Looking back at a year of varsity sport, Carleton’s director of recreation and athletics Jennifer Brenning said she was impressed by what Carleton teams were able to accomplish during the 2010-11 campaign.

Would Brenning consider this year a success for the Ravens?

“Oh yes, I would,” she said.  

“We won two [Ontario University Athletics] banners, two national championships, we had a couple of silver medalist teams and then our women had a historic run winning the OUA East title, then also going to the [Canadian Interuniversity Sport] final eight [in basketball],” she said, adding that the success was due in large part to the commitment of Carleton’s coaching staff.

After watching teams win OUA banners in Nordic skiing, women’s water polo and women’s basketball as well as two silver medals in fencing, Brenning said she considered the year to be a “turning point” for a Ravens athletics program that is quickly becoming one of the better ones in the country.

She said at the rate the various varsity teams are winning they’re beginning to “move toward that achievement of excellence in both academics and athletics” that she strives for. She added that, with all the coaches expected to return next season, she believes the teams will continue on that path.

Although she said she was happy with the success of all varsity teams, there was one team in particular that Brenning said shocked her with their performance: the men’s basketball team.

Even though the team had been among the favourites to win the CIS national championship from the start of the season and had emerged as the top team in the country in six of the previous eight seasons, Brenning said she had tempered expectations for this year's squad.

“It was (supposed to be) a building year for a very young men’s basketball squad, so for them to have an undefeated 22-0 season and then go on to win a national title . . . I certainly didn’t have that expectation,” she said adding that, although they don't have the same track record of success, she had higher hopes for the women's team than she did for the men's.

“It was kind of a surprise title for us, maybe not publicly but [it was] around the program. Certainly, that was quite exciting.”

Brenning said the success of the varsity teams ensured the only real challenges she faced had to do with off-field concerns.

She said the athletics program was saddled with on-going issues like finances and an inability to engage the community, but that even in those circumstances their fortunes are improving.

"I feel we've got another step to go in particular around the marketing," Brenning said of her goal to improve attendance at games, "(but) we have a really good quality camp program and intramurals that has really been flourishing over the last few years."
"We're on the right track."