By Matt Abizaid – Contributor

With 2024 underway and a new semester of sports upon us, let’s look back at what the Gaiters accomplished in the fall semester. Men’s basketball finished off 2023 with a record of 4-2, a solid start to their campaign. Standout players for the team this year include Charles Robert who averages 18.9 points. The women’s team ended the year with a 2-4 record. They are led by Victoria Gauna, who averages an impressive 15.1 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Women’s soccer finished 4-8-2 in 2023 which placed them sixth out of eight teams. Jessalyn Hill found herself with an all-star for her efforts, with Teagan Handley and Emma Deschatelets making their way onto the all-rookie team. They resumed play in January and are looking to improve for 2024.

Women’s rugby finished 0-6 this year in a competitive league. While this is not the result they hoped for, they look for a comeback in the future. Men’s rugby ended up finishing .500 on the year with a record of 3-3. Marshall Mather got himself a look on the second all-star team after an impressive season. Teammate Greg McDowell stole the show, bringing home a first all-star team honours and the title of RSEQ rookie of the year. The future looks bright in the swamp.

The men’s and women’s golf teams led an impressive 2023 campaign with the women placing third and the men winning an RSEQ championship. Ryan Smith took home the title of RSEQ Coach of the Year. Scott Loach and Landen Harison both made the second all-star team while Shawn Robillard and Ryan Massicotte were named to the first all-star team. On the women’s side, Avery Mack and Macy Louvet-Maik stood out on the second all-star team. It was all around a phenomenal year for Gaiters golf.

Women’s hockey stood at 8-5-0 coming out of 2023, a promising beginning to their campaign. They are led the way by rookie phenom Gabrielle Santerre who locked 28 points on the year, followed by Neleh Vigneau Sargeant and Maude Pépin who each averaged over a point per game. The Gaiters hockey team will be a force to behold in 2024.

Gaiters lacrosse finished their conference 3-7, standing fifth in CUFLA east.  Antoine Tremblay, Markus Young, and Max Naysmith received CUFLA Honourable Mentions for their stellar performances. 

The varsity cheer team is also hard at work with multiple practices and conditioning sessions per week. Their competition debut on Jan. 28 is highly anticipated.