Inside Athletics

Blazers History

CONFERENCE HISTORY & CHAMPIONSHIPS

2000-2008: the CPAC era

CMU's founding in the year 2000 formally merged its three predecessor colleges, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Mennonite Brethren Bible College/Concord College, and Menno Simons College, and its athletics programs started up soon afterwards, finding immediate success. The Blazers competed in the Central Plains Athletic Conference for the 2001-2008 seasons, after the CPAC itself rebranded from the previously named Prairie Athletic Conference (PAC).

The following is a list of championships won during the CPAC era:
2000/2001 -
2001/2002 - Men's Volleyball, Men's Basketball
2002/2003 - Women's Soccer
2003/2004 - Men's Basketball
2004/2005 - Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Badminton
2005/2006 - Men's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
2006/2007 - Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball
2007/2008 - Men's Golf, Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Men's Hockey

2008-2019: the Early MCAC era

Beginning in 2008, CMU became a founding member of the Manitoba College Athletic Conference. With an eye for eventual inclusion in the nation-wide Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) the conference took a turn away from Tier 2 'tournament sports' such as badminton, table tennis, golf, and hockey, with a more focused approach on creating sustainable and competitive soccer, volleyball, and basketball programs, which also included the development of an indoor futsal season for year-round training for soccer student-athletes.

The following is a list of championships won during the early MCAC era:
2008/2009 - Men's Golf, Women's Volleyball, Men's Hockey
2009/2010 - Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball
2010/2011 -
2011/2012 -
2012/2013 -
2013/2014 -
2014/2015 - Men's Futsal
2015/2016 -
2016/2017 - Women's Volleyball, Men's Volleyball, Men's Basketball (MCAC)
2017/2018 - Men's Volleyball, Women's Basketball (MCAC), Women's Futsal
2018/2019 - Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball (MCAC)

Beginning in 2016, CMU became a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the sports of women's and men's basketball. This partnership with colleges and universities from both Manitoba as well as the northern state of North and South Dakota and Minnesota diversified the schedule for our basketball programs and allowed them to compete for an additional title south of the border.

2019-Current: the CCAA era

In the summer of 2019 CMU along with the MCAC was accepted into the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in the sports of soccer and volleyball. The CCAA is a Canada-wide association including member conferences from British Columbia (PacWest), Alberta (ACAC), Manitoba (MCAC), Ontario (OCAA), Quebec (RSEQ), and the Atlantic Provinces (ACAA).

After two probationary seasons in 2019/20 and the Covid-cancelled 2020/21 year, MCAC title winners in soccer and volleyball were permitted to compete for a CCAA National Championship following our own provincial championships. This inclusion also opened the door for national recognition in sport excellence, leadership, and academic success. Following the granting of full membership, the MCAC sent its first representatives to the National Championships in the 2021/22 season, which included Blazers men's volleyball as the first ever team to represent Manitoba in the sport of men's volleyball, and CMU's first ever delegation to a National Championship.

In the spring of 2026, the MCAC made progress on its goals to expand, both in terms of institutions represented, as well as sports competing in with the announcement of the return of Red River College Polytechnic (who had pulled out of competitions during the pandemic shutdown), as well as the addition of the sports of cross-country running and curling; two Tier 2 sports that would allow immediate access to a CCAA National Championship. The Blazers announced its cross-country running program in early 2026. With the addition of the RRC Polytech Rebels, there became a renewed pathway for inclusion in the CCAA in the sport of basketball, and so the three current basketball schools (CMU, Providence, St Boniface) jointly made the decision to pull out of the NIAC Conference to focus on CCAA competitions. The sport of futsal was also suspended in an effort to focus on year-round outdoor soccer training programs with hopes of creating more competitive programs on the national stage.

The following is a list of championships won during the CCAA era:
2019/2020 - Women's Volleyball, Men's Volleyball, Women's Basketball (MCAC), Women's Basketball (NIAC), Men's Futsal
2020/2021 - Covid-cancelled season
2021/2022 - Men's Volleyball, Women's Basketball (MCAC)
2022/2023 - Women's Basketball (MCAC)
2023/2024 - Women's Volleyball, Men's Basketball (MCAC)
2024/2025 - Women's Basketball (MCAC), Men's Basketball (MCAC), Women's Basketball (NIAC)
2025/2026 - Men's Soccer, Men's Basketball (NIAC)

PROGRAM HISTORY, AWARDS & RECORD HOLDERS

Since its inception, the CMU Blazers have represented CMU in green and gold, taking the institutions collegiate green for its primary colouring. The Blazers logo originated as a stylized version of the 'dove/flame' that sat atop the CMU torch in the school's orginal branding. Various other crests, wordmarks, and iterations of the dove flame logo were used throughout the early MCAC years. Following the pandemic season, the Blazers teamed up with local athletic wear provider Zueike to begin a fresh new look with CCAA branding on all teamwear and uniforms, which also included a bolder teal green and deeper gold colouring.

For its 25th anniversary, CMU rolled out an institution-wide rebrand, taking the Blazers' lead and refreshing its classic colour palette for a more vibrant and modern take on the green and gold. The Blazers also received a new set of program logos, wordmark, and condensed logos featuring a new 'flame ball' which still included elements of the historic dove imagery tied to the Blazers.

