November 24, 2022
Banner Season: Fall championships wrap up with Blues eyeing sixth straight water polo title
Burlington, Ont. - The Toronto Varsity Blues have dominated the pool over the last half decade. The five-time defending champions will eye continued success this weekend, as they look to produce yet another winning effort at the 2022 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Water Polo Championship. Five additional teams will look to put an end to Toronto's string of provincial success when action gets underway at McMaster's Ivor Wynne Centre Pool on Friday, November 25th, but only one conference competitor can cap off the fall banner season stretch by hoisting the Hershon Trophy on Sunday, November 27th.
Championship Details
When: Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27 | FULL SCHEDULE
Where: Ivor Wynne Centre Pool (McMaster University)
Participating Schools (6): Carleton Ravens, McMaster Marauders (host), Ottawa Gee-Gees, Queen's Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, Western Mustangs
Defending Champions: Toronto Varsity Blues | ALL PAST CHAMPIONS
Student-Athletes to Watch:
Colin Colterjohn, McMaster Marauders | Colterjohn is the longest-standing member of the Marauders and brings extensive veteran experience to the McMaster program. The nuclear engineering graduate student has been involved with the maroon and grey for nine years, earning multiple OUA all-star nods over his decorated varsity career. The team leader pursues his sport outside of McMaster as well and was a member of the Canadian water polo team at the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade in Taipei.
Adrian Dragoiescu, McMaster Marauders | A fourth-year student studying psychology, neuroscience, and behaviour, Dragoiescu has been a consistent member of the maroon machine since 2019. Passionate about his sport, the Kitchener, Ont. product gives back to the water polo community as both a certified referee and a coach with the KW Water Polo Club.
Miguel Garcia Alonso, Toronto Varsity Blues | The rising sophomore and starting keeper for the Blues moved to UofT from Spain and Water Polo Majadahonda. Throughout the fall, he has seamlessly taken over from last year's goalie, Minos Kotzambasis. The mathematics and physics major has saved almost everything thrown at him between the sticks and will look to continue to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with this weekend in Hamilton.
Diego Gonzalez Delgado, Toronto Varsity Blues | The fourth-year standout from Ottawa, Ont. captains the highly successful Toronto team and has won the OUA banner in every year he's spent with the school. The former conference MVP also regularly competes for Team Canada, including his senior team appearances at the World League Super Final in France and the UANA Cup in Peru this year, and is bringing a high-calibre skill set to the pool for his fourth time on the banner season stage.
Joe Krushelnick, Queen's Gaels | A natural leader, the Gaels captain is quick to support his Tricolour teammates and provide positive feedback to the group. The Ann Arbor, Michigan product is a huge presence at both ends of the pool and is a scoring leader in each game he plays.
JP Le Blanc, Queen's Gaels | Le Blanc, a third-year student-athlete from Calgary, Alta., is an emotional leader for the Gaels. The computing major is a peer-driven and goal-oriented individual, playing any role needed by the team and showcasing an ability to score game in and game out, assets that are sure to come into play from the No. 3 ranked Kingston squad.
Storylines to Keep an Eye On:
Despite entering the 2022 edition of championship play as a young squad, the reigning OUA silver medalists enter as the No. 2 side and have golden aspirations once again. Ready to reclaim the conference banner for the first time since 2015, the Carleton Ravens will have to do so without last year's co-MVP, David Lapins, and will rather rely on the likes of returnees Avtendil Mikadze, Aiden Kronberg, and Alpay Safarli. The gritty Ravens squad, despite their youth, has their sights set on a big splash this weekend.
Checking in as the No. 6 seed this weekend, the host McMaster Marauders will look to improve on last season's qualifier results and earn an opening day win to secure a spot amongst the medal contenders. Despite a rich history in the pool that includes 25 OUA banners, McMaster's last provincial championship came more than two decades ago in 2001. In recent years, fourth is the highest the Marauders have climbed, just missing out on a medal in 2019 after a slim loss in the bronze-medal match. Redemption will be on their minds this weekend when they open up against the Gaels, the same team that upended them in that third-place game three years ago.
The Gaels have a talented squad that struggled to find a rhythm during the 2021 season, failing to win a game. This fall, they were focused on their goals from training camp and have proceeded to go undefeated in 2022. Even with the closure of the Queen's pool mid-season leading to a loss of game experience and a need to train in an unofficial pool, the third-ranked Gaels remain focused on overcoming those obstacles and still have their sights set on the OUA podium.
On the heels of winning the last five OUA championships, the Toronto Varsity Blues came into the year as the team to beat. Aiming to continue their winning ways, the team recognized that the influx and ability of the new freshmen would be crucial to that continued success. And as part of a string of dominant performances thus far, the new players were seamlessly integrated into the powerhouse team ahead of championship weekend. Toronto will look for this pattern to continue their impressive run and take home a program-record sixth consecutive Hershorn Trophy.
