Graeme Gaunt
Graeme Gaunt
Induction: 2008
Category: ATHLETE
Sport: Volleyball (1999-2003)

Graeme Gaunt

Graeme Gaunt, of Chatham, Ontario, arrived at Niagara College in September of 1999, and since his arrival the Knights volleyball program has never looked back. With Graeme leading the way, the Knights became one of the top programs in the nation and accomplished what no other varsity league team has done in the history of Niagara College athletics.

In the four year span of Graeme’s varsity athletic career, the Knights won two consecutive OCAA Gold Medal Championships, four consecutive Western Region titles, and three consecutive trips to the National championships. They finished fourth and seventh in the nation, and at one time ranked as high as third. The team captured two consecutive OCAA Silver Medals and had an outstanding record of 67 wins and 14 losses.

The list of Graeme’s personal accomplishments was even more impressive. In his first year he quickly became one of the most dominating attackers in the OCAA and set a new season record for kills and individual scoring (214). That season he finished second in total points with 214 kills, 24 stuffed blocks, 12 service aces for a total of 250 points.

After four years in the OCAA, he ranks second in kills with 655 and third in total points with 760. In both 1999- 2000 and 2000-2001 he was selected the OCAA Championship Most Valuable Player and named a CCAA Championship First Team All Star. In 2001- 2002 and in 2002-2003 he was named an OCAA Championship All-Star. He was selected OCAA League All-Star in three consecutive years from 1999 to 2003. Twice, Graeme represented the Knights on the Western Region All-Star team, and he was twice named OCAA Athlete of the Week. He was also the recipient of the Niagara College Athlete of Distinction Award. In his final year, Graeme led the league in kills with 176 and second in total points with 204 and finished the season in third place in league scoring with an average of five points per game.

In front of a packed house and in his final match on home court, Graeme was honoured with the Award of Excellence for four years of dedication in intercollegiate sports. His most memorable moment was winning the colleges’ first major-sport OCAA Gold Medal Championship. In his first two seasons with the Knights, Graeme received the greatest athletic honour that the College bestows: the Niagara College Knights Male Athlete of the Year. Graeme is a graduate of the Police Foundations program and is now a member of the Niagara Regional Police Service.