October 27, 2009 - There are a select group of OCAA Athletes who have earned a championship medal in each and every one of their years of competition, but within that select group, there are only a handful of athletes who can claim they have earned a gold medal in every year of play.
Mike Gagliano, a fifth year defender accomplished the feat with his fifth Belairdirect OCAA Championship gold medal.
“Algonquin has a storied history and honestly it means a lot,” said an awestruck and reflective Gagliano who is well versed in the history of the Thunder program. “When you put on a jersey that says Algonquin on the back, it’s special. You look down the line at the players that have worn the jersey, the Caruso’s, Legakis’, you look further back to the O’Kanes and Joe Bonacci’s; its unbelievable to be associated with those names and it is something of prestige you could say.”
Gagliano is also one of a few nationally to have participated in four national gold medal games, an even more difficult task when you consider the team environment.
“It would be a the best going away present,” said the Captain about what it would mean to get back to the gold medal game and have a shot at a third national title in eight years for the program. “It would be very emotional and it would mean the world. Given the heartbreaks the last couple of years, hopefully the third time is a charm to get it turned around and bring it home.”
“They always say it is great to win one or two or three championships, but to win five just shows the commitment to excellence, hard work and staying focused,” commented Head Coach Kwesi Loney on his player’s accomplishment. “Having won four and five championships, it just goes to show how committed they are to working hard on this team and that is why we are so excited to see them and now the first year guys are getting a chance to see that first hand now.”
Algonquin had now won 10 provincial titles since Algonquin’s inception into the league in 1967 and now sit one championship away from tying the powerful Sheridan Bruins Men’s Volleyball program (11) as the most successful team program in OCAA history.
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October 27, 2009 - There are a select group of OCAA Athletes who have earned a championship medal in each and every one of their years of competition, but within that select group, there are only a handful of athletes who can claim they have earned a gold medal in every year of play.
