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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”