Correction to Lindsay Verkoeyen below.
TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments within collegiate sports in Ontario.
Honoured members include student-athletes, coaches and builders of the association. This year, 32 new members will be recognized in the 10th OCAA Hall of Fame ceremony, to be held at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, May 1.
The OCAA Hall of Fame was established in 2003. Including this year's induction, membership will expand to 452 individuals. The 2021 induction class was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with expanded classes planned in 2023 and 2025.
The class of 2023 includes the following athletes, coaches and builders:
Angela James
Category: Builder
Institution: Seneca College
For over 35 years, Angela James was a fixture at Seneca College, the OCAA and Ontario Collegiate Recreation (OCR). Angela worked in Seneca Athletics & Recreation in the roles of Recreation Coordinator, Sport Coordinator and Senior Sport Coordinator from 1985 to 2020. Angela would annually lead Seneca College's hosting of extramural events for a variety of sports, including the first OCR RECCups for men's and women's hockey. Angela spent several years as a member of the OCR leadership team and had a couple of stints as an OCAA convenor. Angela was also an active member of Host Committees when Seneca hosted both OCAA and CCAA championships. Angela's support of varsity and recreation students over the years was truly remarkable.
Sara Maybee
Category: Athlete
Sport: Women's Basketball
Institution: Loyalist College
Having three years of OCAA experience already with the Algonquin Thunder, Sara Maybee brought a wealth of talent and court savvy to the Loyalist Lancers. Sara's scoring prowess and defensive quickness paid immediate dividends to a talented Lancers squad. Sara's ability to hit crucial shots, especially from behind the arc, made the Lancers a real threat during the 2007-08 season. Sara and the Lancers would make it all the way to the OCAA semi-finals, a historical moment for the Lancers women's basketball program. Sara finished fifth in the province in scoring with a total of 210 points, which included 41 three-pointers. Sara was named an OCAA League All-Star and would also capture the prestigious Dave Butler Award at the year-end Lancer Athletic Banquet.
Derek Quinn
Category: Athlete
Sport: Men's Volleyball
Institution: Humber College
Derek Quinn was the starting setter for the Humber Hawks for five straight seasons beginning in the fall of 2008. Derek was the team's quarterback during the golden age of Humber men's volleyball, a successful time that has not yet been duplicated. On the court, Derek dictated the flow of the match, involving all the offensive talent that Humber had to offer, leading to a 70-16 (.814) record during the OCAA regular season. This dominance bred winning, which translated into championships. In fact, three OCAA titles and the program's first-ever CCAA national crown in 2012 left no doubt Derek was the key to this success. Despite helping a pair of teammates capture OCAA scoring titles, Derek brought more to the table.
David Sharratt
Category: Athlete
Sport: Cross Country
Institution: Conestoga College
David Sharratt was a cross country athlete with the Conestoga Condors for three seasons beginning in 2007. David raced to the OCAA gold medal at the provincial championships held at Fort Henry in Kingston that season in a 8 km time of 27:05, fifteen seconds faster than the runner-up, and led the Condors to the men's team silver medal. It was a historic moment for Conestoga, as David was the first-ever Condor to win an OCAA cross country gold medal, and it was the first time the men's team reached the podium. David and the Condors went on to place fifth at nationals individually and as a team. David successfully defended the OCAA gold medal at provincials the following season, become just the sixth individual to do so.
Pavel Shtefan
Category: Athlete
Sport: Men's Hockey
Institution: St. Clair College
Pavel Shtefan played men's hockey for the St. Clair Saints for three seasons between 2001 and 2004. Pavel averaged better than a goal and two assists per game, and was part of two OCAA championship winning teams in addition to an OCAA silver medal. Pavel was second in OCAA scoring with 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 15 games in Pavel's debut season of 2001-02, leading the Saints to a 13-1-1 record. Paval was named an OCAA League All-Star as St. Clair went on to win the OCAA championship. Pavel contributed 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 15 games the following season as St. Clair posted an identical 13-1-1 record. Pavel was sixth in league scoring and was named a OCAA First-Team All-Star.
Lindsay Verkoeyen
Category: Athlete
Sport: Women's Softball
Institution: St. Clair College
Lindsay Verkoeyen played three seasons as part of the St. Clair College women's softball team from 2003 to 2005, starting just a year after the program launched in 2002. Lindsay batted .325 in the regular season and was durable defensively at the catching and first base positions while never missing a game. In 2003, Lindsay was elected the Saints Rookie of the Year and named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2004 and 2005 as well as an OCAA League All-Star. In 2005, Lindsay was honoured as the OCAA Player of the Year after batting .390 on the season, and helping lead St. Clair to its first-ever OCAA provincial championship, snapping Durham's three-season unbeaten streak.
David Wesley
Category: Coach
Sport: Badminton
Institution: Georgian College
David Wesley served as the badminton coach at Georgian College from 1995 to 2020 before retiring and returning home to Nova Scotia. During David's tenure, Georgian student-athletes won 23 OCAA medals (two gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze) and made several appearances at CCAA national championships where the Grizzlies won four medals (one silver, three bronze). In 2013, with Georgian serving as host of the CCAA nationals, David was named the CCAA Badminton Coach of the Year. The Grizzlies won several OCAA East Regional championships during David's tenure and were the 2007-08 OCAA team champions. David played a key role in Georgian hosting two CCAA badminton championships (2005 and 2013) along with numerous OCAA provincial and regional championships.
For more information on the origins and history of the OCAA Hall of Fame and to view honoured members biographies and photos, please visit the OCAA Hall of Fame website at www.ocaa.com/HallofFame.
- OCAA -
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