Sports
OPINION: Table Tennis Should be a Varsity Sport
by: Derek Marshall When is the last time the University of Windsor, or U Sports for that matter, added a new competitive varsity sport to the lineup? No seriously, I’m asking, because I don’t know, and it is hard to pin down an exact date. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that it has been a while, especially considering the rate at which society is constantly evolving. To the outside observer, the university sports menu looks stagnant. It feels like the same 12 varsity sport offerings have remained constant through time. So, it is time to mix things up. U
The Grand Return to Sport
by: Derek Marshall As the saying goes, you don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Many members of the University of Windsor community find this to be true when it comes to Lancers sports. The COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined the traditional sport competitions that are usually part of the campus buzz. It’s contributed to this dearth of campus experience – we all feel it, not just the students. Looking forward, however, this break from varsity athletics may result in a revitalized appreciation for campus athletic competitions. Could this be a rare silver lining in what’s been a pretty
Look Out for Esports
by: Derek Marshall While the COVID-19 pandemic has functionally limited the vast majority of Lancer varsity teams for past year, a new team has emerged amidst the restrictions. From the beginning of the fall semester, Lancer Gaming, the University of Windsor’s esports team, has been the only university team competing against other academic institutions. For those that aren’t aware, esports is the term used to describe the world of competitive, organized video gaming. Lancer Gaming competes against 16 other teams in the Ontario Post-Secondary Esports (OPSE) organization. OPSE is comprised of provincial universities and colleges. The organization has $24,000 in
Restricted Assessment: Recruitment Amidst the Pandemic
by: Derek Marshall The recruitment of student-athletes can be a daunting task for varsity coaches during a normal year, let alone during a global pandemic. With the variety of ever-changing restrictions imposed by various levels of governing bodies, the difficult yet important task of student-athlete recruitment has changed over the past year. Rather than relying upon in-person observations of sought-after athletes at tournaments and games, coaches must now rely upon highlight tapes, game films and if regionally permitted, streams of live competitions. “There’s been no face-to-face contact interaction by coaches with specific student-athletes,” said Mike Havey, Director of Athletics and
A New Look for Lancer Men’s Volleyball
by: Derek Marshall The Lancer men’s volleyball team taking the court, should there be a season beginning this September, is projected to be vastly different than the team that left the court last February. It has been nearly one year since their last competitive match, which equates to one entire season of competitive play forgone for the team. Coach James Gravelle and former team captain and first-team all-Canadian Pierce Johnson agreed that had the team been able to compete in the 2020-21 season, they were optimistic about their chances for victory. “It was looking to be one of our stronger
A Different Kind of Loss: Lancer Men’s Volleyball and COVID-19
Photo Credit: Robin Kasem By Shaun Smith The Lancer men’s volleyball team was primed to make a run at the 2020-21 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship. They never got the chance. Rewind the clock to February 29, 2020. 11 pm, Kingston. Coach James Gravelle and his Lancers, ranked third in the OUA West, had just lost a tough quarterfinal match against the defending OUA champions Queen’s. In spite of the immediate disappointment, optimism for the future of the team, and the next year, in particular, remained high. In 2019 the Lancers had won the OUA bronze medal, and a strong
Black History Month: A Time for Appreciation, Education, and Celebration
by: Justin Peters The month of February brings cold weather and a much-needed reading week. But more importantly, February ushers in a focus on Black History throughout the University of Windsor campus and the greater community. During the month, groups and teams within the Lancer community possess one common goal: to promote on-going learning about Black History and culture. Sharing history and culture is important. It helps to facilitate a deeper understanding of one another and allows individuals to connect on a socio-cultural level. Thus, Black History Month is incredibly important at the University of Windsor and the greater Windsor
The New Home for Lancer Recreation: The Inside Scoop on the $73 million Project
by: Justin Peters Despite the delays, deferrals, postponements and cancellations the University community has faced as a result of the pandemic, construction on the Lancer Sport and Recreation Centre (LSRC) is well underway and could provide some much-needed optimism for students, staff and faculty. The inauguration of the $73 million athletic centre is set for spring 2022. The development of the LSRC experienced a 27-day delay at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, but has since made up for the lost time and is expected to open its doors to the public in May of 2022, on schedule.
UWindsor Athletics Take Aim at Breast Cancer with the Shoot for the Cure Initiative
by: Justin Peters Shoot for the Cure is a favourite cause of the University of Windsor’s varsity teams and their efforts have banked $1,000 already with hopes of a substantial donation for 2021. Elisa Mitton, the Sports Information Coordinator for the University of Windsor, says the initiative has gained traction and become a more common cause based on the growing understanding that this type of cancer doesn’t impact women alone. “We have grown the event to include not only our women’s basketball team but seven of our varsity teams,” Mitton said. “Breast cancer doesn’t only affect women who have been