By Adam Ovenell-Carter

Last week, the SFU track and field team headed to Idaho to compete in the GNAC Indoor Championships. They came home with plenty to show for it.

The Clan entered as potential favourites in a number of events, particularly the distance medley relays where both the men’s and women’s sides were ranked number one going in — and neither side would have to wait long to get their opportunity.

Both sides raced on the first day of the champiosnhips, and both sides came away victorious. Keir Forster opened the race for the Clan, followed by Stuart Ellenwood, Adam Reid, and anchored by Ryan Brockerville. Brockerville quite literally ran the race of his life, setting a new personal best on his leg of the race. Meanwhile the quartet’s time of 10:04.48 set a new meet record, and gave the Clan the victory.

On the women’s side, the team of Lindsey Butterworth — fresh off GNAC Athlete of the Week honours — followed by Abbey Vogt, Sarah Sawatzky, and Michaela Kane earned another victory for SFU, finishing with a top time of 12:11.42.

“Our team’s performance was great [on the first day],” said head coach Brit Townsend. “We have the smallest team here and are getting some great results.

“Our goal was to come away with some strong performances to build a foundation . . . to match the top schools.”

The Clan’s success continued on day two, earning two second-place finishes and one more win. Andrea Abrams ran well enough to earn second place in the 60-metre hurdle event, while Brockerville did the same in his mile-long race.

Butterworth, who has been a star for the Clan all season, and in just her second year, earned the team’s final victory with a one-second victory over Seattle Pacific’s Heidi Laabs-Johnson in the one-mile race. To round out her weekend, she finished fourth just behind teammate Michaela Kane in the 800-metre race.

All in all, it was a very productive weekend for the Clan, and they are no doubt well on their way to asserting their spot as one of the top teams in the conference. And now, with the 2012 GNAC season officially in the books, the Clan have
the opportunity to make their mark on the outdoor season come March.

By Adam Ovenell-Carter

At half time of the men’s basketball game against MSU-Billings, the men’s soccer team was honoured for their historic 2012 season. The Clan finished the year with 18 wins to just one tie, finishing not only atop the GNAC standings, but also as the number-one ranked team in the NCAA Division II. The list of accolades is truly incredible; from Carlo Basso being named GNAC co-player of the year to Alan Koch being named the conference’s best coach, the Clan deserved every ounce of respect heaped upon them on Thursday.

It’s been a while since the Clan earned their final, record-setting win of the season back in November, but the Clan were finally presented with their GNAC-champion rings in a presentation headed by SFU president Andrew Petter.

“I knew tonight was going to be special,” said Koch, “but tonight was honestly the most amazing experience.

“To see all those people there — from the president down to the fans — was incredible. We really felt a great wave of SFU pride.”

As the team exited the West Gym floor to the familiar tune of SFU bagpipes, they received a standing ovation from the Clan faithful at the game. For some, it was a remarkable way to cap off their SFU careers.

“I’ve had a lot of great times here,” said graduating senior Carson Gill, “ but it’s extra special this year. Going out like this . . . it’s incredible. I felt like I’ve left my mark and now I’ve got a memory to take with me.”

And while some, like Gill, get to look back on what was, it’s almost time again to look ahead and prepare for next year.

“It was a fantastic season,” said Basso. “Everything about it, except maybe that one tie, was fantastic. But we can’t sit on this because this is just a starting point.”

Quite a good one, you could say, but it’s hard to imagine the bar could be set any higher.

“We want to win a national championship,” added Basso. “Hopefully we can do that next year, but we won’t be happy until we get it.”

Given the structure of the GNAC, that could be an impossibility, but that, like most things in the GNAC, isn’t stopping Basso and the Clan.

“We’re a competitive group of guys, especially with each other,” he said. “We’re always getting better; we’re always pushing each other to be better.

“We’ll improve; we’ll take it one game at a time like we did this year, but until we get that championship we won’t be content with anything else.”

Needless to say, the Clan are motivated to improve on what truly was incredible season — one that seems almost impossible to improve upon. For now, though, the Clan deserve their praise — but don’t think for a second they’re about to bask in it.

“It seems like it’s been a long time since our last game,” said Koch, “and maybe it has, I’m not keeping track. But, am I ever proud of this group of guys. But this almost feels like last
year’s team now. Every year is a brand new one, and we start all over again.”