By Alyson Fisher
Photography by Sofie Kirk
With more than 450 student-athletes comprising 19 different varsity sports teams at the provincial, national and international levels, York University has a rich history of athletic success. Since organized interuniversity competition first began at York in 1965, our teams have won 172 provincial banners and 34 national titles, including the recent 2014 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s soccer championships, as well as the 2014 OUA women’s tennis title. These accomplishments are a tribute to the tremendous talent, dedication and commitment of our athletes, coaches and supporters.
York’s athletic achievements extend beyond Canada’s borders. Many of our student-athletes have achieved international success at world championships and the Olympic Games. Now that this summer’s Pan Am/Parapan Am Games are finished, the new athletics stadium on York’s Keele campus is set to become the home of the York Lions, providing a state-of-the-art facility for varsity sports, recreational programs and activities.
York takes great pride in providing its student-athletes with the best opportunity for success, both in the classroom and on the sports field. As a part of the Lions family, York student-athletes receive unparalleled encouragement from administration, coaches, support staff, teammates and alumni. They gain a real sense of belonging from joining a team, and their efforts during their years at the University add to the strong tradition that makes up interuniversity sport at York.
Read more in the Spring 2015 issue of YorkU Magazine.