Winnipeg Wesmen

The University of Winnipeg's athletic program has its roots in the intercollegiate sports teams that were formed in 1889 among Winnipeg schools.{{Cite web|url=https://main.lib.umanitoba.ca/wesmen-collection|title=Wesmen Athletics fonds - MAIN – Manitoba Archival Information Network|website=main.lib.umanitoba.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-03-03}} In 1962, the first professional Athletics Director, Blue Bomber player Ray Jauch, was appointed by United College. In 1963, the new Riddell Hall gymnasium was opened.A. Gerald Bedford, "Recreation and Athletics at The University of Winnipeg, 1967–1983: A Brief History," The Institute of Urban Studies, 1984. http://winnspace.uwinnipeg.ca/bitstream/handle/10680/928/097-1984-Bedford-RecAthleticsUofW1967to1983-WEB.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y In 1966, the United College Student Council held a public competition to name its sports team. The name chosen was Wesmen, which combined "Wesley" and "Manitoba".

In 1967, after the University of Winnipeg was incorporated, the Wesmen began competing across Canada with other University teams across Canada as a member of two sports governing bodies: the Western Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union. The main sports included were basketball, volleyball, and hockey (although hockey was not continued after 1984). The Wesmen also hosted tournaments, including the Wesmen Classic, which was previously known as the Golden Boy Classic (1967–1976).

In 1984, the Athletics Centre was opened at the University of Winnipeg. In 1992, the building was renamed as the Duckworth Centre in honour of Henry Duckworth, a past University President. In 2008, the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre was added to the building. Most recently, the [https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/event-services/venue-options/recplex.html Axworthy Health and RecPlex], an adjoining fieldhouse for soccer and sports education, was built.

The Athletic Directors have been: Ray Jauch, from 1962 to 1964; Edward Vidruk, from 1964 to 1966; David Anderson, from 1966–1984; Glen Conly, 1973 (he covered David Anderson during a leave of absence); Aubrey Ferris, from 1984 to 2000; Bill Wedlake,{{Cite news|url=https://www.mbhof.com/2007/07/bill-wedlake.html|title=Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame: Bill Wedlake|work=Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-09-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca/inductee.php?id=467&criteria_name=bill+wedlake&criteria_sport=&criteria_keywords=&criteria_induction=&criteria_sort=name|title=Honoured Members Database {{!}} Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame|website=honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca|access-date=2018-09-26}} from 2000 to 2008; Doran Reid,{{cite web |title=Wesmen Athletics mourns loss of Doran Reid |url=https://wesmen.ca/news/2024/10/29/mens-basketball-wesmen-athletics-mourns-loss-of-doran-reid.aspx |publisher=University of Winnipeg |access-date=22 March 2025}} from 2009–2015; Dave Crook,{{cite web |title=Doran Reid retires as Athletic Director |url=https://news.uwinnipeg.ca/doran-reid-retires-as-athletic-director/ |publisher=University of Winnipeg |access-date=22 March 2025}} from 2015 to 2024; and since 2024, Cara Isaak.{{cite web |title=Dr. Cara Isaak returns to UWinnipeg as Director of Athletics |url=https://news.uwinnipeg.ca/dr-cara-isaak-returns-to-uwinnipeg-as-director-of-athletics/ |website=Wesmen Athletics |publisher=University of Winnipeg |access-date=22 March 2025}}

{{main|Winnipeg Wesmen men's ice hockey}}

The team was active from 1967 until 1984 and played out of the Pioneer Arena, now known as the Charlie Gardiner Arena.{{cite news|url=https://mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/pioneer-arena-renamed-to-honour-charlie-gardner/ |title=Pioneer Arena renamed to honour Charlie Gardiner |work=Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}

In 1972, the WCIAA was plait in two primarily as a way of cutting down on travel expenses. Winnipeg were founding members of the Great Plains Athletic Association (soon to be called Great Plains Athletic Conference) and finished as runners-up in the first two seasons of play. Unfortunately, that was the high water mark for the program. While there was some criticism of Marshall's ability as coach, the team was hamstrung by its subpar (for the college level) rink and its lack of recruiting.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LE8sJJD4Ho&t=7s |title=Iced: The Lost History of Hockey at The University of Winnipeg |work=YouTube |accessdate=October 24, 2024}} After 1974, the team never finished higher than 4th in the standings and was often dead-last. With little hope for the foreseeable future, the university decided to suspend the program in 1984 and, as of 2024, it has yet to return.

Volleyball has always been a popular sport in Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg Wesmen and University of Manitoba Bisons have frequently battled for the U Sports title. The Wesmen women hold the record with 7 national titles and were the first to win 6 consecutive titles between 1983 and 1988, this was a feat that was only later repeated once by the University of Alberta Pandas.

In recent years the men's volleyball side won the CIS championships for the 2006–07 season, defeating the University of Alberta 3 sets to 2, the following year in a rematch of the same final the Wesmen lost 3 sets to 1 finishing runner-up to Alberta this time.

In women's basketball the ladies made it to the national final against Simon Fraser in 2004–05 losing the final 60–50. The year before in the bronze medal match between the same two schools the Wesmen ladies won 65–62. In the mid 90s, women's Wesmen basketball was a national powerhouse. The team would go on to a 118-1 record in the span from 1992–1995, including 3 CIS national basketball championships and beating several NCAA Women's Division I programs in North American tournaments.[http://www.halloffame.mb.ca/honouredmembers/inductee.php?id=461&criteria_sort=name Honoured members] halloffame.mb.ca {{dead link|date=September 2023}}

• Wesmen Women's Basketball Team (1992–95): Canada West Hall of Fame - 2020 Inductee {{Cite news|url=https://www.canadawesthalloffame.org/post/wesmen-1992-95-wbb-team|title=Wesmen 1992-95 (WBB {{!}} Team)|website=canadawesthalloffame.org/|date=2020-01-08|access-date=2021-07-23|language=en}}

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{{U Sports volleyball}}

Category:University of Winnipeg

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Category:Sports clubs and teams in Winnipeg

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