Four years of memories and triumphs with the Lancers
By Julie Sobowale
Sports Editor
August 8, 2007
 It seems like I’ve spent a lifetime at The Lance. As sports editor for the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the most talented athletes and coaches. So, after spending pretty much my entire university career at the sports helm, I bow out in my final edition. But, before I go, I thought I’d share my top ten memorable moments.
1) Lancer men’s basketball wins provincial title
Those who were there would know how loud and how crowded the St. Denis Centre was on that particular Saturday night. Squished between two highly opinionated older gentlemen, I watched a team that only two years ago was in no position to make it to the playoffs become a dominant force in Canadian basketball. It’s rare to have such a quick turnaround in a team but with the leadership of Head Coach Chris Oliver, players like Ryan Steer, Kevin Kloostra, the Allin brothers (all three of them) and Corey Boswell became near legendary on that night.
2) Arjei Franklin’s final home game
I waited for an hour to speak to Arjei Franklin after he had finished playing his last Lancer home game in his life. The Lancers 22-19 loss to the University of Guelph Gryphons was the most disappointing loss that I’ve witnessed in my years here. Franklin definitely left his mark on the field, setting many Lancer records and going on to play with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. But perhaps the most telling of Franklin’s drive was in the final seconds of this game when the skinny wide receiver tackled a burly Gryphon lineman in mid-air to make an impossible first-down.
3) University hosts Junior Pan-Am Games
When the University of Windsor bid on the Junior Pan-Am Games, the new stadium had yet to be built. Funds had yet to be raised and there was (and still) controversy about when the stadium would be paid off. While that debate continues, what cannot be disputed is the huge overall success of the Games. Never had the University of Windsor hosted such a large and international sporting event. The university, the city, the athletes and the students were showcased in a positive light. Arguably, this was the University of Windsor’s coming out party.
4) Women’s track and field regain provincial title
Winning comes naturally to the Lancer track and field teams. With Head Coach Dennis Fairall’s magic formula of strong recruitment and training, the Lancers arguably have the most impressive university track dynasty in Canada.
For this reason, it was important to the Lancer women to recapture their Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title, which they were able to do in 2005 after a three-year drought. Their winning continued in that year when they won the national title.
5) Men’s rugby complete their first winning season
Every team has a breakout year for the men’s rugby team it was 2005. Their 5-3 season record was the best the team has ever done in Lancer history. In fact, they had never won more than two games in a season until that year.
6) Brandon Young wins 3000m title
Some athletes have a hero complex but Brandon Young had a humble complex when he won his unexpected gold medal in the men’s 3000m at the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) championships in 2004. His performance helped bolster the Lancer men to a national title and energize a home crowd.
7) Women’s basketball pull off back-to-back-to-back upsets
On January 6, 2006, I went to the game, where over 350 spectators came to see if the Lancers could pull off another upset and they did.
The Lancer women had recently defeated the defending provincial champions, the University of Guelph Gryphons and quickly the Windsor sporting community became more interested in Lancer women’s basketball.
8) Men’s soccer’s first playoff win
It was cold, dark and at times boring but the Lancer men moved past the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks through penalty kicks for their first ever playoff win in school history.
9) Jann Shreve wins gold in rookie year
The new mix of talent came to the Lancer track in 2004 beginning with Jann Shreve who won a surprise gold in the women’s triple jump at the CIS championships. She eventually led the way for Kelley Park, who won medals in the same event from 2005-2006.
10) Men’s volleyball beat Waterloo in the playoffs
Whether volleyball constitutes as a fringe sport or not on campus, I’m not sure. What I do know is that during the 2003-2004 season, men’s volleyball was hot with large crowds and a great fan base. They went on to the OUA semifinals, where they lost to the eventual winners, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
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