The 2009-10 sports season had plenty of highlights and controversies. The Ryersonian grades all interuniversity teams.
Women’s Basketball
Result: lost in semifinals
The women’s basketball team started off the year at 7-3 to post its best ever regular season record but faded at the end to finish in second place.
In the OUA East semifinals, the Rams started off well but lost control of the game in the fourth quarter.
Coach Sandy Pothier should have the majority of her players back for next season and the expectations will be high for another strong season.
Grade: A
Men’s Hockey
Result: lost in semifinals
By far the biggest news that hit the men’s hockey team was an off-ice event. The acquisition of Maple Leaf Gardens means that Ryerson’s critics will have only one more year to complain about how poor the hockey team has been doing.
But, this year, coach Graham Wise and his team didn’t let those critics do any moaning and groaning.
And he didn’t even let the big news take away his team’s spotlight as this was one of their best seasons in recent history.
With Matt Schmermund’s team-leading 29 points, the team had its highest win total since the turn of the century, sweeping U of T before bowing out to UQTR in the semifinals.
Grade: A
Men’s Soccer
Result: lost in first round
Under coach and athletics director Ivan Joseph, the men’s soccer team showed that a disciplined team will perform better.
They finished with their first winning record since the 1970s and advanced to the playoffs.
Co-captain Alex Braletic didn’t waste any time in his debut season for the Rams, being named a second-team CIS all-Canadian and winning Ryerson’s Male Athlete of the Year award.
Grade: B+
Rowing
Result: 1 gold medal
The consistent duo of Matt Buie and Philippe Roy won the men’s heavyweight double race at the OUA championships, winning the university’s first rowing gold medal.
Grade: B
Figure Skating
Result: 3 gold medals
The Rams won three gold medals at the OUA Championships but finished seventh overall.
Grade: B-
Men’s Basketball
Result: lost in first round
Two losses in a row to U of T at the end of the season cost them the chance at playing their second home playoff game in as many years.
Expectations were high during Roy Rana’s first season as head coach, but it will take a few years to develop the kind of program that won him Ontario championships during his high school coaching days.
Grade: C+
Women’s Volleyball
Result: out of playoffs
If not for a slight brain cramp at the beginning of the season, there is no telling how far this team could have gone.
The locker-room, Facebook drinking disgrace early in the season cost them two games, but coach Dustin Reid did extremely well to put the team back on the right track, missing the playoffs by only one game.
Grade: C
Fencing
Result: no medals
The men’s team qualified for the OUA championships, but the closest they came to a medal was with Horia Puscas, who finished in fourth place in the men’s sabre.
Grade: C
Badminton
Result: out of playoffs
Ryerson still found out that they have a long way to go to meet the champion’s standards. The team went 1-4 this season and lost to the eventual champions, the University of Western Ontario, 12-1.
Grade: C
Men’s Volleyball
Result: out of playoffs
With six rookies, it was largely a rebuilding year for coach Mirek Porosa and his men.
Grade:C-
Women’s Soccer
Result: out of playoffs
There was no shortage of controversy from this team. The quitting of Tessa Dimitrakopoulos and rumours that players were unhappy with coach Peyvand Mossavat all contributed to a dismal season on the field. First team OUA all-star Andrea Raso was one of the team’s few bright spots.
Grade: D