JEFF DONER
SPORTS REPORTER

After winning eight championships in three different sports, one of Humber’s brightest stars will be inducted into the OCAA Hall of Fame next month.

Filomena Aprile, 33, came to Humber in 1997 as a student with big aspirations and a will to win.

Enrolled in Humber’s recreation and leisure program, it didn’t take long for Aprile to find her way onto the soccer field and basketball court.

In her four years at Humber, Aprile played on the women’s basketball team and both the indoor and outdoor soccer teams.

The championships came fast and furious for Aprile.

Between 1997 and 2001, Aprile won eight OCAA championship titles with the three different varsity teams at Humber.

Aprile said it wasn’t all easy as she admitted to struggling with school and trying to figure out a career path.

“The learning curve was my first year. Any student when they come in, they get a little overwhelmed with the sports and the school, and working,” said Aprile.

Now a supply teacher with the Peel District School Board, Aprile has also made the transition from the field to the sidelines in becoming the coach of the women’s soccer team.

She said the transition to coaching was comfortable.

“Even when I played I kind of coached,” she said.

“I had a vision in the sense that I could kind of see how things unfolded on the soccer field.”

Singling out basketball coaches Jim Henderson and Denise Perrier as mentors, Aprile said she always looked to them for guidance.

Having coached Aprile for all four years she played basketball, Perrier said Aprile had an amazing passion for sports.

“She was a smart player. She knew the game very well and was a competitor who always wanted to win. She brought that to the floor every day and was just a good all-around team player,” said Perrier.

When hearing of Aprile’s induction into the OCAA Hall of Fame, Perrier said it was no surprise.

“Like I said to her, it’s about time and congrats. For the time and dedication and the passion that she had for Humber College, to play two sports, indoor and outdoor soccer and basketball, she’s deserving of it. I’m

proud of her.”

Humber Athletics Director Doug Fox praised Aprile for her contributions to Humber as a star athlete and said she is one of Humber’s all-time greats.

“She was probably one of the best two-sport athletes we ever had,” said Fox. “She was very unique.”

Fox said when it came to Aprile he knew Humber would be well represented in the Hall of Fame.

When it comes to her success as an athlete, Aprile said it was her will to be the best that pushed her.

“I’ve always had this hunger inside of me to be the best. I never wanted to lose. I hate losing. So it’s almost like, if you’re going to be the best at what you do, you’ve got to put in the effort,” said Aprile.

“You’ve got to put in the time and you’ve got to sacrifice.”