Mullins receives Alessio scholarship

While men’s basketball couldn’t pull out a win last Saturday, one Gael did come away with something special.

Queen’s matchup with the Laurentian Voyageurs was the sixth annual Marco W. Alessio Memorial Game, and prior to tip-off, second-year guard Mike Mullins was awarded the scholarship named after Alessio.

The award is granted to a member of the men’s basketball team who demonstrates both athletic and academic distinction. Mullins was an Academic All-Canadian last year; he has played in seven games this year after battling early-season injuries, averaging five minutes per game.

The memorial game was first played in 2010, when a pre-standing award was renamed in Alessio’s honour.

Alessio played for the Gaels between 1986-89 and eventually became a teacher working overseas. He died in 2009 at the age of 43 while living in Madagascar.

The memorial game regularly draws basketball alumni to Kingston, particularly those who played with Alessio.

— Brent Moore

Women’s squash competes in Dread Cup

The women’s squash team had their first taste of 2015 competition last weekend in a successful trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The event was Squash Ontario’s first tournament of the new year and saw the Gaels face off against athletes from across the province.

Sisters Alysha and Natasha Anzik competed in the “A” bracket, placing second and fifth, respectively, with Natasha winning the consolation finals.

Nora Kamol placed second in the “B” division. She was followed closely by fellow Gaels Sadie Wilson and Sabrina Carew, who finished third and fifth, respectively.

The Dread Cup is the last stop before the OUA finals, held this year from Jan. 30- Feb. 1 at the University of Waterloo.

The women’s team finished one point shy of the podium at last season’s championships, while the men’s team wound up tied for third with the Waterloo Warriors.

The women shut out Waterloo at the end of November, as well as the Laurier Golden Hawks and McMaster Marauders at a tournament in Toronto.

At the same tournament, the men beat Laurier and the Guelph Gryphons, but lost to Waterloo, McMaster and the Western Mustangs.

— Brent Moore

Fencing on track for OUAs

Queen’s fencing team snagged four medals at the Carleton Invitational in Ottawa last weekend.

On the women’s side, the Gaels were successful in all three categories, reaching the podium in each.

The sabre team of Lily Jiang, Julia Meerakker and Helen Percival captured gold, while the Gaels women’s team added a silver medal in foil and bronze in épée.

The men’s team earned a bronze in foil. They also finished fourth in sabre and fifth in épée.

The women’s team will travel to York on Jan. 31 as they look to defend their OUA championship. Last year, the Gaels won their first overall women’s title since 2004.

The men’s provincial competition begins on Feb. 21 in St. Catharine’s. Queen’s captured three straight OUA championships from 2011-13.

— Brent Moore