Author: xsun2368

My name is Michael (Xiao Wen) Sun. I was born on December 6th, 1996 in Luoyang, China. I moved to Toronto, Ontario in 2001 and then to Hamilton in 2007. My family has lived there ever since. I have a younger brother who I enjoy hanging out with. My hobbies include running, writing and playing sports. I was a sea cadet from 2009 to 2014. I have played house league hockey for three years. I went to Westdale Secondary School (near McMaster University). I am a former Bachelor of Journalism Student at Carleton University. I currently live in Hamilton, Ontario.
Volleyball

McMaster’s Forsyth Cup chase comes into focus

Hamilton, ON- Ben Kerkhoff knew what he had to do to stay composed. He and his McMaster Marauder men’s volleyball teammates and coaches have worked on it all year. Kerkhoff heard them talk about composure throughout the season. About playing clean volleyball. About how they have to focus on the details. So, when their OUA semi-final game against the Guelph Gryphons approached… They executed those … Continue reading McMaster’s Forsyth Cup chase comes into focus

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Volleyball

Brendan Mills is All In

Hamilton, ON- Brendan Mills had just finished his first year with the McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball program in 2022 when he realized what he really wanted.   The London native had just won an OUA championship. He experienced what it’s like to play university volleyball. He realized the happiest times of his life have been when he’s playing the sport five to six days a … Continue reading Brendan Mills is All In

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Volleyball

Brady Paterson and the Marauders stay steady in playoff moment

Hamilton, ON- Brady Paterson took a deep breath. The McMaster Marauders first-year outside hitter finds himself doing so during a game. Sometimes, it’s when he’s on the bench. Sometimes, it’s during a timeout. It’s what he’ll do to stay level-headed in the midst of everything going on around him. Paterson saw how and he and his teammates stayed steady and kept a level head during … Continue reading Brady Paterson and the Marauders stay steady in playoff moment

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Volleyball

McMaster channels playoff heartbreak into joy

Hamilton, ON- Maddy Lutes didn’t forget that feeling. How could she after how much that hurt? After how heartbreaking that was. Almost a year ago today, Lutes and her McMaster Marauders women’s volleyball teammates and coaches watched the York Lions celebrate their OUA quarterfinal victory in five sets. Lutes watched her team’s season come to an end. The third-year outside hitter had left everything on … Continue reading McMaster channels playoff heartbreak into joy

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Women's Basketball

McMaster shows poise and togetherness in playoff breakthrough

Hamilton, ON- Emily Frankovic remembers when the season first started. The McMaster Marauders women’s basketball team were a new team back then. A team with seven first-year players. With bench players stepping into starting roles. A team with lots of learning to do. Frankovic was one of those seven rookies. Head coach Theresa Burns and her fellow coaches talked to them about poise. “You don’t … Continue reading McMaster shows poise and togetherness in playoff breakthrough

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Men's Basketball

Riaz Saliu and the Marauders turn pain into focus

Hamilton, ON- Riaz Saliu couldn’t think about anything else. His McMaster Marauders men’s basketball team had just dropped an overtime game to the Lakehead Thunderwolves 90-88 on Feb. 16. It was their third loss in a row. The first-year forward couldn’t think about schoolwork afterwards. He couldn’t do the things he was supposed to do. Instead, he thought about the defeat. He felt the hurt. … Continue reading Riaz Saliu and the Marauders turn pain into focus

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Women's Basketball

“This is pretty awesome”: Weekes and McCormick go through learning experience

Hamilton, ON- When Maya Weekes first joined the McMaster Marauders women’s basketball team last summer, she felt the culture firsthand. She heard about it from the coaches and alumni. She saw how everyone helped everyone. How everyone was there for everyone. The first year guard felt all that energy and positivity. She felt part of something bigger than herself. In that environment as time went … Continue reading “This is pretty awesome”: Weekes and McCormick go through learning experience

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Women's Basketball

Jenna Button enjoys emotional seniors night

Hamilton, ON- When Jenna Button walked towards the bench near the end of her seniors night game, she broke down. The McMaster Marauders guard had just set a new career-best with 31 points in an 82-40 victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Feb. 17. Button was caught up in the game. However, once she subbed off for the final time with under two minutes remaining, … Continue reading Jenna Button enjoys emotional seniors night

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Volleyball

McMaster battles back to the top of OUA standings

Hamilton, ON- Even amid all the service errors, the ups and downs and twists and turns, the McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team found a way. They kept battling. The Marauders battled for consistency as they went five sets with the Waterloo Warriors on Feb. 9 before prevailing. They tried to find consistency on the service line, according to Marauders head coach Brad Douwes. McMaster had … Continue reading McMaster battles back to the top of OUA standings

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Men's Basketball

“We’re going to buy into it”: Can McMaster’s offence match their defence?

Hamilton, ON- Patrick Tatham takes a second to think of the question of why. The head coach of the McMaster Marauders men’s basketball team had just seen his team lose their second game in a row – this following a four-game winning streak. He had seen his team fight hard at home against the Brock Badgers but struggle to score as they lost 81-66 on … Continue reading “We’re going to buy into it”: Can McMaster’s offence match their defence?

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