OCAA STARS OF THE WEEK

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, Feb. 9.

Student-athletes are nominated by their respective athletic departments.

Parker Doig
School: Fanshawe
Program: Sport & Event Marketing
Year of Eligibility: 4
Sport: Curling
Hometown: Egmondville, Ont.
Doig was named Championship MVP and First-Team All-Star at the OCAA Curling Championships at the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club. The Fanshawe women's skip led the Falcons to their first OCAA title since 2019, securing an 8-6 victory over the four-time reigning champion Humber Hawks with a thrilling comeback in the seventh end of the gold medal game. Doig and the Falcons will now prepare for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association/Curling Canada Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alta., later this month.

Ava Engel
School: Sault
Program: Nursing
Year of Eligibility: 2
Sport: Curling
Hometown: Prince Township, Ont.
Engel was named Championship MVP and a Second-Team All-Star at the OCAA Curling Championships. Along with partner Connor Simms, the Sault-2 Cougars won a civil war against Sault-1 in the gold medal game, holding onto an 11-7 victory to win the mixed doubles crown. Sault-2 avenged a narrow 6-5 loss to Sault-1 in the round robin earlier in the competition. Both Cougars mixed pairs finished 1-2 in the round robin standings, as Sault has claimed back-to-back OCAA mixed doubles gold medals along with an additional silver.

Jacob Jones
School: Mohawk
Program: Civil Engineering Technology
Year of Eligibility: 4
Sport: Curling
Hometown: Brantford, Ont.
For the fourth-straight OCAA Curling Championships, Jones was named Championship MVP and First-Team All-Star. The Mohawk men's skip led the Mountaineers to their record fourth straight OCAA title, defeating the Humber Hawks 7-4 in the gold medal game. The win avenged Mohawk's lone loss in the competition, a 6-1 result in the round robin. Jones and the Mountaineers will now prepare for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association/Curling Canada Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alta., later this month.

Connor Simms
School: Sault
Program: Sports Administration
Year of Eligibility: 3
Sport: Curling
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Simms was named Championship MVP and a Second-Team All-Star at the OCAA Curling Championships. Along with partner Ava Engel, the Sault-2 Cougars won a civil war against Sault-1 in the gold medal game, holding onto an 11-7 victory to win the mixed doubles crown. Sault-2 avenged a narrow 6-5 loss to Sault-1 in the round robin earlier in the competition. Both Cougars mixed pairs finished 1-2 in the round robin standings, as Sault has claimed back-to-back OCAA mixed doubles gold medals along with an additional silver.

Abby Sluys
School: Conestoga
Program: Recreation & Sport Administration
Year of Eligibility: 5
Sport: Volleyball
Hometown: Thamesville, Ont.
In a historic four-set playoff upset over the 18-0 undefeated Seneca Sting on Feb. 8, Sluys came to play leading with poise and experience. The fifth-year outside hitter led the Conestoga Condors offensively with 19 kills on a .370 attacking average and three service aces for 22 points in the match averaging 5.5 points per set. Sluys was a tremendous leader both in play and off the court during the big round of 16 win. The Condors became the first-ever No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 in the crossovers in OCAA women's volleyball.

Zach Walls
School: St. Clair
Program: Protection, Security & Investigation
Year of Eligibility: 4
Sport: Volleyball
Hometown: Amherstburg, Ont.
Walls was outstanding for the St. Clair Saints in their huge upset playoff win over the Georgian Grizzlies on Feb. 8. Walls generated 20 kills on an extraordinary kill percentage of .909. Walls also contributed two stuff blocks, two service aces and chipped in with two digs as well. The 24 total points surpassed Walls' previous season-best point total by 10. The fourth-year middle added an exclamation point by scoring the match-winning point as the No. 8 Saints (6-10) from the west shocked the No. 1 Grizzlies (17-1) of the east in five sets.

- 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