Get to know the Vanier Cheetahs: D1 Men Basketball
The men of the D1 Basketball team are giants on and off the court. Their unmatched energy is truly impressive and you better believe they’re gonna bring the heat this season. Amongst the team are players Randy Kabalu Tshizanga andd Cameron Woods.
Returning player, Randy, shares how the team is “locked in” and more than ready to “get the gold medal and win nationals” (Kabalu Tshizanga, 2025).
The players, or “dawgs” as Randy puts it, all have chemistry which unifies their playing ability on-court (Kabalu, Tshizanga).
New to the team, Cameron Woods, pointed out that the team has a tendency of “taking bad teams lightly” (2025). But according to him, their defensive skills this season will surely work as a key element to secure their place at nationals (Woods, 2025). As Randy quotes “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans, 8:31).
And of all the colleges out there, Cameron “decided to join Vanier because of the great culture and development” the college has to offer (Woods, 2025). Randy, similarly to Cameron, chose the Cheetahs because he knew the team could develop him and bring him far in his athletic career (Kabalu Tshizanga, 2025).
Being a student alone can be challenging. Adding sports can make being a student even harder. In order to stay on top of their academic game, Cameron balances his studies by planning out his day in advance and getting his work done during his breaks (Woods, 2025). Randy explains: “I just do what I gotta do. It’s easy when you have goals in life. I go home, study, and that’s all” (Kabalu Tshizanga, 2025).
Not only does Randy stay disciplined with his study habits, he also maintains an admirable pre-game ritual:
“I get to the gym 30mins to an hour before my team to lock in. I watch some Giannis Antetokounmpo on my phone and then an hour before the game, I isolate myself from everyone to pray. I pray for 10-30mins. I always gotta put God first. And after that I go back with my team and get changed” (Kabalu Tshizanga, 2025).
As for Cameron, he prioritizes his physical readiness by stretching, eating a light snack (oranges and/or bananas), listening to music, and jump rope (Woods, 2025).
One size does not necessarily fit all to be a Men D1 player. All members of the team have their own strengths and weaknesses. According to Randy, in order to join the team, players should be assured in their skills and know that they are good enough (Kabalu Tshizanga, 2025). As for Cameron, he believes “One would join the team if they want to improve as a player and win games as a team” (Woods, 2025).
Cameron goes on to say that, for him, “wearing a Vanier jersey means representing the school and having your teammates backs”(Woods, 2025).
For Randy, honoring God and making his people proud by doing things well is what he strives for.
To finish, The Insider would like to thank Randy and Cameron for taking the time to answer our interview questions. To the team, all the best this season. Go Cheetahs!
Picture source: Vanier College Sports Complex
