This spring, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) named Conestoga Condor Malachi Ramsay its 2023-24 Male Athlete of the Year. Ramsay is the first-ever student-athlete from Conestoga to earn the honour.
Malachi Ramsay, pictured with Marlene Ford, senior varsity coordinator (left), and men's soccer head coach Stu Mackie (right), received his OCAA male athlete of the year award at a ceremony on June 3.
Over the past year, Ramsay has also earned two OCAA all-star selections, the OCAA championship MVP, recognition as a Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) championship all-star, and the honour of being named an OCAA first team all-star. He was also recognized for his academic achievements with OCAA all-academic and CCAA academic all-Canadian awards.
Ramsay was also honoured recently as Conestoga's Athlete of the Year as well as Athlete of Distinction.
“Mal is a great leader and has been since day one. When we took over the program, he was an easy choice for captain … he led by example on and off the field,” said coach Stuart Mackie. “He’s been the perfect representation of the program and the school, and the athletic department as well.”
The fifth-year defender started all 10 regular season matches for the Condors men's soccer outdoor program, leading Conestoga to win the west division with a perfect 10-0 record.
The Condors continued their undefeated run in the OCAA post-season, earning the gold medal match against the four-time reigning champion Humber Hawks. The win marked the team’s first OCAA title since 1979.
Ramsay scored timely goals throughout the season, including the opening goal in the seventeenth minute of the OCAA finals, and the decisive penalty kick in extra time that propelled the Condors into the CCAA national championship final where they earned a CCAA silver medal—the first national medal for the men’s soccer program.
“We knew we had something special with Malachi. He was identified within the league as one of the best players,” added Mackie. “To go from where he came from - as a walk on (who was not recruited) to this award - that’s quite the underdog story.”
Conestoga's Athletics & Recreation department offers programming and facilities designed to engage students and enhance their health and wellness through varsity and extramural athletics, intramural sports and fitness classes. The Student Recreation Centre at the Kitchener - Doon campus provides a full range of recreation and athletic services. It also houses a 35,000 square-foot fitness centre outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment.