our own training in the winter, a lot of exercises that we don't necessarily want to do in season.
Will you keep up with softball after you graduate?
I will graduate in April. As of right now, I am helping coach three softball teams, two in the U13 age group, and one U15. I really enjoy doing that, it’s really nice because they all come and support me at the games. Like coming around in a full circle. I'm hoping to continue my coaching career.
SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S SOFTBALL HEAD COACH JAMIE BAKER
Women’s softball head coach Jamie Baker started his coaching career as a volunteer with Durham College in 2013 and took over the softball program in 2021-22. He was recognized as softball coach of the year.
Congratulations on a great season! How did it come about?
This was a historic year for us here at Durham College softball, in a program that's already very strong. We've had a great history with 22 OCAA championships and whole pile of silver medals at the nationals. I was here for the national silver, for our provincial golds, but this is just that pinnacle that we were really searching for. That was the biggest thing this year for me, that was my goal.
What do you think put you over the top this year?
It was all to do with the level of talent we had, with the current players and that blend of new recruits. I couldn't ask for a better recruitment year, and obviously the seniors and juniors and sophomores who performed very well this year as well. So, it was a combination of everything.
What’s your recruiting strategy?
One big piece is I coach summer ball at that right age group. I was with U17 this year, so I was around a lot of kids that age. The year before I coached U19. So, the last three years, I've been around coaching players and I'm out to watch.
Player fit is also a huge piece for my team. Having the right type of players who play the game the right way for the right reasons, who are selfless. Team-first mentality players, that's super important to me. They have to be coachable. Because when you come here, you could be really good, but with the coaches I have, we're going to make you better.
Why do you think sports are good for students in their overall academic career?
The athletes that come to play softball love the game of softball. It gives them purpose, organization. I hear this from so many athletes, they’re saying, ‘with softball, I have purpose, I have friends on the team, I have those outlets that I need. When school is getting tough, I can go to practice and just get it out, get that physical piece out.’ Exercise releases endorphins. That's a good thing, a positive thing.
The Highlights of the Fall Season
Women’s Soccer
Winners of the Campus Cup against Ontario Tech, the team saw a strong season with an overall record of 6-8, making it to the OCAA Championship Quarter-Final where they lost to Sheridan 3-2.
Player awards included an East Division First Team All-Star for Sage Thomas-Roberts and an East Division All-Rookie Team for Alexis Bayley.
Men’s Soccer
Winners of the Campus Cup against Ontario Tech, the team placed third in the East Division with an overall record of 6-4-6. They lost in the OCAA Championship Quarter-Final, 1-0 to Sheridan.
Player wins include Rookie of the Year for Saail Awan, Defensive Player of the Year for Deandre Branch, First Team All-Stars for Chris Badinbengi and Deandre Branch, Second Team All-Stars for Saail Awan and Jaden Grant, and All-Rookie Team for Saail Awan.
Women’s Rugby Sevens
Winners of the OCAA Championship atLoyalist College the team defeating St. Lawrence 24-14. Their overall record was 15-1.
Player recognition included Rookie of the Year for Amber Edgerton, Defensive Player of the Year for Danika Johnston, League All-Stars for Maya Austin, Shay Morris, Camryn Wood, All-Rookie Team for Amber Edgerton, Championship MVP for Shay Morris, and Championship All-Stars for Maya Austin, Amber Edgerton.
Men’s Rugby
Made it to the OCAA Championship Quarter-Final, losing 31-20 against Georgian, with an overall record of 3-3.
Special recognition included Rookie of the Year for Owen MacKinnon, East Division Rookie of the Year for Owen MacKinnon, East Division All-Stars for Tyler Janes, Patrick Lynch, Owen MacKinnon, Ethan Montgomery, Andrew Neveu, and All-Rookie Team for Owen MacKinnon.
Women's Softball
Winners of the CCSA National Championship at the University of Ottawa, defeating Humber 7-1, and the OCAA Championship at Durham College, defeating Humber 8-0. Their overall record was 37-1.
Player highlights included Player of the Year for Peyton Jones, Coach of the Year for Jamie Baker, Rookie of the Year for Peyton Jones, Batting Champion for Grace Hearns, First Team All-Stars for Jessica Benz, Grace Hearns, Peyton Jones, Second Team All-Stars for Jayden Bennett, Makayla Benz, Jessica Greene, Chelsea Oke, All-Rookie Team for Jessica Benz, Peyton Jones, Championship MVP for Peyton Jones and Championship All-Star - Jessica Benz, Jessica Greene.
Men's Baseball
Bronze medal winners at the OCAA Championship, losing to Lambton 7-0. Their overall record was 16-6.
Player highlights included First Team All-Star for Griffin Oliver, Second Team All-Star for Zach Rivers, All-Rookie Team for Mark Baxter, Championship All-Star for Griffin Oliver.
Golf
DC’s golf team placed 5th out of 10 at the OCAA Championship, qualifying for nationals. Player accomplishments were as follows:
OCAA Championship: Team: +98; Sean Michalicka (+21 - Tied for 16th); Cory Pharand (+24 - Tied for 20th); Barrett Potter (+28 - Tied for 25th); Quin Doherty (+30 - 29th); Ethan Johnston (+34 - Tied for 32nd)
CCAA National Championship: Cory Pharand (+30 - Tied for 28th); Sean Michalicka (+33 - Tied for 33rd); Barrett Potter (+45 - 40th); Ethan Johnston (+50 - 45th); Quin Doherty (+67 - 47th)
This year, Durham College (DC) students will have the opportunity to play an exciting and accessible sport.
In addition to hosting the 2025 Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball Championship next March, DC is partnering with ParaSport Ontario for the inaugural college/university sitting volleyball tournament. As the host, DC will enter a team in the competition, and tryouts begin this fall. All students are welcome to give it a try, and the team will practice weekly in preparation for the competition next March.
Originating in the Netherlands 70 years ago, the sport is a modified version of volleyball primarily for athletes with a disability. During play, athletes sit on the floor and attempt to strike the ball over a lowered volleyball net.
“With the national championship coming to the Durham Region next year, it is important that we use our platform to create inclusive opportunities in sport that can be enjoyed by all,” said Scott Dennis, Athletic Director. “We could not think of a better partner than ParaSport Ontario to achieve our goals with.”
The initiative was announced at the ParaSport Ontario Awards Brunch earlier this summer.
The DC team is already off to a strong start with the addition of Recreation Therapy student Ashley Green as its first member. The 19-year-old is a veteran of the sport with six years of experience, and is excited to share it with her fellow students.
“I’m honored to be the first Durham College student on the team,” she said. “It’s amazing to see the growth of the sport in the last six years, and I’m looking forward to getting to play competitively.”
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