This week in RDC Athletics

The Red Deer College Cross-Country Running and soccer teams will commence the 2017-2018 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season this weekend on the road.

Cross-Country Running | Saturday, Sept. 9 | Grand Prix #1 | Concordia University (Edmonton)

RDC Cross-Country Running Head Coach, Kari Elliott, will lead this talented group of student-athletes into their first ACAC competition of the season, and the RDC squad is ready. "The key to our success during the season is having a strong base building off last season, and we have done just that," says Elliott, the 2016-2017 ACAC Cross-Country Coach of the Year. "Now we can switch gears and move from base building to speed training. The balance lies in pushing them to achieve beyond what they think they can and reining them in to prevent injuries." 

This year's team will have a mix of talented veterans and energetic newcomers. Several key runners are back with the RDC team, including 2016-2017 ACAC Women's All-Conference selections, Jordanna Cota and Jill Stewart. "Our women's team is largely the same as last year. Sadie Borgfjord (OP Therapist Assistant) was a powerhouse on the track and we are excited to see how she develops over the longer distances. This season will be Jordanna's last - she brings a wealth of experience and talent to our women's team," says Elliott. "I am excited about our men's team. The group of student-athletes we have this year are super committed and have already put in many training kilometres this summer."

Queens Soccer | Saturday, Sept. 9 | 2:00 p.m. | Lethbridge College

The Red Deer College Queens Soccer Head Coach, Esad Elkaz, has his sights on excellence as the new season begins this weekend down south. "I always set high goals for myself and the student-athletes," says Elkaz. "I expect to be a highly ranked college team in the province."

The RDC Queens went undefeated in a pair of August non-conference games. The Queens earned a 2-1 victory over the University of Alberta (Augustana) Vikings and played to a 2-2 draw against the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves, who won an ACAC silver medal last season.

Several key players are back along with promising new recruits. "I know the capability of all of the returning players. They are very skilled technically and tactically," says Elkaz. "The new players are very eager to prove that they belong at the college level. They bring a lot of speed to the game."

Queens Soccer | Sunday, Sept. 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Medicine Hat College

The first road trip of the young season continues in Medicine Hat against the Rattlers.

Kings Soccer | Saturday, Sept. 9 | 4:00 p.m. | Lethbridge College

With a mix of eager returning student-athletes and enthusiastic new recruits, the Kings are looking to take another step towards the playoffs, and the journey starts this weekend. In the preseason, the RDC Kings defeated the University of Alberta (Augustana) Vikings 2-1 and 4-1, and were edged 1-0 by The King's University Eagles in non-conference games. "I've seen the guys focusing on what we've been doing in training. Things continue to progress and the foundation is coming. The young guys are pushing the older players. All of the new student-athletes are putting themselves into the conversation of earning quality playing time," says Kings Head Coach Wade Groenewegen.  "This group is very much a team, on the same page, very coachable, work hard and are a treat to work with honestly. We have overall team speed, fitness, a good level of generosity to use each other on the pitch and a willingness to dig into the tactics and get intellectually better."

Kings Soccer | Sunday, Sept. 10 | 2:00 p.m. | Medicine Hat College

The Kings will hit the pitch against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers in this afternoon contest.

For information on the weekend results for cross-country running and soccer, please visit:  rdcathletics.ca