Weekend Preview: Kodiaks on the hunt for gold

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks are going into a defining weekend as three teams compete in the 2026 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championships and one team trying to earn their spot into a Championship seed.

Both Kodiak basketball teams hit the court today, with games running through Saturday at their respective host sites. 

The futsal team will compete both Friday and Saturday in their second and final South Regional of the season with a goal of snatching a seat in their Championships.

Indoor track is also competing in the 2026 ACAC championships at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton on Saturday and Sunday. 

Basketball

MBB Kodiaks S2 (15-6) vs NAIT Ooks N3 (13-7)

Quarterfinals Thursday, March 5 | 6 p.m. | at Lakeland College

Semifinals Friday, March 6 | TBD | at Lakeland College

Finals Friday, March 8 | TBD | at Lakeland College 

The Kodiaks men's basketball team travelled to Lloydminster on Tuesday ahead of their practice day. The ACAC banquet was held Wednesday night, where three Kodiaks student-athletes were honoured: Nathaniel Hosannah (second year, Business Administration, Tacoma, Washington) was named a South Second Team All-Conference player, Levi Balderson (second year, General Arts and Science, Welling, Alta.) was named a South First Team All-Conference player, and Marley Kenion (first year, Child and Youth Care, Coventry, England) was named the South Rookie of the Year.

The Kodiaks will need to play well across the board to make it to the finals. Standing in their way are the NAIT Ooks, who have had a strong second half of the season, only dropping games to nationally ranked teams. Also on their side of the bracket is the championship host school, the Lakeland College Rustlers. The Rustlers are the No. 1 seed in the North Division and are currently ranked No. 6 nationally.

The Kodiaks faced the NAIT Ooks once during the regular season right before the Christmas break, winning that game 88–63 in front of a home crowd. However, both teams have strengthened their lineups since then, and with the games being played at a neutral site, anything is possible. The Kodiaks will need sharpshooter Balderson to make big plays beyond the three-point line to help separate the score. Randall Mongard (first year, Open Studies, Laval, Que.) is another Kodiak who could impact the outcome of the game. His speed is essential, as he is capable of going end-to-end with the ball to score. With the Kodiaks being a younger team, the leadership of Rhett Lewis (third year, General Arts and Science, Cardston) will also be pivotal as he helps guide the team through the championships and the pressure that comes with them. 

WBB Kodiaks S4 (15-6) vs TKU Eagles N1 (17-3)

Quarterfinals Thursday, March 5 | 7 p.m. (MST)| at Briercrest College and Seminary

Semifinals Friday, March 6 | TBD | at Briercrest College and Seminary

Finals Friday, March 8 | TBD | at Briercrest College and Seminary

The Kodiaks women's basketball team travelled to Caronport, Sask. on Tuesday ahead of their practice day. The ACAC banquet was held Wednesday night, where two Kodiaks student-athletes were honoured: Chase Wells-Creighton (second year, Exercise Science, Standoff, Alta.) was named a South Second Team All-Conference player, while Summer Long (first year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) was named the South Rookie of the Year and a South First Team All-Conference player.

The Kodiaks have a tough path ahead to reach the finals. They open the tournament against the top seed from the North Division and the No. 1 ranked team in the country, the King's University Eagles. Also on their side of the bracket is Concordia, a team the Kodiaks lost to early in the season before establishing their foundation, as well as the host school, the Briercrest Clippers, who the Kodiaks split games with during the regular season.

As the fourth-seeded team and one of the younger rosters in the tournament, with only three players having championship experience, the Kodiaks enter as underdogs. They will have a chance at redemption after facing TKU in the first month of the season. With the Kodiaks roster made up of 84 per cent first- and second-year players going up against a team composed of roughly 60 per cent third-year players or older, it was a difficult matchup early in the year. Now that the Kodiaks have had time to gel and learn how to play together, the outcome should be a stronger contest. Long will be leaned on heavily this week to help drive the offense as the team's leading scorer. Another first-year player peaking at the right time is Zoe Michelson (first year, General Arts and Science, Stirling, Alta.), who has been steadily climbing the stat sheet and becoming another key scoring option. The Kodiaks' lone senior student-athlete, Gaby Power (fourth year, Early Childhood Education, Calgary), who is among the team leaders in minutes played, will take on a major leadership role this weekend as she helps guide the team through the pressures of championship play.

Futsal

WFUT Kodiaks (2-3) | ACAC South Regional 2 | Hosted by AMB Lions

Friday, March 6 | 4:30 p.m. | vs SAIT Trojans (4-0-1)

Saturday, March 7 | 11:30 a.m. | vs AMB Lions (0-4)

Saturday, March 7 | 4:30 a.m. | vs OC Broncos (1-4)

The Kodiaks women's futsal team heads to Calgary this weekend for the second South Regional, hosted by the Ambrose University Lions. The Kodiaks have already faced both Ambrose and Olds this season, picking up an 11–1 victory over the Lions in their most recent meeting and earning a narrow 1–0 win over the Broncos during the first regional. SAIT remains one of the top teams in the division and handed the Kodiaks a 3–1 loss earlier in the season. With several familiar opponents on the schedule, the Kodiaks will be looking to build off their previous performances and secure important points as the race for championship spots continues.

