Champions Corner

WOMEN'S RUGBY

The Gryphons are the most successful program in OUA women’s rugby history and the 2018 team added to that wonderful legacy. The two-time defending conference champions completed a three-peat with a 39-14 victory over the Queen’s Gaels in the OUA gold medal match, giving Guelph their 16th OUA banner in the 25-year history of OUA women’s rugby. The next challenge for the team and head coach Colette McAuley was conquering nationals and Guelph showed it was ready to fight in a 54-10 quarter-final win over the Victoria Vikes.

The semi-final against the defending national champion Ottawa Gee-Gees was a grind but an Amara Hill try in the second half proved to be the difference in a tight 15-12 victory. The Gryphons ultimately fell just short of producing a third national title in program history, falling 41-24 to St. FX in the U SPORTS gold medal match. The Gryphons memorable 2018 campaign saw five different Gryphons earn All-Canadian status while head coach Colette McAuley was named OUA Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her 12th season as head coach.

TRACK & FIELD

The Gryphons began the season the same way they would end it – as the No. 1 collegiate team in Canada. For a program with such a rich history, the 2018-19 season was arguably the greatest year produced by any collection of Guelph track and field athletes.

The Gryphons dominated the competition at the OUA Championships in Toronto, winning 36 medals, including 16 golds, on their way to sweeping the team titles. The good times continued at nationals where the Gryphons maintained their dominance, running away with both U SPORTS banners for the second consecutive year after the greatest final day in program history. Incoming transfer student Jenna Westaway set a U SPORTS record in the 1000m event and was named Female Performer of the Meet, while the women’s 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams, as well as the men’s 4x400m foursome, each established new U SPORTS records. The men’s championship was the team’s third straight, while the women’s win was the fourth for the decorated program.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

For the first time in program history, the Guelph Gryphons were crowned national champions. An unforgettable 2018-19 season saw the Gryphons capture the McCaw Cup on home ice thanks to a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues.

Following the team’s third OUA title in the last four seasons, the Gryphons headed to Atlantic Canada for the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championships in Charlottetown, P.E.I. After knocking off the defending national champion Manitoba Bisons in the quarter-finals, the Gryphons would go on to post back-to-back shutouts over Montreal and McGill to claim The Golden Path Trophy as national champions.

Fifth-year captain Kaitlin Lowy scored the gamewinner in the gold medal game, giving the Gryphons a 1-0 victory over the McGill Martlets.