As part of a growing homecoming tradition, it's set to be a busy weekend for Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics.
Homecoming week started on Oct. 21 and wraps up Saturday with a fun night of action at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
In addition, the RDP cross country team is in Grande Prairie at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association Championships. The RDP soccer teams are also in Grande Prairie in pursuit of a provincial title.
The Queens played in the ACAC Championship quarter final Friday night, that result was unavailable by press time. The Kings earned a bye to the semi-finals, which are set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Kings (6-2-2) will play the winner between the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks (5-3-2) and Keyano College Huskies (9-1-2).
Thursday, ahead of the ACAC Championships, the league named conference all-stars.
Ajdin Sarcevic and Jaxon Fernandes earned all-stars honours at midfield for the ACAC South. Sarcevic led the ACAC in goals with 14 and points with 33. Fernandes had six goals and one assist in 10 games.
On defence, Ibukunoluwa Oyawale and Njegos Bajovic were named ACAC South all-stars and Brian Murray was the ACAC South all-star keeper.
Admir Sarcevic, Kings Soccer Head Coach, was also named the 2024 ACAC Men’s Soccer South Coach of the Year, guiding the team to first place (6-2-2) in the South Division during the regular season.
On the women's side, several Queens also earned all-star nods. McKenna Leslie was an south all-star forward, along with Mikayla Fujimoto and Olivia Lundell at midfield. Leslie had six goals and nine assists through 10 games and was top five in the league in shots with 38.
On defence, Queens' Payton Erick was also named an all-star.
“I want to congratulate Admir and all nine student-athletes on receiving this prestigious ACAC recognition,” says Randy Stewart, Manager, Athletics and Student Life at RDP. “They all worked extremely hard and contributed immensely to the success of their respective teams this season.”
After season openers for volleyball Friday night and the home opener for the RDP Kings hockey team, the basketball squads play their home opener Saturday against the Ambrose University Lions.
“The new group of guys is really gelling well together and improving every day,” said Kings Basketball Head Coach Jedell Foster.
The Queens tip off a 6 p.m. and the Kings follow at 8 p.m.
The Red Deer Polytechnic Rodeo team will also compete at the Southern Alberta Intercollegiate Rodeo Team (SAIRT) Fall Rodeo in Fort Macleod. SAIRT is an independent rodeo team of student-athletes who attend post-secondary institutions in Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.