Michael Ivanov (men’s track and field) and Laurin Ainsworth (women’s volleyball) have been selected as The Brock Press’ Athletes of the Month for February.
Men’s Athlete of the Month – Michael Ivanov
Michael Ivanov (men’s track and field) has been named TBP’s Men’s Athlete of the Month for February, highlighted by a gold medal performance at the OUA Championships on Feb. 21 and 22.
The pole vaulter cleared 5.00 metres on his jump to claim the top of the podium, surpassing three competitors who finished with jumps of 4.65 metres.
The first-place performance marked the Niagara Falls native’s second gold medal on the provincial stage after winning gold last season with a jump of 5.05 metres. Ivanov now has three OUA medals after securing bronze in 2023 when he was named the OUA Rookie of the Year.
His gold medal at the provincial championships helped lead the Badgers to seventh place in the men’s team standings, tying their ranking from last year, as Ivanov was one of three Badgers (Rémi Ouellette and Keshawn Igbinosun) to reach the podium in Windsor.
With his 5.00-metre jump, Ivanov held his individual ranking of number one in the nation, which he obtained earlier in the season when he qualified for the U Sports Track & Field Championships with a jump of 5.11 metres at the Don Wright Team Challenge in January.
Women’s Athlete of the Month – Laurin Ainsworth
Laurin Ainsworth (women’s volleyball) has been named TBP’s Women’s Athlete of the Month for February as she led the Badgers to a 6-1 record in the month, which included a pair of playoff wins to advance to their fourth straight Quigley Cup final.
In February, the fourth-year outside hitter recorded 83.5 points, 75 kills, 50 digs and a .281 attacking percentage as she led the Badgers in points twice over the month and was top three on the team in scoring in five of the seven contests.
Her stellar month began in a three-game stretch against Nipissing, where she found success against a formidable opponent.
On Valentine’s Day, she led Brock with 16.5 points and 13 kills while recording six digs and tying a season-high three blocks in a crushing five-set defeat to the Lakers. She followed up her sensational performance with another eye-catching display of athleticism when she tallied 11 kills from a .296 hitting percentage in a 3-0 sweep of Nipissing the following day to clinch the second seed in the OUA playoffs.
With the second seed, the Badgers were up against the Lakers once again, where Ainsworth continued her domination of their North Bay rivals in the OUA First Round on Feb. 21.
Ainsworth played one of her best games of the season in Brock’s narrow five-set victory against Nipissing. The Blenheim, Ontario native registered 14 kills — one off tying her season high — and recorded her fourth game of the year with an attacking percentage greater than .400, tallying a .433 hitting clip. She also led Brock with 15.5 points and was second on the team with nine digs to help push the Badgers into the OUA semifinal.
In the semifinal win against Windsor on Feb. 28, Ainsworth posted her fourth consecutive game of double-digit kills with 11 and shined on the attack with a .346 hitting percentage. The Kinesiology major also registered eight digs in the Badgers’ three set victory.
—
Stay tuned to The Brock Press following every month where the Athletes of the Month will be highlighted.
Want a say in selecting a winner? Email lcosta@brockpress.com to nominate a Badger.