The Kingston Impact has had many players who have gone on to excel at the post secondary level. This year is no exception.

At the Queen’s Athletic and Recreation Centre, fans were treated to some of the greatest shot making in the history of the Queen’s Men’s basketball program this past week.

Local products, Cole and Luka Syllas, took turns hitting game winning shots in the final seconds to defeat the University of Toronto in double overtime on Wednesday in the OUA semi final and then in the OUA final vs. Brock University on Saturday. This was the first time the Queen’s men have won an OUA basketball title in 50 years.

The 5th year seniors from La Salle S.S. also were named to the OUA All Star teams:

• Cole Syllas (OUA 2nd team All Star)
• Luka Syllas (OUA 1st team All Start + OUA Defensive Player of the Year)

Also, playing in the OUA final was Brock’s first year OUA all-rookie selection, Andrew McKenna. Hailing from Frontenac S.S., Andrew tied the game with a big 3 prior to Cole’s heroics.

• Andew McKenna (OUA Rookie All-Star)

All three will be heading to Nationals March 8-10 at Laval University along with current Impact U19 Junior Boys Coach Justin Wallace (Queen’s assistant coach).

On the USport’s Women’s side, Queen’s lost to Carleton in the OUA final but they too will still be going to Nationals March 7-10 at the University of Alberta.

5th year senior Bridget Mulholland and 3rd year Mikayla McFarlane will be playing on the court, while long time Impact coach, Adam Lynn, will be heading there as part of the Queen’s Women’s coaching staff.

At the OCAA level, Simone Wilson (originally from Belleville Spirits) and Chloe Lapointe (Brockville Blazers) who joined the Impact JUEL team in their grade 12 year, faced off in the Ontario final for Lambton College and Algonquin College respectively.

Regardless of the result, both teams will be heading to Nationals at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta, March 13-16.

On the Seniors front, several former Impact players were honoured by their post-secondary teams in the last few weeks for their commitment to their program:

• Aaliyah Edwards – University of Connecticut (NCAA)
• Alexa Sawchuk – Sir Wilfred Laurier University (USport)
• Bridget Mulholland – Queen’s University (USport)
• Cole Syllas – Queen’s University (USport)
• Luka Syllas – Queen’s University (USport)
• Maggie Besselink – Arizona State University (NCAA)
• Raphaela Toussaint – Eastern Kentucky University (NCAA)

We are very proud of all these athletes and wish them the best in whatever is in store for them next.