Male Athlete of the Week – Josiah Dixon, Golf
Josiah Dixon of the Niagara Knights golf team has been named this week’s male athlete of the week. Dixon capped off a one of the greatest athletic campaigns in Niagara Knights history on October 21st, capturing a pair of gold medals (men’s individual, men’s team) at the 2016 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Golf National Championships in Charlottetown, PEI.
The pair of National Championships mark just the eighth and ninth occasions that Niagara College has stood on top of the CCAA podium.
The Bognor, Ontario native captured the men’s individual title in dramatic fashion, needing a third sudden death playoff hole to secure the nation’s top collegiate golf individual accolade. He finished the three day event at five under par.
Dixon’s red hot five under par final score paced the Knights golf team to the overall men’s golf team National Championship. Joining Dixon on the team podium were fellow Knights Evan Littlefield, Brett Shewchuk. Logan Lammerant, and Ben Kenel.
The pair of CCAA gold medals cap off a nearly perfect season for Dixon, as the second year Pre-Health Sciences student also captured the OCAA Men’s Team and Men’s Individual gold medals, was named an OCAA All-Star, and was named a CCAA All-Canadian.
Dixon and the rest of the Niagara College golf program will be honoured during the 2nd annual Blue and White Home Opener on November 3rd at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre.
Female Athlete of the Week – Brooke-Lyn Murdoch, Women's Basketball
Brooke-Lyn Murdoch of the Niagara Knights women’s basketball program has been named this week’s female athlete of the week. Murdoch was the catalyst at both ends of the floor during the Knights impressive 77-47 season opening road victory versus the Sheridan Bruins on October 21st.
A Welland native and graduate of Jean Vanier Secondary School, Murdoch is entering her fourth year with the Knights.
Against the Bruins, the five-foot-five guard finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals, despite playing just 24 total minutes. After the contest Knights head coach Mike Beccaria called the Murdoch’s performance an “impressive all-around effort.”
The veteran is most known for her aggressive defense and high energy play, characteristics the Knights will need as they look improve on last season’s fifth place finish at the OCAA Championship. Murdoch and the rest of the Niagara College women’s basketball program will return to action on Saturday, October 29th when the team travels to Hamilton to take on the Mohawk Mountaineers.