Sophie DeMarsh (second year, Criminal Justice – Corrections, Calgary) has been a key playmaker for the Kodiaks this season, leading the team in assists while also contributing offensively, including a goal in the opening regional. Abigail Leusink (third year, Open Studies, Picture Butte) has also been finding her stride offensively, scoring in multiple games and playing a key role in recent Kodiaks performances, earning multiple Player of the Game honours and most recently being named Kodiaks Athlete of the Week. Defensively, the Kodiaks will continue to rely on strong performances in goal from Kiara Jankowiak (third year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) and Samantha Demchuk (fifth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Whitehorse, Yukon), whose experience and composure provide stability at the back.

The Kodiaks are also in the hunt for a wildcard spot at the ACAC championships. Wildcard team(s) will be determined by winning percentage and tie-breaking procedures among teams that have not automatically qualified for the championship. With three games remaining in the regular season, the Kodiaks will be looking to improve their winning percentage and strengthen their position in the wildcard race, as two wins this weekend would likely put the team in a very strong position for a wildcard berth.

MFUT Kodiaks (2-3) | ACAC South Regional 2 | Hosted by AMB Lions

Friday, March 6 | 5:45 p.m. | vs SAIT Trojans (3-2)

Saturday, March 7 | 12:45 a.m. | vs AMB Lions (2-2)

Saturday, March 7 | 5:45 p.m. | vs OC Broncos (0-5)

The Kodiaks men's futsal team is also on the road in Calgary this weekend for the second ACAC South Regional tournament, hosted by the Ambrose University Lions. The Kodiaks have already seen both SAIT and Olds earlier this season, earning a 5–2 win over the Broncos and securing a late 4–3 upset victory over the Trojans in the first regional. Ambrose presents another challenge after handing the Kodiaks a 7–1 loss in their most recent meeting. With familiar opponents across the schedule, the Kodiaks will look to build consistency and pick up valuable results as the regular season nears its conclusion.

Offensively, the Kodiaks have seen strong contributions from several players throughout the season. Ya Sin Benbrik (first year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) has been a dynamic presence in attack, contributing key goals and playmaking moments, including a pivotal assist in the Kodiaks' late win over SAIT. Cristobal Jacob Pares (Civil Engineering Technology, Nelson, B.C.) has also been a consistent scoring threat, recording multiple goals during the opening regional. Captain Jordan Morello (fourth year, Renewable Resource Management, Nelson, B.C.) provides leadership and offensive support, while goalkeepers Tristan Martin (second year, General Arts and Science, Whitehorse, Y.T.) and Adam Krisko (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) have been steady presences in net, highlighted by Krisko's recent 36-save performance.

The Kodiaks are also in the hunt for a wildcard spot at the ACAC championships. With three games remaining, the Kodiaks will be looking to pick up key wins this weekend to improve their winning percentage and keep their championship hopes alive. A strong showing this weekend with potentially two wins, would place the Kodiaks in a much stronger position in the wildcard race. 

Indoor track

March 7-8 | ACAC Championships | at Kinsmen Sports Centre | Presented by Running Room

The Kodiaks indoor track team heads to Edmonton this weekend for the ACAC Championships at the Kinsmen Sports Centre. The championship meet marks the culmination of the three-event Grand Prix season, where Lethbridge consistently delivered strong performances across all events. Throughout the Grand Prix series, both Kodiaks teams have battled closely with Red Deer Polytechnic for the top spots in the standings. The men's team finished second overall to Red Deer in the opening two Grand Prix events before capturing first place at the final meet, where Red Deer did not compete. On the women's side, the Kodiaks and Red Deer split victories during the Grand Prix series, each claiming a meet win, before Lethbridge secured first place at the final event on home soil.

The Kodiaks men have built their success around a balanced roster featuring strength in both sprint and distance events. Ethan Grasmeyer (third year, Conservation Enforcement – Bachelor of Applied Science, Smithers, B.C.) has been a consistent leader for Lethbridge, claiming victories in both the 1500 metre and 3000m during the Grand Prix series. Owen Boucher (first year, Natural Resource Compliance, St. Paul, Alta.) has emerged as one of the team's top sprinters this season, highlighted by a first-place finish in the 60m at the final Grand Prix, while Jaxon Uhl (fourth year, Business Administration – Management, Lethbridge) and Wayne Bauluck (second year, Criminal Justice - Policing, Moose Jaw, Sask.) both continue to provide experience and depth in the sprint events. The Kodiaks have also posted strong results in relay competition, with the 4x200m and 4x400m teams consistently placing near the top of the field throughout the season.

On the women's side, the Kodiaks have been one of the strongest teams in the conference, particularly in relay events where they remain undefeated this season. Khloe Jankowiak (third year, Business Administration – Accounting, Lethbridge) has delivered standout performances in the distance events, capturing victories in both the 1500m and 3000m during the Grand Prix season. Katrina Michel (third year, Bachelor of Nursing, Okotoks) has also been a key contributor in the middle-distance races, while sprinter Hallee Pilling (third year, Exercise Science, Cardston) has added valuable points in the short-distance events. With strong depth across multiple disciplines and continued success in the relay races, the Kodiaks will look to carry their season-long consistency into the championship meet as they compete for conference podium finishes.

Several Kodiaks student-athletes will also be balancing multiple championship events this weekend. Paighton Kumson (third year, Correctional Studies, Edmonton) will travel from the ACAC women's basketball championships to compete with the track team. Kiara Jankowiak (third year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) Hazel Baumbach (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge), and Uhl will split their weekend between their futsal regional and the indoor track championships. Khloe Jankowiak, who also competes in futsal, will represent the Kodiaks indoor track for both competition days.