U of R Sports Roundup – Jan. 27, 2011
Nystuen leads the way for Regina’s track and field team
Jonathan Hamelin
Sports Editor
Men’s Basketball
Paul Gareau and Jeff Lukomski helped Regina sweep the Winnipeg Wesmen last weekend in a pair of Canada West road games.
On Friday, Gareau poured in 28 points and pilled up 10 rebounds, while Lukomski scored 15 points, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, and dished out eight assists as the Cougars escaped with an 83-80 victory. Kris Heshka (14 points) and Marek Downarowicz (10) also chipped in for Regina, which led by 23 after the half before nearly giving up the lead to the Wesmen.
The next night, ironically enough, the Cougars were the ones trailing after the first half, facing a deficit of 11 points. Unlike the Wesmen, however, Regina was able to complete the comeback and won 90-75. Lukomski once again killed from outside, hitting seven of 12 attempts and leading the team with 22 points, while Gareau chipped in 21 points. Other key players for Regina were Heshka (14 points), Downarowicz (13), and Darius Mole (12, eight assists).
It was a big weekend for Lukomsi, who is now the conference’s all-time career leader in three-pointers made (287) and three-point attempts (804). He is also 25 points away from breaking the U of R’s all-time scoring record, currently held by Glen Nelson (1422). At 10-6 on the season, the Cougars are fifth in the conference. The team battles the Fraser Valley Cascades on the road this Friday and Saturday.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
Tait Nystuen led the way for the Cougars at the Golden Bear Open in Edmonton last Sunday, picking up two first-place finishes and one second-place finish.
Nyusten finished first in the 600-metre run with a time of 1 minute 20.26 seconds. He teamed up with Mason Foote, Ethan Gardner, and David Walford to earn a victory in the men’s 4X200m relay. The team, which finished in 1:30.35, posted the second-fastest time by a CIS team this season. In the 300m dash, Nyusten was second after posting a time of 35.29.
In other men’s results, Foote finished second in the 60m dash (6.92); Connor MacDonald earned a fourth-place finish in the long jump (6.94m), the best in the Canada West this season; and Michael Barber was second in the pentathlon (3377 points).
Like the men, the women’s 4X2 relay team also had a successful day. The team – consisting of Amanda Ruller, Merissa Margetts, Kelsey Bohachewski, and Chelsea Valois – finished third at 1:42.13. The run broke the U of R record and helped the team meet the CIS standard. They are ranked third in the nation.
Ruller finished second in the 60m dash in 7.63, followed closely behind by Margetts, who finished third with a time of 7.77.
Regina is back in action this Friday, when the team travels to Saskatoon for the Sled Dog Meet.
Women’s Softball
Odessa’s Shirrae Muhr and Lipton’ Jillian Huber took home a lot of hardware last Friday at Regina’s awards banquet.
The Cougars honoured Muhr as the team’s top pitcher. Muhr also shared the team most valuable player award with Regina’s Amanda Foraie and received the players’ choice award, which recognizes dedication, commitment, and leadership. Huber received the Alberta Intercollegiate Women’s Fastball Association’s top offensive player award, was named the Cougars’ top hitter and shared team playoff MVP honours with Regina’s Kelsey Gullickson. Cassidy Gale of Regina was named the team’s top rookie.
Regina posted a 20-10 record during the 2010 season and won silver at the 2010 Canadian Collegiate Championships, held October in Saskatoon.
Women’s Basketball
Regina battled hard on the road to earn a split against a tough Wesmen squad last weekend in Canada West action.
Heading into the games, each team sported an identical 12-2 record.
Lindsay Ledingham scored 19 points and Joanna Zalesiak registered 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Cougars bested the Wesmen 54-49 in a low-scoring affair on Friday. Anne Mercer chipped in with 13 rebounds for Regina.
On Saturday, Zalesiak hit a half-court shot to send the game into overtime, but Regina would eventually fall 65-63. She had 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Cougars, while hitting some clutch shots down the stretch and in overtime. Gabrielle Gheyssen had 11 points for Regina, which got eight points and 11 rebounds from Mercer.
The Cougars, who travel to Fraser Valley this weekend for a pair of games, are still battling for first in the conference, they are currently third at 13-3.
Men’s Volleyball
In what has been a trying season, the Cougars were able to find some positives last weekend.
The Cougars split a pair of Canada West games with the Wesmen last weekend at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport, increasing their win total from last season (they won no games) to two.
Regina failed to win a set on Friday, losing 18-25, 21-25, 29-31. Jamie Wilkins piled up 14 kills for the Cougars, which got 13 kills and seven digs from Leon Dyck, six blocks from Joel Colter, and 18 assists from Caleb Eschbach.
The Cougars got some payback on Saturday, cruising to a 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 victory. Wilkins led the way with 18 kills. Eschbach put up 42 assists, the most by a Cougar setter in a game in several seasons, and Dyck tallied 12 kills.
Regina is tied for eighth in the conference at 2-10. The Cougars host the Brandon Bobcats this weekend on Friday and Saturday at the CKHS. The games are at 8 p.m. on Friday and 6:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Men’s Hockey
Regina is quickly dropping out of post-season contention.
Thanks to a pair of Canada West home losses at the hands of the UBC Thunderbirds last weekend, Regina remains last in the conference at 6-13-1.
On Friday at the Co-operators Centre, the Cougars fell 5-3 after trying to fight out of a 3-0 deficit in the second period. Craig Cuthbert, Brett Leffler and Dillon Johnstone scored for the Cougars, which got 31 saves from Adam Ward.
The next night was closer, but still ended in a Regina loss, this one being a 2-1 shootout decision. Tyler Penny scored Regina’s lone goal and Ward earned 21 saves.
Regina will look to make one last push for the playoffs starting this weekend, when they battle the Manitoba Bisons at home on Friday and Saturday. Both games are at 7 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre.
Men’s Wrestling
The Cougars competed at the Jamestown Open last Saturday, but the results were unavailable at source.
The team competed against Minot State on Wednesday at the CKHS, but results were unavailable as of press time.
Women’s Wrestling
Regina took part in the Guelph Open last Saturday, but the results were unavailable at source.
This Saturday, the Cougars travel to California for the Women’s College Wrestling Association Championship.
