Thunder Athletics Weekly Recap - Week 22

This past weekend was a significant one for multiple Concordia Thunder teams, as badminton, men’s and women’s basketball, and indoor track and field athletes all competed at major events across the country. From national competition on the east coast to conference championships across western Canada, Thunder student athletes delivered strong performances and brought home multiple medals and individual awards. 

Badminton

Two of our Thunder badminton athletes, Jonathan Su and Raphael Motel, represented Concordia on the national stage at the CCAA National Championships in Saint John, New Brunswick. Competing against the top collegiate badminton athletes in the country, Su and Motel battled through a highly competitive field throughout the week-long tournament. Their determination, consistency, and strong teamwork paid off as they secured a national bronze medal defeating Fanshawe in the medal match 21-12, 21-7.

Basketball

The Thunder women’s basketball team travelled to Briercrest, Saskatchewan to compete in the ACAC Women’s Basketball Championships. The team opened the tournament with a strong performance, defeating the host team 74-66 in their first matchup. The following day, the Thunder faced one of their biggest ACAC rivals in the standings, The King’s University Eagles. In a hard-fought contest between two highly competitive teams, Concordia pushed until the final moments but ultimately fell short with a 70-63 loss. Despite the setback, the Thunder quickly regrouped and returned to the court the following day determined to finish the tournament on a high note. In the bronze medal game against the SAIT Trojans, Concordia delivered a strong performance on both ends of the floor, securing the win and bringing home the ACAC bronze medal, the first time in 16 years. Thunder standout Chloe Sutherland had an exceptional weekend and season overall. She was named a Tournament All-Star for her performance at the championships and was also recognized with two of the ACAC top individual awards, earning both ACAC Player of the Year and ACAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, the Thunder men’s basketball team travelled to Vermilion, Alberta where the Lakeland Rustlers hosted the ACAC Men’s Basketball Championships. Concordia opened the tournament against the SAIT Trojans but fell 113-73 in their first game. The Thunder bounced back in game two of the tournament, as they defeated Briercrest with a huge 111-86 victory. In the battle for fifth place, Concordia faced their Edmonton rivals, the NAIT Ooks, in what turned into an intense and competitive matchup. Both teams fought hard throughout the game, but NAIT ultimately secured the 78-70 win. With the result, the Thunder finished sixth overall in the championship tournament. Despite the tournament outcome, the season featured strong individual performances, highlighted by Malik Edwards being named the ACAC Rookie of the Year after an impressive debut season in the conference.

Indoor Track

Back in Edmonton, the Thunder indoor track and field team competed at the ACAC Championships held at the Kinsmen Sport Centre. The championship meet showcased strong performances across multiple events, with Thunder athletes consistently reaching the podium throughout the weekend. As a team, CUE delivered an excellent showing, finishing third overall in the conference standings. The women’s team also secured a third place finish, while the men’s team placed second overall. 

Several Thunder athletes had standout individual performances during the championships. Owen Stewart had an exceptional meet, capturing a gold medal in the men’s 1000m and adding a silver medal in the 600m. His strong performances also earned him ACAC All-Conference recognition. Markus Boland had a strong showing in the men’s races. Boland captured bronze medals in both the 1000m and 600m events and was also recognized for his performance by earning an ACAC All-Conference award. Ashlee Walker continued to dominate the women’s events, winning gold medals in the 1000m, 1500m, and 600m races. She also contributed to the relay team success, earning silver medals in both the women’s 4x200m relay and the women’s 4x400m relay event, while also getting an ACAC All Conference and ACAC Player of the Year.

Overall, it was a memorable weekend for Thunder Athletics, highlighted by national success in badminton, championship medals in basketball, and multiple podium finishes at the ACAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The performances demonstrated the dedication that our student-athletes put in all season and how much it can pay off.