Grizzlies Grab Hold of League Recognition at Provincial Championships

Five members of the Georgian Grizzlies men’s volleyball team received recognition as the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) handed out their 2022-23 league awards at the OCAA Championship banquet in London on Wednesday evening.

Outside hitter CJ Okeke (Nigeria) was named the OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Division Player of the Year and an East Division First-Team All-Star.  Okeke led the East Division with 258 points, including 218 kills, securing the East Division Scoring Champion title and leading the Grizzlies to a record of 15-3 and the East Division Regular Season Champion title. Okeke is also being recognized as part of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian team.

Setter Zane Brandt (Blumenort, MB) and libero Brandon Myers (Komoka, ON) were named OCAA East Division Second-Team All-Stars. Brant, in his second year with the Grizzlies, was fifth in the league averaging 8.06 assists per set, and finished the year with 403 assists. Myers, Georgian’s team captain, stepped into a full-time starting role this year and was second in the East in total digs with 182.

Gage McCurdy (Burlington, ON) was selected the East Division Rookie of the Year. McCurdy headlined the OCAA East All-Rookie team, averaging 3.7 points per set and 3.05 kills per set. Joining McCurdy on the East Division All-Rookie team is Liam Thomas (Barrie, ON). Thomas provided depth to the Georgian attack, finishing second on the team in aces and blocks and third in scoring.

The Georgian Grizzlies Men’s Volleyball team begins their OCAA Championship run on Thursday, February 23^rd at 3PM vs the Mohawk Mountaineers at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. Matches will be available to watch live at GeorgianGrizzlies.ca/WatchLive.

For a full list of Georgian’s award winners, see below.

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional Player of the Year
CJ Okeke, Georgian

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional Rookie of the Year
Gage McCurdy, Georgian

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional Scoring Champion
CJ Okeke, Georgian

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional Champions
Georgian Grizzlies

CCAA All-Canadians
Sebastian Lethbridge, Fanshawe
CJ Okeke, Georgian
Brett Jenkins, Redeemer

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional First Team All-Stars
CJ Okeke, Georgian
Peter Ostranski-Ayles, Seneca
Jeff Commerford, Algonquin
Pras Jeyapalasingham, Algonquin
Steve Bidal, Canadore
Tristan Godmaire, Canadore
Jaeson Bernal, Seneca

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional Second Team All-Stars
Dion Pearson-Laviolette, Fleming
David Kiswa, George Brown
Ethan Lucas, Canadore
Connor Finnie, Algonquin
Alexander Smith, Centennial
Zane Brandt, Georgian
Brandon Myers, Georgian

OCAA Men’s Volleyball East Divisional All-Rookie Team
Gage McCurdy, Georgian
Konrad Siedlec, Canadore
David Kiswa, George Brown
Liam Thomas, Georgian
Josh Padmore, Durham
Nandor Gallo, Durham