Men’s and Women’s Rowing
Vikes men’s and women’s novice rowing team is recruiting for the 2014-15 season. All students are welcome, no prior experience required. Men’s rowing head coach Aalbert Van Schothorst recommends a love for the outdoors and a passion to represent the Vikes for all physically active students who are interested.
The Vikes women’s program has won 11 Canadian University National Championship titles and the men’s program has won six. 101 Vikes rowing alumni have represented Canada at the Olympics.
There will be six days of information and tryouts for aspiring students. Tryout testing will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 12 p.m.
Women’s Field Hockey
The Vikes women’s field hockey team comes out of their pre-season, three-game tour nearly undefeated.
After five new recruits joining the team, they earned a 3-2 victory against the Yale Bulldogs, a 3-1 victory over the Brown Bears, and a 0-0 draw with Harvard.
The successful pre-season games place the women’s team in a good position for their first upcoming Canada West season against Calgary and UBC, featuring two home games and two on the road.
Third-year midfielder Andrea Jones was part of the pre-season tour and is confident in her team’s abilities for the upcoming season.
The 0-0 draw with Harvard was in part due to an early referee whistle call as the Vikes scored a goal, she said. She admits the momentum from the end of the game was crucial for their winning game against Brown.
“I wouldn’t per se take it as a loss, but definitely a learning experience,” she said.
Overall, the games matched her expectations, “but we definitely have things to work on for the upcoming season,” she said. “We have five new rookies who are all very talented, and I think we should have a strong core group.”
Jones is looking forward to taking more of a leadership role for the team, on and off the field as an experienced third-year player. “I want the younger players to look up to me as a role model,” she said.
Head coach Lynne Beecroft will be entering her 31st season at the helm of the women’s field hockey team.
“[Beecroft] is a great coach. I think she’s going to want our play to be more dynamic this season,” she said.
Men’s Swimming
Vikes men’s swimmer Jon McKay earned silver at the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Maui. The event, which ended on Aug. 31, attracts junior swimmers from around the world. The second-year swimmer achieved a time of 15:21.81 in the 1500-metre freestyle, a new record for the Pacific Coast Swimming club.
Rob Hill and Peter Brothers also competed at the championship, and will be joining the Vikes team this year. The men’s swimming team will begin their 2014-15 season at home with the Senior Circuit on Oct. 15 in preparation for the College Cup Meet in Vancouver on Nov. 1.
Nominated by UBC Managing Director of Athletics Ashley Howard, Vikes Athletics and Recreation Director Clint Hamilton took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge on Aug. 21 in the company of staff and rowers. Hamilton nominated Jim Dunsdon, UVic Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs, who also took part.
Events Calendar
Friday, Sept. 5:
Thunderfest, Student Union Building, 8 a.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. UBC, Centennial Stadium, 5 p.m.
Men’s Soccer vs. UBC, Centennial Stadium, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6:
UVSS Dodgeball Tournament, Ian Stewart Complex, 8 a.m.
Men’s Rugby vs. Velox, Wallace Field, 2:45 p.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity Western, Centennial Stadium, 5 p.m.
Men’s Soccer vs. Trinity Western, Centennial Stadium, 7:15 p.m.
Women’s Rugby vs. Lethbridge, Kelowna B.C., TBD
Sunday, Sept. 7:
Women’s Rugby vs. Lethbridge, Kelowna B.C., TBD
Men’s Golf at Wolf Pack Invitational, until Sept. 9
Women’s Golf at Wolf Pack Invitational, until Sept. 9
