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Martin starts in pre-season NFL action

Former Mustangs defensive lineman Vaughn Martin made his NFL debut with the San Diego Chargers on Aug. 15. The pre-season game ended in a close 20-14 loss for the Chargers against the Seattle Seahawks. Martin put in a solid performance in the exhibition, playing three quarters and recording three tackles, one for a loss.
After playing two seasons with the Mustangs, Martin was a fourth round draft pick in April’s NFL Draft, making him the first Canadian collegiate player to be drafted as an underclassman to the NFL. Martin signed a four-year contract with the Chargers in June.
The 6-foot-3, 331-pound defensive lineman has a reputation pertaining to his striking athleticism and quickness. His ability to play either nose tackle or defensive end makes him a valuable asset to the Chargers defence, according to Chargers coaches.
San Diego plays its first regular season game on Sept. 14 at Oakland.

Former Mustang playing in Europe

Coming off an impressive playoff run, the reputation of the Mustangs men’s basketball program will receive another boost as a member of the 2008-2009 squad has moved on to the professional ranks. Mustangs all-time leading scorer Bradley Smith signed a professional contract with the Kent Crusaders playing in the English Basketball League (EBL) in the fall.
In 2008, Smith ranked fifth overall in scoring in the OUA, finishing with 402 points.
The only import player with the Crusaders for next year, Smith’s contract is for eight months starting Sept. 1 and ending in April, 2010.

Sylvester making waves at Worlds

2008 Western Mustang and Olympic rower Cam Sylvester of Caledon, Ont., participated in the Rowing World Cup in Banyoles, Spain, which took place from May 29 to 31, 2009. Sylvester received a silver medal alongside Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que, in the lightweight men’s double event, finishing at 7:01.57.
Sylvester, Western’s reigning Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy winner, led the Mustangs at the 2008 OUA Championships with three gold medals in the lightweight men’s pair, the lightweight 4 and open men’s 8 races.
In the heat race at the Rowing World Cup that determined whether they would advance to the semifinal, the Canadian lightweight men’s double of Sylvester and Vandor finished first at 6:31.87. Sylvester and Vandor defeated Great Britain and Italy in the semifinal race with a time of 6:30.92.
Finishing first in the final was the Italian double of Elia Luini and Marcello Miani, coming in at 06:59.29, with a French crew placing third in 07:02.23.

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