October 29, 2021
Banner Season: Crews from across the conference come together for rowing conclusion
Burlington, Ont. - Crews from across Ontario are set to make their way to the Welland International Flatwater Centre for a day of competition against the conference's best at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Rowing Championships. On Saturday, October 30, banner season success is on the line, with the Western Mustangs pushing to prolong their reign atop the field and a slew of medal hopefuls striving to dethrone the defending champions.
2021 OUA Rowing Championships | Fan Guide
With a combined 58 OUA banners to their name, the Western Mustangs remain perennial contenders on the water and will be looking to add to their impressive conference haul this Saturday in Welland. Recognizing what it has taken to get back to this point, the Mustangs' coaching staff is appreciative of all the work being done, not only behind the scenes, but by their student-athletes to bring their best.
"The coaching staff has a great deal of respect for the commitment shown for these student-athletes to excel in the classroom as well as their sport," said men's head coach Dan Bechard. "They have created a daily training environment that is conducive to success in both these areas and we are excited to see this hard work pay off at the highest level."
Among those who are hoping to turn this hard work into results are Aidan Hembruff (Ottawa, Ont.) and Karissa Riley (Calgary, Alta.). The former is getting his first taste of banner season competition in his debut campaign with the London squad, but has his sights on adding to the lengthy list of Mustangs medalists from years past. The latter, meanwhile, is no stranger to the OUA finale, having previously competed for the purple and white, while also adding even more big race experience at the U23 World Championships last summer.
Among those schools threatening the Western rule atop the podium are the defending silver medalist Brock Badgers, who have won 11 titles on the men's side, including their most recent in 2017. Much of this track record of success is due to the consistent podium performances from their team, and since joining the Badgers, two of those key contributors have been Thomas Markewich and Sam Stewart.
Markewich, a native of Regina, Sask., has taken home gold in both of his previous banner season experiences, topping the field in the lightweight men's single in 2019 and the lightweight men's eight in 2018. He also took home a pair of single medals from those events, but his medal haul hasn't stopped at the conference level. The medical sciences major also shone for the St. Catharines squad at the Canadian University Rowing Championships, and has also represented his home province and country at various national and international regattas, including the U23 World Rowing Championship in 2021.
A native of London, Ont., Stewart has also earned his fair share of championship hardware for the Badgers, securing four overall medals from his previous two OUA events. Backed by similar international experience as Markewich, the open men's captain is a strong team leader, promoting a very competitive atmosphere on the team. Stewart is also pursuing coaching certification in Canada.
Rounding out the 2019 podiums were the Queen's Gaels, and while their bronze medal results were an incredible feat against such stiff competition, it is a different colour medal that the Tricolour have their sights set on this time around. And after working hard for the better part of the last two years to get to this point, the Gaels are feeling both privileged and ready to not only compete, but to rise to the occasion on race day.
The women's team is a very young squad, with only two of the 12 rostered student-athletes having previously competed at an OUA championship for Queen's. Their results to date, however, have been extremely impressive and they will look to build on those previous successes on the conference's biggest rowing stage.
The Gaels men have seen similarly strong results heading into the OUA finale, including successful efforts at both the Head of the Trent and the Brock Invitational. They will not only look to take home the gold in the men's open eight event for the first time in well over a decade, but see further medal-winning efforts from their Olympian Gavin Stone. The fifth-year rower from Caledon, Ont. was one of several OUA standouts who made their mark at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this past summer, and with experience against the world's best under his belt, the 2018 OUA champion in the open men's 1x is aiming high this weekend.
Continuing the theme of international competition, Trent will see another participant from the U23 World Championships suit up for them. Grace VandenBroek, a three-time competitor at the event, has made herself at home atop the podium for the Peterborough crew, as the Duoro-Dummer, Ont. native previously placed first in the women's 1x at both the Trent Regatta and at the Head of the Rideau. The junior will also be joined by fellow third-year standout Rosalyn Shepherd (Peterborough, Ont.), who like her Excalibur teammate, will be hitting the water for her second round of championship races.
Another pair of competitors looking to make their mark at their second conference finale is the duo of Katie Gay and Hannah Story-Korman, who will represent the Toronto Varsity Blues this weekend. The sophomores, who come to the Blues from Ottawa and Temiskaming Shores, respectively, reached the podium at the Guelph and Brock Invitationals in the women's 2-, and are also members of the women's 8+ that earned bronze at the 2019 conclusion.
Toronto's men's crew will also feature returning bronze medalists from their 8+ boat, as the trio of Robert Grzesiuk (Bolton, Ont.), Matt D'Amico (Hamilton, Ont.), and Alex Chu (Hong Kong, China) are back for more hardware in 2021. Matthew McNeil (Ottawa, Ont.) will also look to reach the podium after finishing fourth in the men's lightweight 1x in 2019.
Finishing with a pair of ninth-place results in 2019, the McMaster Marauders are a team long removed from their previous OUA titles, but one that is setting a new foundation for success within their rowing program. Three out of the four varsity coaches are new to the program and the team has welcomed a new head coach, but even with all the transition, there is reason for optimism.
"I am super excited by everything we have accomplished over the past year," said head coach John Butler. "You can feel the positive change throughout the boathouse. This weekend will be a testament to all of the hard work these student-athletes have been putting in. Myself and the rest of the volunteer coaching team can't wait to see what they can do."
Through some restructuring and an increased focus on high performance, four women will be representing the marron machine at this season's final, and as a group that has seen small boat success over the last few years, this year's competitors will strive to carry the torch on Saturday. Among those doing so will be Daria Ciparis (Ancaster, Ont.), who is a 2019 transfer from Brock. After having to withdraw from that year's championships due to a crew mate's injury, the team-voted 2020 Most Dedicated Athlete has thrived during the pandemic and has now established herself as a fierce competitor in the women's single and double.
Likewise, the men's crew is one of the smallest teams McMaster has ever entered at the OUA championships, but they also hope their formula of a narrowed focus ends their five-year OUA medal drought. Jonathan Pusic is a key figure on this focused group, having joined the Marauders while doing his master's at the Hamilton school. The former UBC Thunderbird may be making his OUA banner season debut in the men's single and double, but the White Rock, B.C. native brings a wealth of past race experience and accolades to the Welland this weekend.
When discussing smaller contingents competing this weekend, it will be just a single rower representing the Laurentian Voyageurs on the water, with Abbey Maillet taking on the challenge for the Sudbury squad. Even though she heads to Welland solo, the second-year rower from Dundas, Ont. brings with her podium potential and a track record to match from her previous events this year. The sport and physical education major won the Guelph Invitational, both in the women's 1x and lightweight 1x, while also crossing in second place in the latter at the Brock Invitational.
Much like Maillet, Meghan Jolley is the lone female rower for the Carleton Ravens, and similarly, comes in with high hopes for the championships. Having fought off injury to be ready for a shot at the podium in 2021, the junior from Strathroy, Ont. understands the opportunity in front of her.
"The OUA Rowing Championships are a chance to race the best varsity athletes from across the province. It is arguably the most important race of our varsity season. We train six days per week, 12 months of the year, all for less than a 10-minute race. It shows how resilient and dedicated we are to the sport and how proud we are to be Ravens."
Donning the Ravens crest for the men's team, meanwhile, are a group who have rowed by committee in 2021, finding success in the lightweight four, while also having a variety of combinations take to the water in events leading up to the OUA championships. With Brandon Edge (Arnprior, Ont.), a powerful rower who brings a calm experience to the water, and the aforementioned fours in tow, the Carleton men's crew is hoping to make a couple of podiums on Saturday and continue to build the program with valuable experience along the way.
Rounding out the top-10 in 2019 were the Ottawa Gee-Gees, who produced identical results on both the women's and men's sides. For the former, their crews have been making some noise on the water this season, with their heavy eights and fours coming in undefeated across three regattas, including the Head of the Trent. At that same event, Kerin Hudson (Kinburn, Ont.), an OUA medalist with the Guelph Gryphons in 2015-16, scored a gold medal for the Garnet and Grey in the women's single.
The Gee-Gees men's contingent sees a pair of veteran racers at the forefront of their medal-winning hopes, a goal they have already achieved at the Brock Invitational wherein the pair of Alex McDermott (Iqaluit, Nvt.) and Philippe Brule (Ottawa, Ont.) picked up a bronze medal in the doubles.
Also putting together strong runs this season were a pair of Ontario Tech rowers, who will both be looking for steps forward entering the conference's final day of racing. Kierstyn Hawke (Oshawa, Ont.) has continued to improve throughout the season and is looking to cap off her steady incline with a season-best result on Saturday. The same can be said for the Ridgebacks' women's 4x boat, who will also be pushing for their strongest showing of the campaign. On the men's side, Isak Stahlschmidt-Kah (Guelph, Ont.) has been working hard in preparation for the championships and will represent the Oshawa crew in a men's 1x boat for the first time this season.
Improvement will also be the name of the game for the Guelph Gryphons, with a pair of fifth-year standouts at the heart of those aspirations. Senior Caelan Weber-Martin (London, Ont.) has stood out in the men's single and sitting stroke seat in the men's eight, while fellow fifth-year Hayley Chase (Alma, Ont.) brings the experience of two previous championships to this weekend's festivities.
