This weekend, the NAIT Ooks came against some tough matchups, but their resilience and heart showed throughout their games. If you missed the action, here's a quick recap from the weekend.
Basketball
Men's:
The Ooks men's basketball team put on a strong showing Friday afternoon, taking down the Augustana Vikings 87–73 in an entertaining home matchup. Four of the five starters finished in double figures, with Serhat Chen leading the flock and pacing the offense with 16 points. Kohl Kedman finished with 15 points, and Patrick Fisher with 14 points, keeping the team balanced and controlled.
Women's:
Mirroring the success of the men's squad, the Ooks women's basketball team also secured a hard-fought win Friday, edging out the Vikings 66–60. Starter Mackenzie Mrazik led the charge with an impressive 20-point performance, while Mallory Ogilvie followed closely with 16 points, helping the Ooks maintain their lead in the closing minutes.
Volleyball
Men's:
The Ooks men's volleyball team responded in a big way this weekend against the Augustana Vikings. Friday night saw the Ooks grind out a thrilling five-set battle on the road, showcasing resilience and composure in a true back-and-forth showdown. Ben Kissier and Josh Watson were standout performers, combining for nearly 30 kills as the team stayed disciplined and patient under pressure. Back on home court Saturday night, the Ooks wasted no time, cruising to a dominant three-set sweep of the Vikings. Mason Gorski anchored the effort with a stellar performance, tallying 41 assists and eight digs while displaying his veteran poise and high volleyball IQ.
Women's:
It was a challenging weekend for the Ooks women's volleyball team as they went up against a determined Augustana Vikings squad. On Friday, the Ooks were swept in three sets despite a strong effort, with Rachel Mallett leading the team offensively with 14 kills. Looking to respond on home court Saturday, the Ooks showed more fight but were unable to slow the Vikings' momentum. In a tightly contested four-set match, the Ooks fell for their second loss of the weekend. Defensively, Raquel Lussier stood out with 18 digs, while Mackenna Doyle followed closely with 13, earning well-deserved recognition for their efforts.
Hockey
Men's:
The Ooks men's hockey team faced a tough test this weekend against the Red Deer Kings but rose to the challenge. On Friday night at home, the Ooks delivered an impressive 5–1 victory, with Ty Whitford leading the way by scoring two goals and showcasing his dominance and determination on the ice. Heading into Saturday's matchup with high expectations, the Ooks were unable to carry the momentum, falling 6–1 to the Kings. The results capped off an exciting split weekend between the two competitive squads.
Women's:
Matching the men's squad with a split weekend, the Ooks women's hockey team went head-to-head with the Lakeland Rustlers. Friday night delivered an exciting 4–3 victory, as the Ooks jumped out to an early advantage by scoring the first three goals and maintained momentum throughout the game. Madison McCullough sealed the well-earned win with the final goal of the night. Saturday's rematch proved more challenging, as the Ooks fell 4–1 to the Rustlers. Despite the setback, the team showed resilience and heart across both games in a hard-fought weekend series.
Badminton:
The Ooks badminton teams put together a strong showing heading into the final weekend of January. In men's singles, Matthew Wong earned third place after defeating teammate Om Patel. On the women's side, Jenna Wong also captured third for the Ooks, taking down SAIT's Emma Grabowski. The men's doubles final delivered plenty of drama, as Concordia's Raphael Motel and Jonathan Su claimed first on their home court, edging out Ooks pair Ethan Lee and Matthew Wong. In women's doubles, the NAIT duo of Ella Dolan and Jenna Wong secured third place with a win over Concordia Thunder's Prabhleen Kaur and Emma Tran. Rounding out the podium finishes, NAIT's Davis Wong and Mataia Wong took third in mixed doubles, defeating fellow Ooks Ethan Lee and Ella Dolan.
Indoor Track:
For their first tournament as the NAIT Ooks indoor track team, expectations were high—and the athletes did not disappoint. Brynn Herbert dominated the women's 1000m, crossing the finish line first in 3:01, setting a new record. In the men's 4x200m relay, the Ooks sprinted to a strong second-place finish with a time of 1:37. Malachi Muir stole the spotlight in the men's 50m sprint, claiming first with an impressive 6.09 seconds. Overall, the NAIT Ooks wrapped up the weekend on a high note, finishing fifth with 38 points.