2024 has been an incredibly memorable year for the Badgers. With six teams winning provincial medals, six reaching U Sports championships and two winning national titles, the highlights were endless for the Badgers during the calendar year.
With so many accomplishments to choose from, here are my top 10 Badgers moments of 2024.
(10) Women’s basketball wins 11 straight games en route to OUA Central Division title
When the 2023-24 season resumed in January following the Christmas break, it seemed impossible for the Badgers women’s basketball team to crack into the top two in the division let alone win the division crown. But they did just that, winning 11 straight games in January and February, victorious in 12 of their final 13 games to close the regular season, as the Badgers leapfrogged the TMU Bold and McMaster Marauders to take top spot in the division for the first time in the OUA’s new division alignment.
(9) Men’s hockey qualifies for the U Sports National Championship
With their fourth-place finish in the OUA during the 2023-24 season, the Badgers men’s hockey team qualified for the U Sports National Championships, one of eight teams across the country that qualified for the tournament. The Badgers won their division, placing first in the OUA West with a 21-7 record, defeating the Windsor Lancers in two games in the second round of the playoffs to clinch their spot in the 2024 U Cup.
(8) Men’s swimming haul medals to win OUA Dean Boles Divisional Championship
In an epic performance at Brock’s Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre, the Badgers men’s swimming team impressively won 15 of the 57 available medals, winning the OUA Dean Boles Divisional Championship for their second divisional title in three seasons. Picking up three gold medals, 10 silvers and a bronze, Brock finished the competition with 979.5 points — just ahead of Laurier, who tallied 934 points — as their strong performance advanced the Badgers to the higher OUA Merrily Stratten Divisional Championship next season.
(7) Men’s baseball are back on the podium with an OUA bronze
The Badgers men’s baseball team are back on the podium, defeating the Queen’s Gaels in the OUA Bronze Medal game to win their first medal since the 2016 season. Brock swung an 8-8 record during the regular season before beating the McMaster Marauders and Guelph Gryphons in the qualifier playoffs en route to their historic podium finish.
(6) Women’s swimming win OUA Dean Boles Divisional Championship for the first time
The Badgers women’s swimming team dominated the pool to win their first OUA Dean Boles Divisional Championship in school history. Brock won 19 medals (nine gold, four silver and six bronze) while setting seven school records and two Dean Boles Championship records during the meet. The Badgers finished in first place with 912.5 points, beating out Guelph (824) and Laurier (736) who placed second and third respectively, advancing the Badgers to the higher division where they will be competing in the OUA Merrily Stratten Divisional Championships next season.
(5) Men’s basketball goes on Cinderella run to Wilson Cup Final
The Badgers men’s basketball team squeaked into the OUA playoffs as the 10th seed with an 11-11 record, but showed that once you’re in, anything is possible. Brock defeated the Carleton Ravens, the sixth seed in the OUA, by a single point, before eliminating the Ottawa Gee-Gees (second-ranked) and Western Mustangs (third-ranked) all on the road, advancing to the Wilson Cup Final where the Badgers lost to the Queen’s Gaels (top-ranked team in Ontario) by three points.
(4) Men’s rowing finish second at nationals again
The Badgers men’s rowing team earned their third straight second-place finish at the Canadian University Rowing Championships (CURC), finishing with 107 points, just behind the UBC Thunderbirds who had 113. Brock won five medals at the championships in Victoria, B.C. — two golds, two silvers and a bronze — while Stephen Harris was named the CURC Male Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive season with a gold and bronze medal winning performance.
(3) Women’s volleyball wins third straight Quigley Cup
The Badgers women’s volleyball team continued their reign as the OUA’s best team, capturing their third consecutive Quigley Cup title, defeating the McMaster Marauders in four sets on home court. 2024 was a year to remember for the Badgers, winning 18 of 20 games during the 2023-24 regular season to finish first in the OUA regular season standings, while beginning the 2024-25 season with an 8-2 record, losing only three regular season contests during the 2024 calendar year.
(2) Women’s wrestling claims 11th national title in school history
The Badgers women’s wrestling team won their 11th national championship in school history, besting the Alberta Golden Bears with 75 points to claim first place in the country. Brock finished the championships with eight medals — three gold, three silver and two bronze — while Francesca Lo Greco and Dave Collie won national honours, being selected as the Female Rookie of the Year and the Women’s Coach of the Year respectively. Altogether, the team was selected as the 2023-24 Badgers Female Team of the Year.
(1) Men’s wrestling dynasty continues, winning ninth consecutive U Sports title
Winning a national title once is hard, twice in a row is difficult and three times straight is insane, yet the Badgers men’s wrestling team won their ninth straight U Sports championship, continuing their dynasty on the national stage. Brock earned 83 points — 21 points ahead of Alberta who placed second — winning four gold medals and three silvers with medalists in eight of the 10 events. The Badgers have now won 22 national championships in men’s wrestling while being named the Badgers Male Team of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
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With 2024 soon to be in the rear-view mirror, the Badgers and their fans can look forward to the 2025 season and the triumphs and celebrations that are forthcoming.
Be sure to stay tuned to The Brock Press all year long as those moments are highlighted.