TORONTO - The following student-athletes have been recognized by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) for their accomplishments during the seven-day period ending Sunday, Oct. 30.
All OCAA Stars of the Week will receive an acrylic bag tag courtesy of Nothers, the Preferred Awards Supplier of the OCAA.
Paulo Amotun Lokoro
School: Sheridan
Program: Social Service Worker
Year of Eligibility: 1
Sport: Cross Country
Hometown: Kenya
Amotun Lokoro became the first Sheridan runner to win the individual men's gold medal at the OCAA Cross Country Championships at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre in Thunder Bay on Oct. 29. Amotun Lokoro won the 8km race in a time of 25:43.7, just under 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Jacob Fitzpatrick of St. Clair. With the victory, Amotun Lokoro was named to the OCAA All-Ontario First-Team. Amotun Lokoro joins Marilyn Ashton who won the women's race in 1977 as the only Sheridan cross country runners to win individual gold at provincials.
Shay Morris
School: Durham
Program: Early Childhood Education
Year of Eligibility: 2
Sport: Women's Rugby Sevens
Hometown: Ajax, Ont.
Less than 24 hours from being named OCAA Player of the Year and a League All-Star, Morris was named Championship MVP after leading the Durham Lords to their first-ever OCAA women's rugby sevens championship. Offensively, Morris scored a try and added a convert as Durham defeated Seneca 17-0 in semifinal action, then hit on another convert as Durham downed Fleming 17-5 in the OCAA gold medal match. Durham became the first-ever OCAA women's rugby sevens team to complete an entire season undefeated at 20-0.
Shak Pryce
School: St. Clair
Program: General Arts & Science
Year of Eligibility: 3
Sport: Men's Basketball
Hometown: Pickering, Ont.
Pryce had a successful OCAA debut as St. Clair defeated Lambton in a battle of 2022 provincial medalists. The third-year guard scored a game-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-10 beyond the three-point arc, as St. Clair won 103-93 on Oct. 26. If this wasn't impressive enough, Pryce contributed seven assists, six steals and five rebounds, making quite the statement to the rest of the league. The St. Clair Saints are the reigning OCAA and national silver medalists and are off to a 1-0 start in regular season play.
Katie Rice
School: Fanshawe
Program: Police Foundations
Year of Eligibility: 2
Sport: Cross Country
Hometown: Ingersoll, Ont.
Rice became the new OCAA individual cross country champion, winning the women's 6km race in a time of 24:56.7, thirty-eight seconds ahead of silver medalist and defending champion Catherine Irwin of St. Lawrence at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre in Thunder Bay on Oct. 29. Rice also helped the Fanshawe Falcons successfully defend their OCAA women's team championship. The second-year runner is also a member of the OCAA All-Ontario First-Team. Rice is now bound for Medicine Hat, Alta., for the national championship race on Nov. 12.
Kaitlynn Russell
School: Humber
Program: Kinesiology
Year of Eligibility: 2
Sport: Women's Soccer
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.
Fresh off being named OCAA West Division Player of the Year and an All-Canadian, Russell was named Championship MVP as Humber won the OCAA women's soccer championship for the first time since 2012. Russell scored a pair of key goals, including the overtime game-winner in the OCAA semifinal on Oct. 29. In the 118th minute, Russell charged the box on a free kick, heading home the game-winner in Humber's 3-2 victory over Niagara. Russell added an insurance marker the following day in Humber's 2-0 win over Seneca in the gold medal match.
Keegan Wilson
School: Humber
Program: Sport Management
Year of Eligibility: 3
Sport: Men's Soccer
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Humber's decade of dominance in OCAA men's soccer has definitely gone into overtime. Wilson and the Hawks successfully defended their provincial title for the fourth straight season, defeating the previously-unbeaten Seneca Sting in the gold medal match, 4-0. The third-year defender averaged 85 minutes during the tournament, holding opposing offences to 2.7 shots-per-match, and in doing so was named Championship MVP. Humber has won 10 of the last dozen provincial championships, and will now look to defend its 2021 national championship.
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com