Rounding out this weekend's competitors are the Nipissing Lakers and Waterloo Warriors.
Races will get underway at the Welland International Flatwater Centre at 8:30am on Saturday, October 30, and a total of 20 events will hit the water throughout the course of the one-day competition.
2021 OUA Rowing Championships | Fan Guide
With a combined 58 OUA banners to their name, the Western Mustangs remain perennial contenders on the water and will be looking to add to their impressive conference haul this Saturday in Welland. Recognizing what it has taken to get back to this point, the Mustangs' coaching staff is appreciative of all the work being done, not only behind the scenes, but by their student-athletes to bring their best.
"The coaching staff has a great deal of respect for the commitment shown for these student-athletes to excel in the classroom as well as their sport," said men's head coach Dan Bechard. "They have created a daily training environment that is conducive to success in both these areas and we are excited to see this hard work pay off at the highest level."
Among those who are hoping to turn this hard work into results are Aidan Hembruff (Ottawa, Ont.) and Karissa Riley (Calgary, Alta.). The former is getting his first taste of banner season competition in his debut campaign with the London squad, but has his sights on adding to the lengthy list of Mustangs medalists from years past. The latter, meanwhile, is no stranger to the OUA finale, having previously competed for the purple and white, while also adding even more big race experience at the U23 World Championships last summer.
Among those schools threatening the Western rule atop the podium are the defending silver medalist Brock Badgers, who have won 11 titles on the men's side, including their most recent in 2017. Much of this track record of success is due to the consistent podium performances from their team, and since joining the Badgers, two of those key contributors have been Thomas Markewich and Sam Stewart.
Markewich, a native of Regina, Sask., has taken home gold in both of his previous banner season experiences, topping the field in the lightweight men's single in 2019 and the lightweight men's eight in 2018. He also took home a pair of single medals from those events, but his medal haul hasn't stopped at the conference level. The medical sciences major also shone for the St. Catharines squad at the Canadian University Rowing Championships, and has also represented his home province and country at various national and international regattas, including the U23 World Rowing Championship in 2021.
A native of London, Ont., Stewart has also earned his fair share of championship hardware for the Badgers, securing four overall medals from his previous two OUA events. Backed by similar international experience as Markewich, the open men's captain is a strong team leader, promoting a very competitive atmosphere on the team. Stewart is also pursuing coaching certification in Canada.
Rounding out the 2019 podiums were the Queen's Gaels, and while their bronze medal results were an incredible feat against such stiff competition, it is a different colour medal that the Tricolour have their sights set on this time around. And after working hard for the better part of the last two years to get to this point, the Gaels are feeling both privileged and ready to not only compete, but to rise to the occasion on race day.
The women's team is a very young squad, with only two of the 12 rostered student-athletes having previously competed at an OUA championship for Queen's. Their results to date, however, have been extremely impressive and they will look to build on those previous successes on the conference's biggest rowing stage.
The Gaels men have seen similarly strong results heading into the OUA finale, including successful efforts at both the Head of the Trent and the Brock Invitational. They will not only look to take home the gold in the men's open eight event for the first time in well over a decade, but see further medal-winning efforts from their Olympian Gavin Stone. The fifth-year rower from Caledon, Ont. was one of several OUA standouts who made their mark at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this past summer, and with experience against the world's best under his belt, the 2018 OUA champion in the open men's 1x is aiming high this weekend.
Continuing the theme of international competition, Trent will see another participant from the U23 World Championships suit up for them. Grace VandenBroek, a three-time competitor at the event, has made herself at home atop the podium for the Peterborough crew, as the Duoro-Dummer, Ont. native previously placed first in the women's 1x at both the Trent Regatta and at the Head of the Rideau. The junior will also be joined by fellow third-year standout Rosalyn Shepherd (Peterborough, Ont.), who like her Excalibur teammate, will be hitting the water for her second round of championship races.
Another pair of competitors looking to make their mark at their second conference finale is the duo of Katie Gay and Hannah Story-Korman, who will represent the Toronto Varsity Blues this weekend. The sophomores, who come to the Blues from Ottawa and Temiskaming Shores, respectively, reached the podium at the Guelph and Brock Invitationals in the women's 2-, and are also members of the women's 8+ that earned bronze at the 2019 conclusion.
Toronto's men's crew will also feature returning bronze medalists from their 8+ boat, as the trio of Robert Grzesiuk (Bolton, Ont.), Matt D'Amico (Hamilton, Ont.), and Alex Chu (Hong Kong, China) are back for more hardware in 2021. Matthew McNeil (Ottawa, Ont.) will also look to reach the podium after finishing fourth in the men's lightweight 1x in 2019.
Finishing with a pair of ninth-place results in 2019, the McMaster Marauders are a team long removed from their previous OUA titles, but one that is setting a new foundation for success within their rowing program. Three out of the four varsity coaches are new to the program and the team has welcomed a new head coach, but even with all the transition, there is reason for optimism.
"I am super excited by everything we have accomplished over the past year," said head coach John Butler. "You can feel the positive change throughout the boathouse. This weekend will be a testament to all of the hard work these student-athletes have been putting in. Myself and the rest of the volunteer coaching team can't wait to see what they can do."
Through some restructuring and an increased focus on high performance, four women will be representing the marron machine at this season's final, and as a group that has seen small boat success over the last few years, this year's competitors will strive to carry the torch on Saturday. Among those doing so will be Daria Ciparis (Ancaster, Ont.), who is a 2019 transfer from Brock. After having to withdraw from that year's championships due to a crew mate's injury, the team-voted 2020 Most Dedicated Athlete has thrived during the pandemic and has now established herself as a fierce competitor in the women's single and double.
Likewise, the men's crew is one of the smallest teams McMaster has ever entered at the OUA championships, but they also hope their formula of a narrowed focus ends their five-year OUA medal drought. Jonathan Pusic is a key figure on this focused group, having joined the Marauders while doing his master's at the Hamilton school. The former UBC Thunderbird may be making his OUA banner season debut in the men's single and double, but the White Rock, B.C. native brings a wealth of past race experience and accolades to the Welland this weekend.
When discussing smaller contingents competing this weekend, it will be just a single rower representing the Laurentian Voyageurs on the water, with Abbey Maillet taking on the challenge for the Sudbury squad. Even though she heads to Welland solo, the second-year rower from Dundas, Ont. brings with her podium potential and a track record to match from her previous events this year. The sport and physical education major won the Guelph Invitational, both in the women's 1x and lightweight 1x, while also crossing in second place in the latter at the Brock Invitational.
Much like Maillet, Meghan Jolley is the lone female rower for the Carleton Ravens, and similarly, comes in with high hopes for the championships. Having fought off injury to be ready for a shot at the podium in 2021, the junior from Strathroy, Ont. understands the opportunity in front of her.
"The OUA Rowing Championships are a chance to race the best varsity athletes from across the province. It is arguably the most important race of our varsity season. We train six days per week, 12 months of the year, all for less than a 10-minute race. It shows how resilient and dedicated we are to the sport and how proud we are to be Ravens."
Donning the Ravens crest for the men's team, meanwhile, are a group who have rowed by committee in 2021, finding success in the lightweight four, while also having a variety of combinations take to the water in events leading up to the OUA championships. With Brandon Edge (Arnprior, Ont.), a powerful rower who brings a calm experience to the water, and the aforementioned fours in tow, the Carleton men's crew is hoping to make a couple of podiums on Saturday and continue to build the program with valuable experience along the way.
Rounding out the top-10 in 2019 were the Ottawa Gee-Gees, who produced identical results on both the women's and men's sides. For the former, their crews have been making some noise on the water this season, with their heavy eights and fours coming in undefeated across three regattas, including the Head of the Trent. At that same event, Kerin Hudson (Kinburn, Ont.), an OUA medalist with the Guelph Gryphons in 2015-16, scored a gold medal for the Garnet and Grey in the women's single.
The Gee-Gees men's contingent sees a pair of veteran racers at the forefront of their medal-winning hopes, a goal they have already achieved at the Brock Invitational wherein the pair of Alex McDermott (Iqaluit, Nvt.) and Philippe Brule (Ottawa, Ont.) picked up a bronze medal in the doubles.
Also putting together strong runs this season were a pair of Ontario Tech rowers, who will both be looking for steps forward entering the conference's final day of racing. Kierstyn Hawke (Oshawa, Ont.) has continued to improve throughout the season and is looking to cap off her steady incline with a season-best result on Saturday. The same can be said for the Ridgebacks' women's 4x boat, who will also be pushing for their strongest showing of the campaign. On the men's side, Isak Stahlschmidt-Kah (Guelph, Ont.) has been working hard in preparation for the championships and will represent the Oshawa crew in a men's 1x boat for the first time this season.
Improvement will also be the name of the game for the Guelph Gryphons, with a pair of fifth-year standouts at the heart of those aspirations. Senior Caelan Weber-Martin (London, Ont.) has stood out in the men's single and sitting stroke seat in the men's eight, while fellow fifth-year Hayley Chase (Alma, Ont.) brings the experience of two previous championships to this weekend's festivities.
Rounding out this weekend's competitors are the Nipissing Lakers and Waterloo Warriors.
Races will get underway at the Welland International Flatwater Centre at 8:30am on Saturday, October 30, and a total of 20 events will hit the water throughout the course of the one-day competition.
