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. 16.

Student-athletes are nominated by their respective athletic departments.

Miles Hall
School: Durham
Program: General Arts & Science
Year of Eligibility: 4
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Scarborough, Ont.
Hall's all-around effort led the Durham Lords to an opening round 92-70 home victory over the Fanshawe Falcons on Feb. 15. The fourth-year guard scored a season-best and game-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting (53.8 per cent) while adding six rebounds, six assists and four steals in 23 minutes of action. Hall averaged 11.7 points per game in 15 regular season contests. Hall and the Durham Lords now move onto the OCAA quarter-finals where they will host the Mohawk Mountaineers on Saturday for a berth to the OCAA championship.

Ellen Shen
School: George Brown
Program: Strategic Relationship Marketing
Year of Eligibility: 2
Sport: Badminton
Hometown: North York, Ont.
Shen captured the gold medal in women's singles at last week's OCAA Badminton Championships, securing a spot at the national championships in Edmonton later this month. The second-year student-athlete went 4-1 in the round robin before winning three straight playoff matches, including a pair in three sets. In the gold medal match, Shen fell behind Conestoga's Mandy Ni 15-21 before rallying back with 21-19, 21-17 scores to win the title. Shen also helped George Brown win the OCAA women's team banner for the first time since 2019.

Joanna Smith
School: Fanshawe
Program: Fitness & Health Promotion
Year of Eligibility: 2
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Simcoe, Ont.
In their Round of 16 playoff crossover game, Smith led the Fanshawe Falcons to a dominant 34-point victory on the road against the Seneca Sting on Feb. 15. The second-year guard dropped a game-high and season-best 19 points on an efficient 6-of-13 (46.2 per cent) from the field and 5-of-7 (71.4 per cent) from the free throw line. Smith also grabbed four rebounds and added a steal and an assist. With their 85-51 victory, the Falcons now move onto the quarter-finals where they visit their divisional rival Niagara Knights on Saturday.

Anthony Tso
School: Seneca
Program: Child & Youth Care
Year of Eligibility: 4
Sport: Badminton
Hometown: Markham, Ont.
Tso became a four-time OCAA medalist in men's doubles, winning gold with partner Jordan Lau at the OCAA Badminton Championships at Conestoga. The Seneca Sting duo went undefeated in round robin play with a 3-0 record all in straight sets and a point differential of 44. In the semifinals, Tso and Lau outlasted their Humber Hawks opponents for a three-set victory, then secured the gold medal with a 21-11, 21-12 win over their Fanshawe Falcons challengers. Tso won gold for the second time to go along with silver and bronze medals.

Sherry Wu
School: Humber
Program: Fitness & Health
Year of Eligibility: 1
Sport: Badminton
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Wu along with partner Dhruvkumar Raval captured the gold medal in mixed doubles at last week's OCAA Badminton Championships without losing a set, securing a spot at the national championships in Edmonton later this month. The Hawks duo won four round robin matches with an impressive point differential of 105. Wu and Raval made short work of their George Brown Huskies challengers in the semi-finals, then knocked off their Centennial Colts opponents for the title. Both Wu and Raval were previously honoured as OCAA Players of the Year.

Raivone Young
School: Mohawk
Program: Business Fundamentals - Small Business
Year of Eligibility: 4
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Halifax, N.S.
Young was a standout veteran presence from the opening tip to the final horn for the Mohawk Mountaineers in a 95-81 home victory over the Centennial Colts in OCAA post-season action on Feb. 15. The fourth-year guard provided strong leadership throughout the game, scoring 19 points on 8-of-17 (47.1 per cent) shooting, adding six rebounds and three steals. Young and the Mountaineers will now move on to the quarter-finals and will face the East Division top-ranked Durham Lords on Saturday for a spot at the OCAA 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