A Season to Remember for the Loyalist Lancers
Packed stands, playoff intensity and the final games ever played inside the Lancers’ original home gymnasium set the stage for a historic moment in Loyalist Athletics.
On an unforgettable afternoon in February 2026, both the Loyalist Lancers Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams secured playoff victories that sent them to the OCAA Final Four, the first time in program history that both teams advanced to the provincial semifinals in the same season.
From major league awards to outstanding academic achievements, the 2025–26 season became one of the most memorable in Loyalist Lancers history.
For the Women’s Basketball program, the playoff run capped an undefeated regular season that included an OCAA East Division Championship and several major individual honours. Sophie Vanni secured the OCAA and East Division Rookie of the Year and East Division Second Team All-Star titles, while Grace Callahan was named OCAA East Division Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and OCAA East Division First Team All-Star, earning CCAA All-Canadian recognition after a standout season that saw her continue to lead the team across the stat sheet. Kayley Lemaire was named an OCAA East Division Second Team All-Star and Nina Anderson was named East Division Sixth Woman of the Year.
Head coach Caleb Hugh says Callahan’s impact extended beyond her own performance, elevating her teammates, instilling confidence across the roster and contributing to career-best performances. Beyond her talents on the court, Rookie Vanni provided many laughs for the team, consistently showing up with a positive attitude and a genuine love for the game.
Hugh was also recognized as OCAA Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year. “What made this group stand out was how our team played with a shared understanding,” he says. “The connection they built off the court showed in how they played together. Every member of the team was a star in their role, and they embraced one of our core values — unselfishness.” The coaching staff was comprised of Hugh alongside Claire Davies, Vanessa Willis and alumnus Jessyka Maliksi.
The Men’s Basketball team also earned significant recognition across the league. Fifth-year guard Romain McCalla finished the season as the OCAA scoring champion, while first-year guard Tai Ajose was named East Division Rookie of the Year and East Division All-Rookie Team.
Strong performances extended across Loyalist’s varsity programs. The Women’s Volleyball team closed its season with a dramatic five-set victory over Centennial, while veteran libero Taylor Baker celebrated a major milestone with her 500th career dig. Charles Cudmore surpassed 600 career points, joining the top 3 all-time scorers in Lancer history.
Men’s Volleyball players Liam Hill and Jacob Diefenbach also received OCAA recognition following standout seasons, with Liam recording his 500th career kill. Hill was named an OCAA East Division 2nd Team All-Star, while Diefenbach was named a member of the East Division All-Rookie Team and East Division 2nd Team All-Star.
Recognition also came during the fall season, when Jetayah Casselman was named to the OCAA Women’s Soccer East Division All-Rookie Team, while Faith Ayres and Holly McMaster earned OCAA Women’s Rugby Sevens League All-Star honours. Rowynn Cochrane was named to the All-Rookie Team.
While the Lancers achieved impressive results in competition, their accomplishments in the classroom were just as noteworthy. During the first semester, 60 of Loyalist’s 95 student-athletes achieved academic averages above 80 per cent, continuing a proud tradition of academic success across Lancer programs.
2025–26 Loyalist Lancers Season Highlights
- Both the Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams advanced to the OCAA Final Four, the first time both programs reached the provincial semifinals in the same season
- Grace Callahan was named OCAA East Division Player of the Year and CCAA All-Canadian
- Sophie Vanni was named OCAA Rookie of the Year in her debut season
- Romain McCalla finished the season as the OCAA scoring champion
- Tai Ajose named East Division Rookie of the Year
- Men’s Volleyball All-Stars: Liam Hill and Jacob Diefenbach
- Women’s Rugby Sevens All-Stars: Faith Ayres and Holly McMaster
“Finding the right balance between maintaining the grades required of varsity athletes and the demands of training and competing is walking a fine line,” said Loyalist Cross Country runner Michael Griepsma. “It was a big adjustment coming out of the workforce back to school. Between my teachers and my coach, it felt like I had everyone in my corner.”
Fifth-year student athlete Emily Mealing reflected on her journey at Loyalist: “In first year, the struggle to balance courses, practices, competition, stress and work was overwhelming at times,” she said. “I’ve learned since then how to organize my time and now I thrive when I’m super busy because it forces me to maintain a schedule and routine. My coaches, friends and Athletics family have been incredibly important in teaching me how to create and maintain that balance, and my teachers have been supportive as well.”
Second-year Ayana Tomlinson said that being a student-athlete in the BScN program at Loyalist while playing on the women’s basketball team has been a rewarding challenge. “It means late nights studying, early morning practices and training sessions, meal prep, and staying in constant communication with professors. Through it all, our team has been a positive and motivating outlet, and the support from faculty and coaches has made it possible to balance everything.”
While the scoreboard tells part of the story, the 2025–26 season was ultimately defined by the energy of the Loyalist community and the dedication of the student-athletes who proudly wear the Lancer jersey.
More highlights and game stories from the 2025–26 season can be found on the Loyalist Lancers Athletics website.
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