First in 50 Years: Fleming Phoenix Loggersports Athletes Earn Two National Titles

Peterborough, ON — (March 20, 2026) — Fleming College is celebrating a monumental achievement in its varsity sports program as the Fleming Phoenix Women’s “A” and Men’s “A” Loggersports teams secured a national double victory this past weekend. Competing at the 40th Annual Rick Russell Loggersports Competition hosted by Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, the Phoenix made history by claiming the National Champion title for both the Women’s and Men’s “A” divisions in the same academic year for the first time since Fleming’s Loggersports program began in 1974.

“This is a momentous occasion for our entire Fleming community,” said Greg Jefford, Director of Student Experience and Athletics. “Our Women’s and Men’s teams standing on the national podium together reflects the incredible talent and dedication of our athletes, the elite leadership from our coaches, Al Cavers and Darian Carpenter, and the long-standing strength of our Loggersports program at the Frost Campus.”

While the Women’s “A” team successfully defended their National Champion title following a 2024-2025 win, the Men’s “A” team reclaimed the top spot they held in 2023-2024.

The depth of Fleming Phoenix talent was evident across all categories. The Men’s “B” team secured a remarkable third-place finish, outperforming several primary “A” level competitors, while the Jack and Jill team, who competed against Men’s teams, was recognized as the top mixed-gender team.

Individual performances capped Fleming Phoenix’s dominant weekend. Women’s “A” team captain Nicole Roy demonstrated elite technical skills by winning the Echo Challenge, a high-intensity chainsaw competition, and Men’s “A” player Hunter Hill was named the Canadian Intercollegiate Lumberjacking Association (CILA) Most Valuable Player for earning the highest individual points of any athlete in the league.

Fleming Phoenix athletic achievements were earned against a diverse field of competitors from across Canada and the United States including the University of New Brunswick, Algonquin College, Maine’s Colby College, and Dalhousie University.

This historic journey to Nova Scotia was made possible by $16K in generous donations, ensuring Fleming students could compete on the national stage. The College thanks its incredible community for supporting the Fleming Phoenix Loggersports teams.

For anyone interested in learning more about Fleming Phoenix Varsity Athletics, including Loggersports, we invite visitors to Fleming Spring Open House on April 11. Register at flemingcollege.ca/openhouse.