Basketball’s Ohl, field hockey’s Gaiga and swimming’s Petelski mark 13th UVic Sports Hall of Fame class of inductees
Apr. 1: Sports Hall of Fame inductees Phil Ohl, Milena Gaiga and Christin Petelski to be honoured at annual Celebration of Champions event (Victoria Conference Centre)
By Ali Lee, Vikes Communications
VICTORIA, B.C. – This year will mark the 13th class of the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame, founded in 2002 to honour those individuals who have contributed significantly to sport or recreation at the university as athletes, coaches, a team or as builders. Vikes Athletics and Recreation are pleased to announce that three individual athletes will be inducted on Apr. 1 at the annual Celebration of Champions Event and they are Phil Ohl, of men's basketball, Milena Gaiga, of women's field hockey, and Christin Petelski, of women's swimming.
Ohl competed for the Vikings men's basketball program when the dynasty was at its finest from 1981-85. Ohl competed with UVic basketball legends Kelly Dukeshire, Eli Pasquale and Gerald Kazanowski, all of who played under head coach Ken Shields. Ohl was a national champion with the Vikings for four-straight seasons, starting in 1981-82 at age 17, and also competed for Canada for seven years. In 1985, the six-foot-seven guard-forward was named as a CIAU All-Canadian, the CIS Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Basketball BC Player of the Year.
Ohl competed internationally at a FIBA World Championship, the 1992 Olympic qualifier, the World University Games and played professionally in Europe from 1985-89. Ohl was also inducted into the Basketball BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Women's field hockey player Gaiga competed for the Vikettes in two stints, first in 1985-87 during her bachelors and then again from 1989-93 when she completed her masters. In her five years Gaiga helped the Vikettes claim two gold, one silver and two bronze medals at CIAU national championships. In addition, Gaiga was a three-time conference all-star and two-time CIAU second team All-Canadian.
In 1993, Gaiga was named UVic's President's Cup winner, awarded to an outstanding senior athlete who best combines scholastic achievement and athletic ability. Gaiga, also a two-time national championship all-star, continued her talents to the world stage where she competed for Canada from 1989 to 1993. Gaiga helped Canada finish seventh at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, which is Canada's women's field hockey team's last-ever appearance at an Olympic games.
Victoria native Petelski competed for the Vikes women's swimming team from 1995 to 2000 and after a prolific university career burst on to the international scene to become a two-time Olympian. At UVic, Petelski was a three-time defending CIS gold medalist in the 200-m breaststroke, a four-time gold medalist in the 100-m breaststroke and among many other national medals, Petelski was named UVic Female Athlete of the Year three times and was also Rookie of the Year in 1996.
Petelski still holds the current UVic swim team records for the 100-m (1:09.89) and 200-m breaststroke (2:27.89), set in 1998, and in 2000 she was the B.C. record holder for the 200-m breaststroke and the Canadian national record holder in the 4x100-m medley relay. After amassing 10 CIAU gold medals, Petelski went on to represent Canada at the 2001 and 2005 World Aquatic Championships, the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2003 World Universiade Games, as well as the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Petelski made it to the finals in the 200-m breaststroke in the 1996 games and the 4x100-m medley relay in the 2000 games.
The University of Victoria Alumni Association and Vikes Athletics and Recreation are pleased to celebrate the induction of Phil Ohl, Milena Gaiga and Christin Petelski – three incredibly talented Vikes athletes who still today are involved with the Vikes. Ohl is currently an assistant coach of the Vikes men's basketball program and the program's alumni chapter chair. Gaiga was a long-time alumni chapter chair for women's field hockey, while Petelski is currently the Vikes women's swimming chapter chair.
All three will be formally inducted along side the annual Vikes athletics award winners at the Celebration of Champions event, Apr. 1, at the Victoria Conference Centre. Tickets will be available for $85 per person (plus GST). For more information please visit www.govikesgo.com/COC or contact Janine Prince by phone at (250) 472-4772 or by e mail: jlprince@Uvic.ca
Members of the community looking to submit nominations to the UVic Sports Hall of Fame may e-mail vicvikes@Uvic.ca for an application form or visit http://govikesgo.com/HOF for details. Due to the overwhelming number of submissions, nominations for the UVic Sport Hall of Fame will be considered for five years.
Hall of Fame Class of 2014
Jan Crook, Field Hockey
Dr. Dave Docherty, Rugby
Dr. Bruce Howe, Rugby
Hall of Fame Class of 2013
Silverado Socrates, Cross-country/Track
Nicci Wright, Soccer
Dr. Derek Ellis, Cross-country/Track, Builder
Hall of Fame Class of 2012
Michael Edgson, Swimming
Lynne Beecroft, Field Hockey
1981-82 Women's Basketball team
Hall of Fame Class of 2011
Greg Streppel, Swimming
Eric Hinrichsen, Basketball
1970-71 Men's Rugby Team
Hall of Fame Class of 2010
Laurelee Kopeck, Field Hockey
Tracie McAra (Sibbald), Basketball
Hall of Fame Class of 2009
Kelly Dukeshire, Basketball
Carey Nelson, Cross Country
1983 Men's Rowing, Varsity Eight
Hall of Fame Class of 2007
Gary Dukelow, Rugby
Robyn Meagher, Cross Country/Track
Deb Whitten, Field Hockey
Hall of Fame Class of 2006
Kirsten Barnes, Rowing
Gerald Kazanowski, Basketball
Luanne Krawetz (Hebb), Basketball
Howard Petch, Builder
1975 Men's Soccer, Team
Hall of Fame Class of 2005
Rochelle Low, Field Hockey
Robbie Parris, Basketball
Eli Pasquale, Basketball
Pam Rai, Swimming
Mark Wyatt, Rugby
Hall of Fame Class of 2004
Jon Kelly, Swimming
Al Morrow, Rowing
Debbie Scott, Cross Country/Track
1984-85 Women's Field Hockey, Team
Hall of Fame Class of 2003
Howard Gerwing, Rugby
Nancy Mollenhauer (Charlton), Field Hockey
Derek Porter, Rowing
1979-80 Men's Basketball, Team
Hall of Fame Class of 2002
Lorne Loomer, Rowing
Wally Milligan, Soccer
Gareth Rees, Rugby
Ken Shields, Basketball
Kathy Shields, Basketball
- 30 -