Best-ever finish for U of S Huskies at U Sports wrestling nationals
Women take Canada West track title, Lehner male track athlete of the year
There was a definite silver lining for University of Saskatchewan wrestlers at the U Sports national championships.
The U of S Huskies had their best-ever finish as a program, with both the men and women placing second in the team standings at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
Four Huskies captured gold Saturday. On the women’s side, Alexandra Schell won her third consecutive national title in three years with a win in the 48-kilogram class. Along the way, Schell won all four of her matches in convincing fashion.
Leading the way on the men’s side were brothers Hunter and Carson Lee from Flin Flon.
Carson Lee capped off his outstanding freshman campaign with a gold medal and U Sports male rookie of the year honours. Hunter Lee improved upon his silver medal from a year ago with four wins and gold on the weekend.
Logan Sloan dominated the 54kg class for his second-straight national title.
Berit Johnson (72 kg), with a second straight silver medal at nationals, and Maddison Haney (82 kg) both took home silver to round out the Huskie medallists. U of S women won three medals and racked up 42 points to place second in the nation for a second straight year.
Daniel Olver was named the U Sports women’s coach of the year.
The Huskie men, with three gold medals, chalked up a total of 54 points for second place, their best finish at nationals since 2005.
CANADA WEST TRACK CHAMPIONS
The U of S Huskies are Canada West women’s track and field champions for a third straight year.
Saskatchewan led from start to finish at the conference championships at the Saskatoon Field House to capture the Eleanor Haslam trophy over the weekend.
Michelle Harrison was named the Canada West female track athlete of the year after capturing gold in the 60-metre hurdles, 60-metre sprint and 4x200-metre relay. The fifth-year Huskie recorded a Canada West championship record-breaking performance in the 60-metre hurdles (8.21 seconds) to earn the outstanding female performance of the meet.
“That was just a remarkable achievement,” Reindl told Huskie
Athletics.
“(Harrison) was able to take down the record of one of the most prestigious Canada West athletes of all time in Jessica Zelinka.”
The Huskies collected 10 medals, including five gold, to total 142.5 points. The 4x200-metre relay of team of Harrison, Ashlyn Mooney, Leadan Chartier and Kendra Farmer also set a new conference mark.
“Our relay team, along with a supporting cast, have been on point all season,” noted Reindl. “Absolutely outstanding as a team. They found a way to get it done.”
Not to be outdone on the men’s side, Huskies’ Karson Lehner was named Canada West male track athlete of the year after capturing gold in the 300 metres and silver in the 60-metre sprint. Lehner set a new Canada West championship record of 33.07 seconds in the 300 metres, earning him the outstanding male performance of the meet.
Saskatchewan finished a close second, overall, behind the Calgary Dinos, who were able to hold off a late push from the Huskies. Through 14 events, the Huskies held a 111-110 points advantage before Calgary closed out the meet, and Canada West pennant, by placing first and third in the 1,500-metre race.
The 2020 U Sports championships will be held March 6-9 in Edmonton.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
In Canada West women’s volleyball, Saskatchewan bowed out Saturday with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-12) loss to the host University of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton.
The Huskies, which had qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2002, pushed the conference quarter-final match to the threegame limit.
“It was a good battle,” said U of S coach Mark Dodds. “Both teams showed that Canada West is still a very strong volleyball conference.”
Fourth-year Huskies outside hitter Emily Koshinsky had nine kills.
On Friday, the Huskies upset the Pandas 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 16-14) as Koshinsky has 31 kills — the fourth-most in Canada West playoff history — on 60 swings to enter the record books.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
In Canada West men’s volleyball in Edmonton, Saskatchewan fell to the host Alberta Golden Bears in four sets (25-18, 27-29, 25-22, 25-18) Friday.
Graduating 6-foot-9 middle Daven Pascal put up eight kills, three aces, and three block assists.
“Alberta’s a good team, a very experienced team,” said U of S coach Sean Mckay. “It was going to take us playing our best to beat them. There were times where we at least showed that ‘best’, so that was awesome to see.”