What They're Saying:
"This year, we see clearly that it's not obstacles that dictate our success, but rather, the effort we put in together to help the group meet its objectives." - Dave Hill, Head Coach, Queen's Gaels
"The team is ready for the final. Everyone is excited and hungry to bring the OUA Championship banner back to UofT once again in what is a very special opportunity for us. Last year, we tied the most successful generation in program history by winning the OUA Championship for a fifth time in a row. Now, we want to be the first to make it six in a row." - Tuna Tali, Head Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues
Championship Details
When: Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27 | FULL SCHEDULE
Where: Ivor Wynne Centre Pool (McMaster University)
Participating Schools (6): Carleton Ravens, McMaster Marauders (host), Ottawa Gee-Gees, Queen's Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, Western Mustangs
Defending Champions: Toronto Varsity Blues | ALL PAST CHAMPIONS
Student-Athletes to Watch:
Colin Colterjohn, McMaster Marauders | Colterjohn is the longest-standing member of the Marauders and brings extensive veteran experience to the McMaster program. The nuclear engineering graduate student has been involved with the maroon and grey for nine years, earning multiple OUA all-star nods over his decorated varsity career. The team leader pursues his sport outside of McMaster as well and was a member of the Canadian water polo team at the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade in Taipei.
Adrian Dragoiescu, McMaster Marauders | A fourth-year student studying psychology, neuroscience, and behaviour, Dragoiescu has been a consistent member of the maroon machine since 2019. Passionate about his sport, the Kitchener, Ont. product gives back to the water polo community as both a certified referee and a coach with the KW Water Polo Club.
Miguel Garcia Alonso, Toronto Varsity Blues | The rising sophomore and starting keeper for the Blues moved to UofT from Spain and Water Polo Majadahonda. Throughout the fall, he has seamlessly taken over from last year's goalie, Minos Kotzambasis. The mathematics and physics major has saved almost everything thrown at him between the sticks and will look to continue to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with this weekend in Hamilton.
Diego Gonzalez Delgado, Toronto Varsity Blues | The fourth-year standout from Ottawa, Ont. captains the highly successful Toronto team and has won the OUA banner in every year he's spent with the school. The former conference MVP also regularly competes for Team Canada, including his senior team appearances at the World League Super Final in France and the UANA Cup in Peru this year, and is bringing a high-calibre skill set to the pool for his fourth time on the banner season stage.
Joe Krushelnick, Queen's Gaels | A natural leader, the Gaels captain is quick to support his Tricolour teammates and provide positive feedback to the group. The Ann Arbor, Michigan product is a huge presence at both ends of the pool and is a scoring leader in each game he plays.
JP Le Blanc, Queen's Gaels | Le Blanc, a third-year student-athlete from Calgary, Alta., is an emotional leader for the Gaels. The computing major is a peer-driven and goal-oriented individual, playing any role needed by the team and showcasing an ability to score game in and game out, assets that are sure to come into play from the No. 3 ranked Kingston squad.
Storylines to Keep an Eye On:
Despite entering the 2022 edition of championship play as a young squad, the reigning OUA silver medalists enter as the No. 2 side and have golden aspirations once again. Ready to reclaim the conference banner for the first time since 2015, the Carleton Ravens will have to do so without last year's co-MVP, David Lapins, and will rather rely on the likes of returnees Avtendil Mikadze, Aiden Kronberg, and Alpay Safarli. The gritty Ravens squad, despite their youth, has their sights set on a big splash this weekend.
Checking in as the No. 6 seed this weekend, the host McMaster Marauders will look to improve on last season's qualifier results and earn an opening day win to secure a spot amongst the medal contenders. Despite a rich history in the pool that includes 25 OUA banners, McMaster's last provincial championship came more than two decades ago in 2001. In recent years, fourth is the highest the Marauders have climbed, just missing out on a medal in 2019 after a slim loss in the bronze-medal match. Redemption will be on their minds this weekend when they open up against the Gaels, the same team that upended them in that third-place game three years ago.
The Gaels have a talented squad that struggled to find a rhythm during the 2021 season, failing to win a game. This fall, they were focused on their goals from training camp and have proceeded to go undefeated in 2022. Even with the closure of the Queen's pool mid-season leading to a loss of game experience and a need to train in an unofficial pool, the third-ranked Gaels remain focused on overcoming those obstacles and still have their sights set on the OUA podium.
On the heels of winning the last five OUA championships, the Toronto Varsity Blues came into the year as the team to beat. Aiming to continue their winning ways, the team recognized that the influx and ability of the new freshmen would be crucial to that continued success. And as part of a string of dominant performances thus far, the new players were seamlessly integrated into the powerhouse team ahead of championship weekend. Toronto will look for this pattern to continue their impressive run and take home a program-record sixth consecutive Hershorn Trophy.
What They're Saying:
"This year, we see clearly that it's not obstacles that dictate our success, but rather, the effort we put in together to help the group meet its objectives." - Dave Hill, Head Coach, Queen's Gaels
"The team is ready for the final. Everyone is excited and hungry to bring the OUA Championship banner back to UofT once again in what is a very special opportunity for us. Last year, we tied the most successful generation in program history by winning the OUA Championship for a fifth time in a row. Now, we want to be the first to make it six in a row." - Tuna Tali, Head Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues
