Justine Larson (pictured), along with Loami Rautenbach, Emily Barritt and Myah Cota (pictured) earned top spot in the women’s 4 x 400 m relay with a time of 4:23.79 over the weekend. (RDP Athletics)

By RDP Athletics

Feb. 9-11, 2024

Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics weekend review

Feb 12, 2024 | 4:52 PM

As the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championships approach, RDP Athletics officials say there were many meaningful and exciting games played by the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens this past weekend.

Officials say the RDP Queens Hockey team split its weekend series with the SAIT Trojans while the Kings Hockey squad earned back-to-back victories over the Trojans.

Both the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens Basketball teams defeated the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

In Camrose, the Kings Volleyball team won over the U of A Augustana Vikings. The Vikings downed the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Volleyball squad.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Indoor Track team finished with the highest combined team score (121 points).

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Here is a summary of the weekend results:

Hockey

This past Friday, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Hockey team was edged 2-1 by the SAIT Trojans in a shootout. Hayley Kolosky, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student, scored the Queens’ lone goal. RDP’s third-year goaltender Izzy Palumbo made 33 saves and was named the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game.

In Saturday’s rematch, Clive’s Julie Wagner scored Red Deer Polytechnic’s only goal late in the third period to give the Queens (17-5) a 1-0 road victory over the Trojans (8-13). Wagner was recognized as the Queens Player of the Game. RDP Queens first-year netminder Tora Ward made 31 saves, earning the shutout. Ward leads the league with a 0.91 goals-against average.

The RDP Queens are second in the league standings and have already qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams in ACAC Women’s Hockey will compete in the postseason.

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The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Hockey team continued its winning ways, picking up a 7-3 road decision over the SAIT Trojans Friday evening. Dawson Leroux, Kevin Minnoch and Holden Knights scored one goal each for the Kings. Both Chance Longjohn and Nolan Doell recorded a pair of goals. Kings Player of the Game Jacob Wozney had two assists. Goaltender Kristian Lyon, who is a Business Administration General Management student, made 23 saves in the Kings’ net.

On Saturday, the RDP Kings (14-8) dropped the Trojans 3-2 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. Richmond’s Jacob Wozney, the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game, scored a pair of goals and assisted on Erik Miller’s game winning goal. Lyon turned aside 34 shots, earning his sixth win in net.

Kings Player of the Game Jacob Wozney had two assists Friday night. (RDP Athletics)

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings sit second in the league behind the Briercrest College Clippers (15-5). The Kings have already qualified for the postseason. The top six teams in ACAC Men’s Hockey will advance to the playoffs.

Basketball

The RDP Queens Basketball team earned a 74-47 home win over the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings on Saturday. Sylvan Lake’s Sadie Jeffries, the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game, contributed 11 points, two steals, two assists and one rebound. Both Janai Hubert and Sandra Garcia-Bernal scored 14 points for the Polytechnic. The Queens were strong from the free-throw line, sinking 81.3 per cent of their attempts.

Sylvan Lake’s Sadie Jeffries, the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game, contributed 11 points, two steals, two assists and one rebound Saturday night. (RDP Athletics)

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (16-3) sit in second spot in the ACAC South Division and have already qualified for the playoffs. The top five teams in each division will advance to the postseason.

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On Saturday, the Kings Basketball team rallied in the second half and picked up a 71-68 victory over the Vikings. Jose Mauro accumulated 11 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, two block and an assist for the Polytechnic. Mauro was recognized as the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. Efe Iyamu scored 15 points and Ottawa’s Deandre Rowe added 11 points for RDP. The Kings shot 37 per cent from the field.

The third place Kings (12-7) have already qualified for the postseason. The top five teams in both the ACAC North and South Divisions will compete in the playoffs.

Volleyball

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Volleyball team (12-6) dropped its road match to the U of A Augustana Vikings (16-3) in four sets (23-25, 25-13, 12-25 and 12-25). Outside hitter Emma Holmes led the way offensively for RDP, contributing nine kills. Holmes, who is a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences student, was named the Queens Player of the Game. Grande Prairie’s Rachel Perry added five kills, one service ace and a dig for the Polytechnic.

The third place RDP Queens have already qualified for the ACAC Championship in Lethbridge. The Queens will also host the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball National Championship March 6-9, 2024.

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The RDP Kings Volleyball team (15-3) defeated the Vikings (1-18) in four sets (22-25, 25-19, 25-14 and 25-18). Setter Tom Wass, who earned the Kings Player of the Game, stacked up 31 assists, four kills and two digs. Both Nicholas Possingham and Brody Kopec recorded 10 kills for the Kings.

The first place Kings have already earned a postseason berth in Olds.

Indoor Track

In the final competition before the ACAC Championships, the Red Deer Polytechnic Indoor Track team had a remarkable day at Running Room Grand Prix #2, finishing in top spot with a combined 121 points. On the Border Paving Running Track, the RDP Queens finished first in the women’s division, accumulating 69 team points. The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (52 points) finished just behind the first place Lethbridge College Kodiaks (70 points).

There were some tremendous individual performances from the Kings and Queens on the track.

Jaeden Swartz. (RDP Athletics)

In the women’s 600 m, RDP’s Loami Rautenback (1:46.82) led the way. Two Red Deer Polytechnic Queens found their way to the top three in the women’s 1,500 m. Justine Larson (5:24.67) was the fastest and Georgia Sawchuk (5:40.09) placed third.

RDP’s Jordan Coen placed first in the men’s 3,000 m final. In addition, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (1:52.20), consisting of Alissa Berwick, Laomi Rautenbach, Zoey Longman and Kammy Park, comprised the fastest women’s team in the 4 x 200 m relay. The Queens (Justine Larson, Loami Rautenbach, Emily Barritt and Myah Cota) also earned top spot in the women’s 4 x 400 m relay with a time of 4:23.79.

More information about game recaps, team schedules and rosters are available at: rdpolytechathletics.ca.

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