CREDIT: FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
Fanshawe Athletics is looking ahead to another successful year after a record-breaking 2018/2019 season.

After a record-breaking season, Fanshawe Athletics is getting pumped for a new year of campus sports.

Fanshawe Athletics and the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) announced the 2019/2020 varsity regular season in a press release sent to Interrobang.

The press release provided the following dates and times for each opening game:

Sept. 7, 12 p.m.: Women’s soccer at Sheridan Bruins. Fanshawe College.

Sept. 7, 2 p.m.: Men’s soccer at Sheridan Bruins. Fanshawe College.

Sept. 7, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.: Softball at Conestoga Condors. Alumni Field, Fanshawe College.

Sept. 7, 6 p.m.: Baseball at Humber Hawks. Labatt Park.

Sept. 14: Golf at the OCAA Invitational. FireRock Golf Club.

Sept. 14: Cross country at St. Clair Invitational in Windsor, Ont.

Oct. 11 to 12: Badminton. Tournament at Humber College.

Oct. 19, 12 p.m.: Women’s basketball at Conestoga Condors. Conestoga College.

Oct. 19, 2 p.m.: Men’s basketball at Conestoga Condors. Conestoga College.

Oct. 19, 6 p.m.: Women’s volleyball at Conestoga Condors. Conestoga College.

Oct. 19, 8 p.m.: Men’s volleyball at Conestoga Condors. Conestoga College.

The press release added the Falcons earned 28 OCAA and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) medals during the 2018/2019 season, setting a new record.

“I think it’s a testament to the athletics program. Everybody here is super supportive of all the teams and all the coaches,” Brian Harvey, the head coach of Fanshawe’s baseball team, said. “And it’s nice to know that we were a part of that as we got a bronze in the Nationals and bronze in the Provincials. It’s just great teamwork and great effort put by everybody in the athletics department.”

Harvey said the double header home opener at Labatt Park will be challenging, as their rival Hawks are defending the National and Provincial Championship titles.

“That’ll be a good test for us early,” he said. “But I think we’ll be ready for them this time for sure.”

At the time of the interview, baseball tryouts still needed to happen. However, Harvey planned to make sure the team are aware of the “expectations” and work well together.

“As long as we can get our team defence and offence going at the same time,” he said. “That’ll be a huge bonus for us and we’ll be ready for them.”

The press release also noted that four of Fanshawe’s teams are reigning OCAA champions, with one of those teams also carrying the CCAA National Championship title. The women’s soccer team, men’s volleyball team, women’s basketball team, and the women’s volleyball team all carry the honour into the new season. The men’s volleyball team, the reigning CCAA National Champions, “won 49 consecutive OCAA regular season matches”.

Patrick Johnston, Fanshawe’s men’s volleyball team head coach, said that while the team’s success in 2018/2019 is great, the players treat each game individually.

“Our guys are really just focused on taking on one match at a time,” he said. “And do what they can to try and keep winning.”

Mike Marcoccia, the women’s soccer team’s head coach, said bringing home the OCAA championship title “was the best honour we could receive last season,” but added it also brings higher expectations.

“It’s not a familiar thing to see the same team winning year after year,” he said. “So we know that we have to put in the work like we’re, again, at the bottom of the barrel and work our way up.”

Rob Pereira, the head coach of the men’s soccer team, said since “Sheridan’s a really strong opponent,” the first game will be a challenge. The OCAA championship website had Humber and Sheridan as the playing teams in 2018’s Gold Medal Game, where Humber won 3-2. The website also noted Fanshawe won the Bronze Medal Game 3-1 over the Algonquin Thunder.

“We’re going to prepare the best we can, given the short amount of time between now and then,” he said, adding the tryouts happen mid-August and therefore close to the first game.

The press release provided details about Falcons Fest, beginning with the Sept. 7 soccer and softball games and the “newly constructed” Alumni Field’s grand opening on the same day.

Catherine Arthur, the head coach of the softball team, saw the new field a week before an interview with Interrobang, and is looking forward to team’s first time playing on the new field.

“It’s looking great,” she said. “Can’t wait to see the scoreboard up.”

Visit fanshawefalcons.ca to find out more about the upcoming athletics season.