Durham College Athletics

The 1985-86 Durham College women’s volleyball team, led by head coach Stan Marchut, became the first Lords team in school history to win a national medal; as they defeated Mount St. Vincent of Nova Scotia in the bronze medal final 3-2 (15-10, 16-18, 15-6, 11-15, 17-15). This was simply an outstanding run to national prominence by an exceptional team. The team had rolled through the OCAA Tier II division undefeated at 13-0, led by OCAA All-Stars Carol Cruwys and Pat Hayden before taking the Tier II Ontario title 2-1 over Fleming.  Cruwys and Ann Stowell-Smith were named tournament all-stars. That tier II victory would advance Durham to the OCAA tier I championship that year, hosted on home turf by Durham College. Durham would become the story of the provincial tournament as they defeated the previously undefeated tier I regular season champion Centennial Colts 3-1 in the OCAA gold medal match (15-5, 16-14, 7-15, 15-6). The Durham College Athletic Centre erupted in celebration when the winning point was scored. Cruwys was named MVP while Leslie Seeley was named as an OCAA tournament all-star. Setter, Sue Smith, had quarterbacked a dominant Lords team that won battle after battle at the net on their way to Ontario gold.

The big win advanced the Lords to the CCAA national championship in Burnaby, BC where they continued their amazing season with wins over Saskatchewan Tech and Cariboo College from Kamloops, BC. Those two wins were good enough to move the Lords to the national semi-finals where they would lose a heartbreaker marathon match 3-2 to Red Deer College (Alberta Champions). With a medal still at stake, the Lords defeated MSVU 3-2 to capture the CCAA national bronze medal. Cruwys was named a CCAA All-Canadian. Her incredible team did the unthinkable and won a national medal.

The team was greeted at the airport with banners and cheers in recognition of an amazing accomplishment by a special team. The 1985-86 team were national bronze medalists and are now to be honoured in the Durham College Sports Hall of Fame.

TEAM MEMBERS Stan Marchut (Head Coach) Tracey Chiodi (Busuttil) Carol Hart (Cruwys) Pat Hayden-Hanson Leslie Seeley Susan Scobie (Smith) Ann Weir (Stowell-Smith) Jacquie Kelm (Tackley) Elke Wannack-Caskey Kevin BigCanoe (Team Manager) Francine Taylor (Team Trainer)