Since the 2003/2004 season, Blazers Athletics has held its Green & Gold Athletics Banquet, honouring the top performers from each program as well as top student-athletes across the varsity teams. The Trailblazer Award honours a Blazers student-athlete for excellence in leadership, scholarship, and community-building during the applicable year.

Year	Athlete of the Year - Women	Athlete of the Year - Men	Rookie of the Year - Women	Rookie of the Year - Men	Trailblazer Award
2003/04	Lenore Friesen	Jeremy Zehr	Crys Winkerink	Darren Grunau & Lucas Redekop	Melanie Friesen
2004/05	Naomi Lang & Erin Wiebe	Chris Thiessen	Nikki Mercier	Anthony Eisses & Aaron Janzen	Derek Funk
2005/06	Kara Fuchs	Lucas Redekop	Christie Anne McCullough	Jonathan Neufeld	Jeremy Zehr
2006/07	Christie Anne McCullough	Lucas Redekop	Dara Friesen	Jaron Friesen & Alex Leaver	Rachel Funk
2007/08	Kathleen Vitt	Alex Leaver	Kalon Bergen	Marty Siemens	Janelle Hume
2008/09	Janelle Hume	Josh Ewert	Maraleigh Short	Paul Peters	Alex Leaver
2009/10	Christie Anne McCullough	Paul Muns	Anneke Hildebrand	Ethan Heidebrecht	Nina Schroeder
2010/11	Evelyn Kampen	Todd Reimer	Carrera Lamoureux	Wyatt Anders	Nina Schroeder
2011/12	Evelyn Kampen	Jacob Miller	Darcie Donald	Selanne Sangalang	Todd Reimer
2012/13	Maraleigh Short	Shawn Franz	Kathleen Klippenstein	Kieran Ens	Deanna Zantingh
2013/14	Kathleen Klippenstein	Jonah Langelotz	Cassie Wiebe	Joel Kliewer & Sam Kinsley	Blayne Stobbe
2014/15	Cassie Wiebe	Jonah Langelotz	Tiara Licsi	Jon Hayter	April Klassen
2015/16	Cassie Wiebe	Jon Hayter	Esther Schwarzkopf	John Nieckarz	Thomas Friesen
2016/17	Katie Reeves	Sam Kinsley	Lydia Balsillie	Jaden Harms	Cassie Wiebe
2017/18	Camille Plett	Thomas Friesen	Julia Schatkowsky	Stefan Schuler	Makoy Penner
2018/19	Marijka Yaschshyn	Mackenzie Hildebrand	Mackenzy Groot	Kieran Baydock	Carley Matkowski
2019/20	Jana Klassen & Julia Schatkowsky	Ryan Jensen	Anna Pyne	Cameron Gayleard	Daniel Lysack
2021/22	Julia Schatkowsky	Cameron Gayleard	Rachel Bartel	Ezra Leano	Gode Katembo
2022/23	Tiegan Kroeker	Timothy Juvonen	Zia Dacara	Noah Schindel & Daniel Cameron	Lauren Ens
2023/24	Briana Ehrmantraut	Victor Hugo Gomes de Abreu	Chelsea Stewner	Andrew Bruin	Tai Linklater
2024/25	Briana Ehrmantraut	Duncan Petrie	Madeline Wynne	Tristen Holfeld	Julia Sawatzky
2025/26	Halle Meisner	Romaine Francis	Victoria McPherson	Nicholas Pavao	Ryan Bilous
2026/27

Basketball

Originally a part of the CPAC, and then the MCAC during the early years of Blazers Athletics, CMU Basketball grew into a conference powerhouse within Manitoba, and added conference games south of the border in the NIAC beginning with the 2016/17 season. Following the pandemic shutdown, the pool of Manitoba teams shrunk, and so a greater emphasis was put on the season south of the border. With the return of Red River College Polytechnic in 2026, the focus has shifted back North of the border, with a pathway to enter the CCAA and possibility of a national championships berth.

Blazers women's basketball had a run of dominance beginning in the 2017/18 season that included five consecutive title wins in the MCAC, as well as one NIAC championship, all under the direction of Trail of Honour inductee Joe DiCurzio, who served as head coach for ten years, ending in 2022/23.

