June 1, 2023

The varsity season might be over but Ngameni Davina and Anthony Gurrieri, the Seneca Sting Athletes of the Year, are still glowing, grateful for their teams and planning their next moves — in competition and life.

Ms. Davina, an outside hitter, helped take the women’s volleyball team to a fourth-place finish at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Championship — the first time a Seneca team has reached the quarter-finals since 2014. In addition, the Accounting diploma student was named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Academic All-Canadian in recognition of her honours academic standing and athletic achievement.

Mr. Gurrieri, a goalkeeper, led the men’s soccer team (outdoor) to a second-place finish at the OCAA and CCAA championships. The Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology student was recognized as the CCAA championship’s Most Valuable Player. Not only was it the first time the Sting qualified for the national championship since 2012, but it capped the team’s best season since 2009.

“The Sting Athlete of the Year award is a huge accomplishment,” Shannon Wright, Senior Varsity Co-ordinator said. “Anthony was the backbone of his team and Ngameni was a star player. In addition, they both had well deserved OCAA and CCAA award recognition.” 

Ms. Davina, 20, grew up in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, and started playing volleyball at age 11. She joined the country’s national team at 16 and is now getting ready to re-join them for their season, which runs from June to August. 

“It’s a great sport,” Ms. Davina said. “And it’s a pleasure for me to play with Seneca. Everyone is really there for each other.”

She was surprised to win the Sting Athlete of the Year award.

Now, the challenge will be to do it again, said Ms. Davina, who plans to graduate in December. Before that, she’s hoping Cameroon will defend their championship title in the African Cup of Nations this summer.

Asked if she had any advice for others, Ms. Davina said: “Work hard and never give up in anything.”

Mr. Gurrieri, 21, who is graduating in June, said his time with the Sting was fantastic and that he’s thankful to the coaches and his team. He was recruited from high school in 2019 and has loved the varsity experience, which offers student-athletes everything from academic support to physiotherapy.

During the past year, Mr. Gurrieri juggled soccer, studies and a co-op placement as an educational assistant at a before- and after-school program called Fun on the Run. 

This summer, he’ll continue working with Fun on the Run, while also coaching at a soccer club and training with various League1 Ontario teams — the provincial senior league that is a stepping-stone to professional competition.

“Soccer is not just soccer,” he said. “There are so many life lessons you learn within the game — discipline, mental and physical strength. 

“I’ll take those lessons and my Seneca degree wherever I go.”