Montcalm, Hart recognized beyond success with Lancers
By Josh Kolm
Sports
Editor
May 18, 2010
 A pair of Lancers have been honoured in recognition of achievements that go beyond their work on the field here at the university.
Nicole Montcalm, one of the stars of the defending national champion women’s Track and Field team, was one of the guests of honour at the OUA’s annual Women of Influence Luncheon in Toronto on April 30.
An exceptional sprinter and hurdler, Montcalm was instrumental to the Lancers’ success at this year’s CIS Track and Field Championships. The four gold medals she won accounted for more than a quarter of the team’s point total. She also won three gold at the OUA Championships.
The reason the OUA chose to honour Montcalm at the banquet is because, in addition to her athletic success, she has been able to maintain an 11.5 GPA through her three years in the University of Windsor’s Nursing program. For those unfamiliar with the grade-point system, that puts Montcalm’s grades consistently between an A- and an A. Earlier this year, Montcalm received the DeMarco Award for outstanding academic achievement by a female athlete.
Elsewhere, Steve Hart, head coach of the Lancer men’s Soccer team, was named head coach of the FISU men’s soccer team that will be representing Canada at this year’s Universaide in Beijing, China. The Universaide is an annual, worldwide competition between university athletes in 24 different sports.
In his fourth season as coach, Hart led his team to an 8-1-5 record, the team’s best in 18 years, earning them second place overall in the regular season.
“Personally, it’s a great honour,” Hart said about the post. “It means a lot to me to be selected to coach a national team.”
Hart is certain he’ll be back in time for the start of the men’s soccer season, but he has no doubts about the size of task ahead.
“The coaching staff first has to contact every CIS University and talk to the coaches to find which players they regard as being up to this standard.” Following this, Hart plans to hold camps across the country, with exhibition matches and a final training camp in Vancouver.
The team will be announced in the coming months, with the games to be held from August 12-23.
When asked about the possibility of including any Lancers on the team, Hart replied, “A couple of players have just had exceptional seasons. If they can maintain their performance levels, I see no reason why they can’t be on the plane to China”.
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