Unmasking the Athlete

Unmasking the Athlete

In the third episode of Season 2 of Unmasking The Athlete, host Aaron Gazzola is joined by guest co-host Shane Bournas, Western University's play-by-play commentator for Mustangs Soccer, to spotlight the Western Mustangs Women's Soccer team, a program that captured national attention with a 4th-place ranking in September of the 2025 season. This episode features in-depth conversations with OUA leading goal scorer Reese Fowler, dual-sport varsity athlete Avarie Thomas, veteran midfielder and team leader Emily Foster, and emerging forward Miranda Pierce, who spent the year rehabilitating a knee injury while remaining an influential presence within the team environment. The athletes reflect on their personal journeys, the demands of balancing academic and athletic excellence, the evolution of the program over the past five years, their experience competing at Nationals, and their aspirations moving forward.