BY Geordie Carragher
The Olds College Broncos have their first conference award winner of the season.
Mario Fabian Gromenida of the men's soccer team was named the Ski Marmot Basin/Hostelling International Jasper ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) Male Athlete of the Week after a weekend in which he scored three times, leading the Broncos to four of a possible six points.
Meanwhile, Jayna Espie-Sanderson of the women's soccer team was named the A&W Female Bronco of the Week for her efforts over the weekend.
Gromenida found his form for the Broncos on home turf.
The flashy Argentinian forward connected on a pair of free kicks in a six-minute span in the first half to earn Player of the Game honours in a 3-3 draw with Red Deer on Sept. 15.
He then scored a clutch goal in added time of the first half on Sept. 16 against Lakeland, giving the Broncos momentum going into halftime en route to their first victory of the season.
Gromenida gives the Broncos an added attacking dimension, and he will be a prominent factor in the Broncos’ success and playoff aspirations.
Espie-Sanderson has made a strong impression in her first two weekends as a Bronco.
The first-year midfielder from Edmonton picked up Player of the Game honours in a 3-0 loss to Red Deer on Sept. 15, showcasing her speed and vision in creating opportunities for herself and her fellow Broncos.
She got on the scoresheet in the Broncos’ 4-0 victory over Lakeland, picking up an assist on Olds’ third goal of the match and consistently finding space to operate.
Espie-Sanderson’s continued development will be a boost to the Broncos as the season progresses.
Geordie Carragher is an athletics information officer for Broncos Athletics.
