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Cougar b-ball women granted full OCAA status

Women's basketball returned to Sault College last fall after a 20-year hiatus. In their return to the OCAA, the Cougar women played 13 games against league and non-league opponents on an exhibition basis.

Women's basketball returned to Sault College last fall after a 20-year hiatus. In their return to the OCAA, the Cougar women played 13 games against league and non-league opponents on an exhibition basis. But retiring Sault College director of student life and athletics Joe Williams has announced that the Cougar women have been granted full OCAA status and will play in the West Region beginning this fall. Sault College will join Algoma University, Mohawk, Redeemer, St. Clair, Niagara and league champion Fanshawe to form a seven-team OCAA West Region. Williams and assistant athletic director Tom Mauro fought hard to gain full OCAA athletic status for the Cougar basketball women. "It's a natural progression," offered Mauro. "This gives us three full-fledged varsity teams now, the women's and men's basketball teams and our women's volleyball team." Williams praised the growth of the women's program and said he heads into retirement "very happy" that the lady hoopsters have joined the OCAA full-time. "Over the course of the year the team showed steady improvement. Coach Randy Russon and the team committed themselves to a difficult season and represented the College remarkably well. We are very impressed with their dedication." Russon, naturally, is pleased to be moving forward. "Being a club team again would have been like repeating kindergarten. I'm very grateful for the work and support of Joe Williams and Tom Mauro in gaining full status for the women's basketball program." Russon said he hopes to continue the maturation of the women's program around several returnees and what he calls "a good group of potential recruits who I am very familiar and very comfortable with." Four Cougars who are looking to return next season received awards at last week's school athletic banquet including Jen Cronin, Lee Anne Faganely, Erica Nethery and Cara Russon. The Cougar coach also noted the "hard work, commitment and reliability" of two other eligible returnees, Becky Methot and Melissa Sawyer.


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