Lakehead Athletics is very proud to announce that it will be holding its annual Zanatta Alumni Homecoming Weekend September 28th and 29th with a wide range of events for alumni, students, and the general public.
The Zanatta Alumni Games are named in memory of former Lakehead basketball player and mens basketball Head Coach, John Zanatta. After Johns death, Lakehead Athletics held the annual John Zanatta Memorial Games and three years ago decided to combine the Zanatta Games with a new Alumni event to create an overall annual Lakehead homecoming event.
John Zanatta was tragically killed in an automobile accident on August 12, 1990 at the age of 33. Zanatta was on his way back to Thunder Bay to teach and coach at the Lakehead Summer Basketball Camps when his accident occurred. John had left Thunder Bay to pursue a teaching career in London. He was an outstanding basketball player and coach at Lakehead University and, more importantly, he was a member of the Lakehead Athletics Family. John played five seasons for Lakehead and he is fifth on Lakeheads All Time scoring list; collecting 1895 points from 1976 to 1981. He coached Lakeheads mens team from 1982-83 to 84-85.
Upon his death, the Zanatta Scholarship Fund was established. The scholarship is awarded to a student who combines leadership, athletic talent, and academic excellence. Lakehead Athletics is proud to announce that this years winners are Debra Sandberg of womens basketball and Matthew (Matt) Verboom of mens basketball
Lakehead Athletics Director Tom Warden said this years games, named in honour of a Lakehead legend, should be the best ever. The Zanatta Alumni Games are very important to us at Lakehead and they serve not only to honour John but also as a way to bring together Lakehead Athletes present and past. This year will be even more special with the Wall of Fame Ceremony so I am looking forward to the weekend as a great way to kick off the 2007-08 season.
The annual homecoming event kicks off Friday night with an alumni social at Armanis nightclub followed by the Wolves mens hockey teams season opener against the Alberta Golden Bears at the Fort William Gardens.
Saturdays events begin bright and early with the always fun Sylvan Group of Seven Relay Saturday morning followed by the bi-annual Lakehead Athletics Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Hangar Athletics Facility.
This years ceremony will see seven individuals and two inductees inducted onto the prestigious Wall of Fame. The ceremony will also see Lakehead honour varsity athletes from last season who were RBC Academic All Canadians and OUA Academic Achievement Award winners.
After that, Lakeheads various varsity teams will do battle with their alumni predecessors at the C J Sanders Fieldhouse. Local hoops fans will also get to see Lakehead President Dr. Fred Gilbert lead his men in the always popular Presidents All Stars vs. Media All Stars basketball game.
The mens hockey team will again face off against the Golden Bears from Alberta at the Gardens Saturday night as well.
Lakehead Wall of Fame Inductees: 2007
Athletes:
The S Line: Dwight Stirrett, Dave Siciliano, Murray Smith: Mens Hockey
Frank Abdou: Mens Wrestling
Kelly Wilkins (Breutigam): Womens Volleyball
Kerri Rock (Skilling): Womens Swimming
Builder:
Bob Thayer: Mens Wrestling Head Coach
Teams:
1974-75 Womens Swim Team: (Kerri Skilling, Wanda Wright (DePape), Andrea Burgelis (Kerr), Pat Gibson and Coach Don Talbot who was inducted in 2005).
1967-68 to 1970-71 Golf Teams:
1967-68: Dick Battiston, Rod Ferguson, Dave Kerr, Bill Hodgson, Tony Marsonet
1968-69: Bill Hodgson, Dave Kerr, Grant Forbes, Albert Swieca, Dennis Halabecki
1969-70: Guy Cupples, Bob Arvelin, Jerry Brown, Dave Kerr, Grant Forbes