GBC dodgeball players huddle and psych themselves up before a game. Photo: Alena Khabibullina/The Dialog
George Brown College (GBC) students showed decent results in the less talked about sports like dodgeball and dragon boat racing.
GBC’s dodgeball team came in second place at a dodgeball tournament held at the St. James gym on Jan. 23, losing 4-2, to the Humber Lakeshore team in the finals.
“Humber has a very solid, almost professional-like dodgeball team; they are highly skilled and technical,” said athletics and recreation co-ordinator, Courtney Warren.
Despite some hiccups the team rallied together, strategized and came out with some big wins along the way. Due to conflicting academic and work schedules, it was impossible for the team to practice together at one time. So practices were sporadic with low intensity.
“The GBC team performed impressively,” said Warren. “Considering how little the team practiced together, they came together and gelled as a team beautifully. In true GBC style as the team was open to letting a few new players participate to have some fun and be involved.”
While GBC’s dodgeball team was trying to hit opposing players with rubber balls, other students competed with paddles.
GBC dragon boat member Rachelle Alcide-Dionne races on paddling ergometer on Jan. 18, 2014. Photo: Alena Khabibullina/The Dialog
Members of newly created dragon boat club showed great promise in the second annual Ontario University Indoor Dragon Boat championship held on Jan. 18, which had over 100 participants from eight university teams.
Hosted by Ryerson University and P3 Paddle Zone inside the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens), the event was a preview of how other teams were training during the off-season.
Based on individual time and physical training the paddlers were competing on ergometers – machines which offer a unique realistic simulation of paddling on water, demonstrating the distance while racing.
“I am extremely pleased with their rankings,” said Lisa Tai, club supervisor and coach.
“I wanted my paddlers to compete so I have an idea what their current dragon boat paddling skill level is. We still have three more months of off-season training. This showing definitely will boost our motivation to compete better. Other university dragon boat teams need to watch out,” said Tai.
GBC fitness and health promotion program students, Keith Wan and Rachelle Alcide-Dionne proved their desire to win during the summer, getting a better time in the 200 meters.
