Top Humber Varsity Moments of the Decade - 2010
ETOBICOKE – Big wins. CCAA Tournament runs. National championship celebrations.
Over the course of the last ten years, the Humber Hawks have delivered them all, giving fans more than a few memorable moments to cheer.
Humber varsity opened the decade with three national titles and 11 provincial championships in 2010, as the Hawks had double podium finishes in three sports.
6. Rugby Sweeps at Provincials
The men's rugby team upset Mohawk in the OCAA championship match, beating the undefeated Mountaineers at Fletcher's Field, 25-13. Phil Boone was named Man of the Match, as Humber claimed its first of five straight provincial titles.
The women's program ran the table in the inaugural rugby season, defeating Seneca down in Valley Field, 15-7, to finish the 2010 season with a perfect record. Lesly Swan scored two tries and was named the most valuable player.
5. Volleyball Rules Ontario
Humber women's volleyball pulled off the three-peat, defeating the Nipissing Lakers in the 2010 OCAA Championship, 3-2. May Strutt was named player of the match, while 2018 Humber Hall of Famer Laura Bye was named the tournament MVP.
The men's team returned to the OCAA mountaintop, winning its first of three provincial titles with a straight-set sweep of Seneca. Terrel Bramwell was named tournament MVP, while Jordan Langley and Derek Quinn were named to the all-tournament team.
4. Men's Basketball Defends Provincial Crown
Humber basketball successfully defended its provincial title, winning the 2010 OCAA Championship over Fanshawe in London, 59-48. Daviau Rodney was named the tournament MVP, while future Hall of Famer JR Bailey was named to the all-tournament team.
The Hawks went one to defeat Fanshawe one more time that season, capturing the CCAA bronze medal with a 72-66 win in Alberta.
3. Double Podium Finish for Soccer
Humber men's soccer won its first of four provincial titles, defeating Sheridan in the 2010 OCAA Championship, 2-1. Trailing by one at the half, the Hawks scored two unanswered – including the late game-winner from Nick Cisternino in the dying minutes. Humber Hall of Famer Marcelo Cappozolo was named championship MVP, while keeper Dave Ragno and Brian Alcantara were named to the all-tournament team. The Hawks would go on to capture the CCAA bronze medal with a 2-0 win over the Concordia Thunder.
Hall of Famer Connie Tamburello scored two goals for Humber women's soccer, as the Hawks beat Fanshawe in the OCAA Championship match, 3-0. Hall of Famer Sonia Rocha was named championship MVP, while Hall of Famer Keyla Moreno was named to the all-tournament team. After dropping its opening match at nationals in penalty kicks, the Hawks captured its second CCAA bronze medal in three seasons with penalty kick victory over the Concordia Thunder.
2. Badminton Captures First National Title
After reestablishing the badminton program in 2005, the Hawks began the decade with its most impressive season, as Charlie Lay was named player of the year and Lam Trinh and Michael Kopinak were honoured as the coaches of the year.
The story of the season was Humber's mixed doubles tandem comprised of Hall of Famer's Renee Yip and Ray Wong. The duo became Humber badminton's first national champions, winning four straight matches and dethroning the two-time defending champions from NAIT.
Renee Yip went on to be named the CCAA All-Canadian, OCAA Female Athlete of the Year, and OCAA Rookie of the Year.
1. Golf Dominates Nationals
Humber golf became a national power in the 2000s, winning seven national titles from 2001 to 2009. The 2010 squad was special, a group former head coach and current Director of Athletics Ray Chateau calls "one of the greatest, if not the greatest, golf squad ever assembled by any college or university."
This record-breaking season began at the OCAA Golf Championship at Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay. Comprised of Mark Hoffman, Adrian Cord, David Lang, and Greg Belsito, the Hawks would win their fifth consecutive OCAA title by an impressive 34 strokes.
Looking to defend its national title, Humber flew to British Columbia, not knowing the ever-lasting history they were about to make. At the Dune Golf Club in Kelowna, the Hawks set the tone for the week as the best-prepared team in the field.
After three consecutive rounds under par, David Lang captured the individual championship and a CCAA individual scoring record at 10-under par (206). Despite a 40-foot birdie putt on 17, Adrian Cord lost to teammate Mark Hoffman by one stroke, yet Humber still placed all three golfers on the podium for the first time in program history. Its team total of 848 was a new CCAA record, as Humber won the team title by 38 strokes.
