2013 OUA women's rugby major awards and all-stars announced

Source: OUA Communications

The No. 2 Guelph Gryphons and No. 3 Queen’s Gaels headline the 2013 women’s rugby all-star teams and major award winners. Five Gryphs and five Gaels were designated as all-stars, with each school picking up the MVP of their division.

In the Shiels division, the defending five-time OUA champion Gryphons didn’t miss a beat in 2013, running to a perfect 5-0 record with the most points for (298) and fewest points against (46). Guelph hasn’t lost in the regular season since 2007, so it’s no surprise to see five Gryphs on the all-star team and two major awards on the mantle. Fifth-year fullback Caitlin McNally won the Shiels division MVP, posting three tries for 15 points, and took home her third all-star honour. Third-year eightman Devon Keys (Newmarket, Ont.), third-year second row Brittany Kassil (Guelph, Ont.), fourth-year inside centre Shannon Spurrell (Haley Station, Ont.) and third-year flanker Brittany Priddle (Badjeros, Ont.) all earned all-star designations. Coach Colette McAuley won her second coach of the year award in three seasons and third overall.

The Mustangs were the best of the rest in the Shiels division, finishing with a 3-2 record and 16 points. Western had four players earn all-star designations including rookie fullback Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, Ont.), who also took home the rookie of the year award after scoring seven tries and five conversions for 45 points. Second-year fly half scored a team-high eight tries en route to her first all-star appearance, while fourth-year scrum half Lori Josephon (Beaverton, Ont.) was named to the all-star team for the second straight year. Third-year hooker Brandie Kirk (Erin, Ont.) and second-year fly-half Danielle Spice (Oakville, Ont.) also made the team for the first time.

The Waterloo Warriors fielded three players with all-star designation. Co-points leaders Kourteney King (Belleville, Ont.) and Renee Woodhouse (Stratford, Ont.) both made the team after scoring three tries and 15 points, with Woodhouse qualifying for the third time in her career. Third-year flanker Bryanna Bryans (Chatsworth, Ont.) receives the designation for the first time in her career.

Laurier flanker Jennifer Gilmour (Waterloo, Ont.), inside centre Chloe Graves (Kitchener, Ont.) and Brock wing Liz Hunninck (Chatham, Ont.) round out the Shiels division all-star team.

In the Russell division, the Gaels boast five all-stars – a division high – for the second straight season. Third-year centre Lauren McEwen (Wasaga Beach, Ont.) was named the Most Valuable Player after finishing with five tries, 13 converts and the second highest point total in the league (54). McEwen’s breakout year lands her on the all-star team for the first time, but she is joined by three-time all-star prop Claragh Pegg (Barrie, Ont.), third-year lock Loren Baldwin (Amherstview, Ont.), rookie wing Karley Heyman (Harrowsmith, Ont.) and senior prop Devon Stride (Kingston, Ont.). Baldwin, Heyman and Stride were all first-time all-stars for Queens’s.

McMaster took home two pieces of major hardware this season, winning the rookie and coach of the year awards. Colleen Irowa (Brampton, Ont.) took the rookie honours after having an impact year at prop. Cam Mitchell was named Russell division coach of the year for leading his team to a 3-2 record and second place in the division. Stephanie Black (Ottawa), a second-year fly half, made her second appearance on the all-star team, after leading the league in scoring with 86 points (nine tries, 19 converts and a penalty). Third-year lock Sarah Farquharson (Niagara Falls, Ont.), second-year eightman Cindy Nelles (Belleville, Ont.) and third-year centre Emily Ricketts (Oakville, Ont.) all made the team for the first time.

The York Lions had three seniors named to the all-star team this season in lock Fedelia Omoghan (Scarborough, Ont.), inside centre Aisan Fazeli (Thornhill, Ont.) and wing Zoe Smith (Toronto). Fazeli and Smith led the Lions with four tries and 20 points each with Fazeli also winning the community service award. Omoghan was named to the all-star team for a second straight year.

Trent’s leading scorer, third-year inside centre Sarah Guttin (Cambridge, Ont.), was named to the all-star team after scoring three tries and one convert for 17 points. Guttin was joined by first-year scrum half Alannah Bailey, who had a try in Trent’s only win this season, a 22-10 victory over Toronto. It was the first all-star designation for both players.

Toronto’s Olivia Roberge (Ajax, Ont.) rounds out the Russell division all-star team. The third-year flanker had one try and five points for the Varsity Blues.

SHIELS DIVISION MAJOR AWARDS

Most Valuable Player - Caitlin McNally - Guelph Gryphons
Rookie of the Year - Breanne Nicholas - Western Mustangs
Coach of the Year - Collette McAuley - Guelph Gryphons

RUSSELL DIVISION MAJOR AWARDS

Most Valuable Player - Lauren McEwen - Queen's Gaels
Rookie of the Year - Colleen Irowa - McMaster Marauders
Coach of the Year - Cam Mitchell - McMaster Marauders
Community Service Award - Aisan Fazeli - York Lions

SHIELS DIVISION ALL-STARS

Brittany Kassil - Guelph Gryphons - Second Row
Caitlin McNally - Guelph Gryphons - Fullback
Shannon Spurrell - Guelph Gryphons - Inside Centre
Brittany Priddle - Guelph Gryphons - Flanker
Devon Keys - Guelph Gryphons - Eightman
Lori Josephson - Western Mustangs - Scrum Half
Breanne Nicholas - Western Mustangs - Fullback
Danielle Spice - Western Mustangs - Fly-half
Brandie Kirk - Western Mustangs - Hooker
Renee Woodhouse - Waterloo Warriors - Forward
Kourtney King - Waterloo Warriors - Scrum Half
Bryanna Bryans - Waterloo Warriors - Flanker
Jennifer Gilmour - Laurier Golden Hawks - Flanker
Chloe Graves - Laurier Golden Hawks - Inside Centre
Liz Hunnick - Brock Badgers - Wing

RUSSEL DIVISION ALL-STARS

Claragh Pegg - Queen's Gaels - Prop
Loren Baldwin - Queen's Gaels - Lock
Devon Stride - Queen's Gaels - Prop
Lauren McEwen - Queen's Gaels - Centre
Karley Heyman - Queen's Gaels - Wing
Cindy Nelles - McMaster Marauders - Eightman
Stephanie Black - McMaster Marauders - Fly-half
Emily Ricketts - McMaster Marauders - Centre
Sarah Farquharson - McMaster Marauders - Lock
Fedelia Omoghan - York Lions - Eightman
Aisan Fazeli - York Lions - Inside Centre
Zoe Smith - York Lions - Wing
Alannah Bailey - Trent Excalibur - Scrum Half
Sarah Guttin - Trent Excalibur - Inside Centre
Olivia Roberge - Toronto Varsity Blues - Flanker