HIGH ACHIEVERS WEEKEND WRAP: Gee-Gees 4th at U Sports women’s rugby, uOttawa will host men’s nationals

By Martin Cleary

For many years, Canadian university sports belonged to the male athletes.

Slowly, but surely, a strong push for equal representation on the varsity sports calendar has brought more and more female athletes into the fold for U Sports national championships and delivered some much-needed equity.

But now the shoe is on the other foot for the men, at least in one case.

The inaugural U Sports national championship for women’s rugby started in 1998 in Hamilton. Women’s teams have played for 26 Canadian titles and the Monilex Trophy, while men’s rugby has been out of that spotlight. Football dominates participation opportunities for men, so U Sports organizes women’s nationals for rugby and field hockey to balance the numbers.

But there’s a movement to bring men’s rugby into the U Sports championship family.

Since 2017, Canadian schools have played in the much lower-prolife Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship, which takes the top eight schools out of a membership of 33 universities across the country.

A message on the CUMRC website announced it has submitted an application for men’s rugby to earn U Sports status. It added a decision is pending.

Ottawa rugby enthusiasts can get a good feel and understanding of Canadian university men’s rugby next week, when the CUMRC will be staged at the University of Ottawa’s Matt Anthony Field Nov. 13-17.

This national championship comes on the heels of the Gee-Gees women’s team finishing fourth on Sunday at the U Sports women’s rugby championship in Charlottetown.

A walk-off try by Rachel Cullum of Ottawa gave the Queen’s University Gaels a come-from-behind 29-22 victory over the Gee-Gees in the bronze-medal game.

Gee-Gees captain Ketsia Kamba scored the opening try, which was converted by Victoria Hough. Leigha Stiles also counted two tries and Ella Blyth added one for the Gee-Gees. Anna Dodge was Ottawa’s player of the game.

Cullum, who was named the Queen’s player of the game, broke through the Ottawa line on the final play of the game and sprinted 25 yards for the game-winning try. She also scored a first-half try to give Queen’s a 12-7 lead.

Kamba, Sophie McDonald and Alysia Comtois were named to the U Sports national championship all-star team.

Read More: HIGH ACHIEVERS: Gee-Gees’ Aurora Bowie, head coach Duncan McNaughton win major U Sports women’s rugby awards

In the gold-medal game, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds captured their first-ever women’s rugby national title with an 8-3 decision over the University of Victoria Vikes, who placed second for the second straight year.

Vanessa Chiappetta, a former Carleton female athlete of the year who played four seasons with the Ravens, kicked a penalty for Victoria.

Maddy Grant, who previously played for the Gee-Gees, was named the Victoria player of the game and a member of the championship all-star team. She was denied a try on the UBC goal line late in the first half.

The all-star team also included Victoria’s Justine Blatt-Janmatt, a former Gee-Gee, and Vikes teammate Maya Addai, a former Carleton player.

The Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship was developed in 2016 and the first games came a year later. The Canadian Rugby Foundation was the primary sponsor to allow men to have their own national championship and deepen the national talent pool.

The 2024 national men’s championship quarterfinals will be held on Nov. 13. The final roster of teams hasn’t been announced, but the Gee-Gees are scheduled to play the last quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. The semifinals are Nov. 15 with the medal matches on Nov. 17 (bronze at 3 p.m. and gold-silver at 6 p.m.).

The Gee-Gees, who were seventh at the 2023 nationals, were listed No. 6 in the final national rankings for the 2024 season. Five-time champion UBC was ranked No. 1 and will be aiming for a fourth-straight title.

Ottawa had an impressive RSEQ season, finishing second in its Quebec conference, but having the same record as ÉTS (École de Technologie Supérieure of Montreal). In the playoffs, Ottawa defeated McGill University Redbirds 24-14, but lost the final to ÉTS 19-14 on Saturday.

The Gee-Gees won the conference championship in 2023.

Gordie Evans and Evan Roy shared the Gee-Gees’ tries, while Glenn Roy added two converts.

For the second time in his five-year career, Jamie Armstrong, a fly-half for the Gee-Gees, was selected the RSEQ Player of the Year. He also won in 2021. Armstrong, the team captain, scored three tries in the regular season and was named team player of the match three times.

Ben Davis, the No. 5 player for the Gee-Gees, was selected the RSEQ Rookie of the Year.

