Faces of Athletics

An outlier in a family of rowers — her uncle won gold for Canada in 1964 — Marino found herself on the receiving end of recruiting by UBC women’s rowing after her retirement from tennis.

“Before I wanted to go to the Olympics for kayaking, now I hope to go to the Paralympics for wheelchair rugby. So pretty much the same level, just switched up the sport.”

For Cohee, his first season playing basketball back in Canada has been a dream come true. All-star calibre play with all-star calibre teammates and a chance to compete for glory on a national stage.

A mild-mannered third-year kinesiology student in class, but out comes a stellar goalie with quick hands and a quicker mind once she hits the ice.

“Volleyball is only a part of my life, it’s not just my life. I’m a lot more than just a volleyball player.”

While many others would have bragged about their achievements, it’s clear that Smith is different. His achievements are that of the team too — a mark of a true leader.

December 15, 2018, was the 15th game that Toth went to Rogers Arena as the emergency backup. That night, he would get the text.

“It took me coming to a game and seeing it live to realize how much I missed it."

The last thing Sevick remembers before that final training run at 12 years old was a game of laser tag the evening before.The rest, for three weeks, is almost entirely gone.

In the month of October alone, which saw three make-it-or-break-it games for the ’Birds, Pinto averaged 10.3 receptions, 154.3 yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game.

Now in her second season with the Thunderbirds, Steer put up six goals and five assists through September — surpassing her four goals and six assists through her entire 2017 season.

After impressing at the CFL Combine and the East Michigan Pro Day, Shepley’s work finally paid off with a pro contract.

Taking third place in his first year and second place in his second year, it only makes sense to Jamet that this is his year to finally win the gold. “I’m looking to get that trophy.”

“I made a conscious decision to return to track after having quit and then upon doing so was just further prevented from racing, so it seems like there’s sort of a narrative of things getting in the way, whether that be school or injury.”

“I was about 12 [years old] and our team was kicking butt all over Vancouver Island and Victoria,” he said. “We’d beat [a team] and then I’d go out in the middle of the field with the whole team surrounding me, and we’d sing songs and chants