Women's Basketball

MCAC Championships (9 Titles)
2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2024/25

NIAC Championships (2 Titles)
2019/20, 2024/25

Single-Game Statistical Records
Assists - 11: Shirliz Apiyo ~ Jan 10, 2020
Points - 35: Briana Ehrmantraut ~ Jan 17, 2025
3-Pointers - 9: Briana Ehrmantraut ~ Jan 17, 2025
Rebounds - 21: Oluwanifemi Gbadamosi ~ Feb 8, 2025 (Previously held by Jessica Marx-Houndle (19))
High Score - 116 points v St Boniface Rouges ~ Jan 13, 2023

Men's Basketball

MCAC Championships (6 Titles)
2001/02, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2016/17, 2023/24, 2024/25

NIAC Championships (1 Title)
2025/26

Single-Game Statistical Records
Assists - :
Points - 47: Wyatt Anders ~ Jan 22, 2012
3-Pointers - 11: Jeremy Zehr ~
Rebounds - 27: Daniel Cameron ~ Jan 13, 2023 (Previously held by Sam Kinsley (23))
High Score - 120 points v Turtle Mountain Mighty Mikinocks ~ Nov 2, 2019

Soccer

Blazers soccer has always strived to be competitive, and took home title wins in the CPAC and early MCAC eras. After experiencing championship droughts during the teen years of the 2000s alongside many of CMU's programs, soccer has seen a steady rise at CMU during the CCAA era, with men's soccer making their first CCAA Nationals appearance following their 2025 MCAC championships win. That team went on to make more MCAC history as the first Manitoba soccer team to win a game in regulation at the championships.

Blazers soccer was also the first CMU program to earn a CCAA All-Canadian, when Matheus Aquino took home the award in 2022, the first year MCAC athletes were eligible for the award.

Women's Soccer

MCAC Championships (4 Titles)
2002/03, 2004/05, 2009/10, 2018/19

Single-Game Statistical Records
Goals -
Saves -

Men's Soccer

MCAC Championships (4 Titles)
2004/05, 2005/06, 2018/19, 2025/26

CCAA Nationals Appearances (1 Appearance)
2025/26 (7th place)

Volleyball

Blazers volleyball has always been a leader in CMU's programming, with the very first championship won under the CMU moniker coming from men's volleyball. The women's volleyball program enjoyed a dynastic run in the late CPAC and early MCAC eras, while maintaining very competitive teams throughout CMU's history. The men's program enjoyed a run of four championships in five years under Trail of Honour inductee Don Dulder, which included the first men's volleyball program to represent Manitoba at the CCAA National championships in Quebec City in 2022.

Women's Volleyball

MCAC Championships (6 Titles)
2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2016/17, 2023/24

CCAA Nationals Appearances (1 Appearance)
2023/24 (8th place)

Single-Game Statistical Records
Aces -
Assists -
Blocks -
Digs -
Kills - 24: Evelyn Kampen ~ Feb 11, 2012

Men's Volleyball

MCAC Championships (5 Titles)
2001/02, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2019/20, 2021/22

CCAA Nationals Appearances (2 Appearances)
2021/22 (7th place), 2024/25 (5th place)

Single-Game Statistical Records
Aces - 10: Carter Hofer ~ Jan 10, 2020
Assists -
Blocks -
Digs -
Kills - 22: Duncan Petrie ~ Feb 13, 2026

CCAA Nationals Appearances (1 Appearance)
2025/26 (7th place)

Cross-Country

Added as a new MCAC sport for the 2026/27 season, cross-country was introduced as a Tier II competitive sport as a means of expanding the MCAC's presence in the CCAA, and showing growth on the national level.

Women's Cross-Country

MCAC Championships

CCAA Nationals Appearances

Single-Race Statistical Records
Time -

Men's Cross-Country

MCAC Championships

CCAA Nationals Appearances

Single-Race Statistical Records
Time -

Futsal (discontinued)

A brainchild of Director of Athletics, Russell Willms, futsal was added as a conference sport in the early MCAC era as a way of training for soccer during the cold winter months. Very popular in South America as well as parts of Asia, CMU initially hosted the championship tournament for the first number of seasons before the rotating format was introduced.

Women's Futsal

MCAC Championships (1 Title)
2017/18

Single-Game Statistical Records
Goals - 6: Camille Plett ~ Jan 27, 2019

Men's Futsal

MCAC Championships (1 Title)
2014/15

Single-Game Statistical Records
Goals - 6: Tristen Holfeld ~ Feb 7, 2026 (Previously held by Matheus Moreno (5))

Hockey (discontinued)

A holdover from the CPAC era, women's hockey in the early days of the Blazers was held as a final championship tournament only format, while men's hockey enjoyed a full season schedule prior to championships. While the Blazers men's program enjoyed some success in the late 2000s, hockey was eventually discontinued as an MCAC sport due to rising costs and a focus on the primary Tier 1 CCAA sports of basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

Women's Hockey

MCAC Championships (0 Titles)

Men's Hockey

MCAC Championships (2 Titles)
2007/08, 2008/09

Golf (discontinued)

A Tier II championship sport, men's golf was run as a fall sport throughout the CPAC era, but like hockey, badminton, and table tennis, was dropped as the focus increased on developing more competitive Tier 1 programs.

Men's Golf

MCAC Championships (2 Titles)
2007/08, 2008/09

Badminton (discontinued)

Another championship Tier II sport, badminton was played during the winter semester in the old CPAC era of Blazers history, amounting to one provincial collegiate title

MCAC Championships (1 Title)
2004/05

MCAC Championships (2 Titles)
2007/08, 2008/09

Table Tennis (discontinued)

Another championship Tier II sport, table tennis was played alongside badminton during the winter semester in the old CPAC era of Blazers history, with a final tournament championship to determine the provincial champion.

MCAC Championships (0 Titles)