The RSEQ first all-star team included five Gee-Gees: Connor Billo, Ali Awada, Evan Roy, Glen Roy and Armstrong for a fourth time in his career.

HALIFAX NEXT STOP FOR GEE-GEES WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s soccer team are in Halifax this week with an eye on winning a third U Sports championship.

The third-seeded Gee-Gees, who won gold medals at the 2018 and 1996 nationals, will play sixth-seeded University of Victoria Vikes in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

By outscoring Nipissing University Lakers 4-2 in the OUA women’s soccer final, the Gee-Gees won their 12th conference title to advance to nationals.

The Gee-Gees received goals from four different players – Cassandra Provost (14th), Nibo Dlamini (sixth), Jenna Matsukubo (third) and Elianne Gervais (eighth).

The Gee-Gees’ third OUA title in a row was only one of the many honours for the team in the 2024 season. Provost was selected the OUA East Player of the Year and Steve Johnson was the Coach of the Year in his 30th season as the Gee-Gees’ head coach.

Read More: Golden Hat-Trick: Gee-Gees’ lifetime scoring leader Cassandra Provost leaves uOttawa with third OUA women’s soccer title in a row

Carleton University Ravens goalkeeper Chloe Lachance-Soulard was the winner of the Community Service Award for her work with the school’s varsity council, Jr. Ravens soccer program and her academic achievements.

The OUA East first all-star team included Ottawa players Maya Smith, defender; Dlamini, midfield; Eva Bouity, midfield; and Provost, striker. The second all-star team featured Cassidy Joslin, goalkeeper, and Matsukubo, striker, both of Ottawa; and Quinn Snell, defender; Mikayla Moser, midfield; and Lauren Illman, striker; all of Carleton.

Ottawa’s Jadon Vilfort, a graduate of Immaculata High School, played the full game and won a gold medal as Ontario Tech Ridgebacks edged York University Lions 2-1 in the OUA men’s soccer final.

It was the first OUA championship in the Ridgebacks’ history.

Yusuf Osman of Carleton was selected the Community Service Award winner for team leadership, serving on the varsity council and coaching in the Jr. Ravens program and in the community.

The OUA East first-team all-stars from Carleton were Brady Curkovic, defender; Osman, midfield; and Ousman Maheshe, striker. Adam N’Goran, a midfielder, was placed on the second all-star team.

RAVENS, GEE-GEES WIN 7 OF 8 OUA BASKETBALL GAMES

The Carleton University Ravens and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees took Waterloo, ON., by storm, winning seven of eight men’s and women’s OUA basketball games.

Augustas Brazdeikis produced back-to-back double-double performances as the Carleton men, 4-0, posted nine-point victories over the University of Waterloo Warriors 86-77 and the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks 69-60.

Brazdeikis had 22 points and 10 rebounds against the Warriors and 15 points and 11 rebounds against the Golden Hawks.

On the women’s side, the Ravens, 4-0, turned back Waterloo 67-52 and the Golden Hawks 76-73.

Different players stood up to lead the way in each game. Teresa Donato came off the bench and played 33 minutes, recording 19 points, three assists and two steals against the Warriors, while Jacqueline Urban had a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. In the Golden Hawks game, Tatyanna Burke had 14 points and eight rebounds.

Natsuki Szczokin sparked the Gee-Gees women’s team, 4-0, past the Golden Hawks 74-57 and the Warriors 72-43.

She had 21 points, six assists and two steals in the Golden Hawks game and stepped it up against the Warriors with 18 points, nine steals and five assists.

The Gee-Gees men’s team, 3-1, split its two games, defeating the Golden Hawks 86-68 before losing to the Warriors 61-51 in a poor shooting game.

Justin Ndjock-Tadjore was the Gee-Gees’ leader with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists against the Golden Hawks. He had 12 points and seven rebounds against Waterloo.

CUMBERLAND PANTHERS WIN 3 NCAFA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Will there be a parade in Cumberland to mark the Panthers winning three championships during the final day of the National Capital Amateur Football Association season at the Nepean Sportsplex?

The Panthers certainly earned that kind of honour, after defeating the West Carleton Wolverines (10-1) 52-6 in the mosquito U12 final, the Bel-Air Lions (9-2) 27-20 in the peewee U14 title match and the Gloucester South Raiders (10-0) 23-17 in the bantam U16 championship game. Cumberland’s regular-season records were 11-0 for mosquito, 11-0-1 for peewee and 9-1-1 for bantam.

