Rattlers roundup: Rattler runner wins bronze at ACAC cross country finals

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 30, 2024.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Medicine Hat College Rattlers cross-country team was represented on the ACAC podium Saturday.

Rattlers runner Madison Scrimger finished third at the ACAC championships in Calgary, clocking a time of 24:58 on the 6 km course at the St. Mary’s University campus.

Scrimger was making her third appearance at the ACAC finals, finishing sixth in 2022 and fifth in 2023.

Scrimger combined with Rattlers’ teammates Ellie Barlow (16), Mizuki Iwata (28), Aki Iwata (40), Hannah Ulm (41) and Addison Weir (44) to finish fifth in the women’s team standings.

The MHC men also took part in the championships, finishing ninth in the men’s 8 km race.

Spencer Willson led the way in 30th place, one place better than Gage Smith. Askia Tahirou (39), Claudio Reqena (55) and Griffin Goodfellow (57) were the other Rattlers’ finishers.

Saturday marked the end of the provincial college season, and the season-long Grand Prix awards were also presented. Scrimger captured first place in this year’s women’s Grand Prix, based on an athlete’s best four races during the season. Her award marks the second year in a row a Rattlers women’s runner has won this award, with Becky Ross the 2023 winner.

Next up for Rattlers runners is the CCAA XC Running Championships in Windsor, Ont on Nov. 9.

Basketball

The Rattlers men’s and women’s basketball teams opened their seasons this weekend against the Lethbridge Kodiaks.

The men’s team won their first game, beating Lethbridge 82-68 on the road Friday. Cooper Ward led the offence with 28 points and seven rebounds.

They lost 84-80 at home Saturday. Ethan Robinson had 22 points, Ward tallied 18 rebounds with 17 points.

The women’s team had an inverse weekend, losing 68-59 at Lethbridge on Friday before beating the Kodiaks 59-50 on Saturday at the Snake Pit.

Breanna O’Connor led the Rattlers on Friday with 27 points, two rebounds and two assists.

In Saturday’s win, Jaida Gold had 19 points with nine rebounds and four steals.

The men (1-1) and women (1-1) are at home this weekend, both hosting the NAIT Ooks on Friday and the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings on Saturday.

Volleyball

The Rattlers volleyball teams also got their seasons underway this weekend, facing the Lethbridge Kodiaks.

The women lost the first match of the year, falling in four sets Friday at home (25-19, 10-25, 15-25, 23-25). Jaivyn Barabe and Malea Kletzel each had eight kills in the loss.

They rebounded with a three-set win Saturday on the road (25-21, 25-10, 25-24). Kadence Wiggins and Barabe each had seven kills.

The men dropped both games to Lethbridge, falling in three sets Friday (21-25, 23-25, 16-26) and four sets Saturday (23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 17-25).

Sawyer Krebs led the Rattlers on Friday with nine kills, while Jordan McKee had a match-leading 19 kills on Saturday.

The women (1-1) and men (0-2) are on the road this weekend facing the NAIT Ooks on Friday and the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings on Saturday.

Hockey

The Rattlers women’s hockey team dropped a pair of road games this weekend against the NAIT Ooks.

They lost 4-1 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday. Bree Purcell scored MHC’s lone goal Friday, Anna Stewart made 28 saves. On Saturday, Claira Bansley scored both goals, Jessika Charron made 21 saves.

MHC’s women’s hockey team (1-5) has one game this week, facing the SAIT Trojans on the road Friday.