The four A-division championships opened with Cornwall Wildcats (11-0) outscoring Orleans Bengals (9-2) 60-36 in the tyke U10 final. On Friday night, Kanata Knights (6-2) turned back Bel-Air Norsemen (7-1) 35-24 in the midget U19 varsity final.

TEAM HOMAN CAPTURES FIRST PAN CONTINENTAL CURLING TITLE

Rachel Homan has added a new title to her jam-packed resume.

A two-time world, four-time Canadian and 15-time Grand Slam curling champion, Homan stole one in the last end of the women’s final for a 6-5 decision over South Korea’s Eun-ji Gim at the Pan Continental championship in Lacombe, AB.

Gim’s final stone in the 10th end tapped Homan’s shot back to the rear of the four-foot circle. That resulted in a title-deciding measurement, which went in favour of the Ottawa Curling Club team.

It was the first time Homan and her rink of Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, Sarah Wilkes and alternate Rachel Brown had represented Canada in the three-year-old event and was the first women’s gold medal for the country.

In the semifinals, Homan used the hammer to score one in the extra end (11th) for a 6-5 win over China’s Rui Wang. Homan finished with an overall record of 9-0.

Homan’s rink has remained in Alberta this week to compete in the Co-op Canadian Open Grand Slam, which started on Tuesday in Nisku.

SECOND CANADIAN SHOW JUMPING TITLE FOR AMY MILLAR

Amy Millar of Perth and her new mount Jelvinia MB gave three outstanding efforts to win the $125,000 Henry Equestrian Canada Show Jumping Championship during the 102nd Royal Horse Show, which is part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Millar, a two-time Olympian, was second after the opening speed test on Friday and posted two fault-free rides on Saturday to win her second national title. She won with Olympic mount Heros in 2017. Her father Ian has won the Canadian title 12 times.

ISABELLA BECK HELPS WATERLOO TO U SPORTS BRONZE MEDAL

Isabella Beck of Kanata scored the third goal as the University of Waterloo Warriors shut out the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers 5-0 to win the bronze medal at the U Sports women’s field hockey championship at York University.

Beck finished her fourth year with a career 36 games played and six goals, including four game-winning goals. She was tied for third in goals and shots among Waterloo players with two and five respectively.

Waterloo won its first OUA field hockey title in 21 years to represent the conference at the U Sports championship.

Ottawa’s Kenzie Girgis, a second-year player at the University of British Columbia, was named a first-team All-Canadian for this season. The applied sciences student is a midfielder for the Thunderbirds.

LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST

· Sixth-seeded University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell 2-1 to third-seeded University of Florida Seminoles 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s soccer tournament and is waiting to hear later this week if it will receive an invitation to the NCAA tournament. Ottawa’s Annabelle Chukwa is a freshman forward for Notre Dame. She has recorded three goals and two assists in 12 games.

· Canada Topflight Academy grad Adriel Nyorha has committed to attend Arkansas State University and will play as a guard for the Red Wolves men’s basketball team.

· Decorated curler Lisa Weagle of Ottawa will receive the Order of Ottawa on Nov. 14 at Ottawa City Hall, while Jean-Pierre Saab will be honoured with the Brian Kilrea Award for Excellence in Coaching.

· Two Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club members posted top-10 results in the five-kilometre race during the Hamilton Marathon Race Weekend. Salome Nyirarukundo was fifth in the women’s race in 16 minutes and 28 seconds, while Andre Alie-Lamarche was seventh in the elite men’s test in a personal-best 14:17.

· Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe, the second seeds, have won their first two doubles matches at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, defeating Hao-ching Chang of Taiwan and Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 7-6, 6-4 and saving one match point to hold off Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 1-6, 7-6 (1) and 11-9. Dabrowski and Routliffe are 2-0 in the White Group standings.

· Ottawa Rowing Club’s Aidan Hembruff won silver medals in the men’s heavyweight eight and pair with his Western University Mustangs crews at the Canadian University Rowing Championships in Victoria. His efforts earned him Athlete of the Weeks honours at Western. Alexandre Disselkamp and David Jefic won the bronze medal in men’s double sculls at nationals.