2025-2026 Clubs Awards Banquet
March 31, 2026 - We celebrate our clubs whose impact on Athletics and Student Life at the University of Guelph reaches far beyond the field of play. Clubs give students the opportunity to stay connected to the sports they love while promoting physical and mental wellbeing, developing leadership, and building lifelong friendships. Our club program brings together students from diverse backgrounds, fostering competition, community, and school pride. Whether competing at National Championships or participating for the first time, thank you for your dedication and passion. Your contributions truly shape our campus community.
Figure Skating
Figure Skating had their biggest ever College Royal showcase this year. They developed a synchronized skating routine with club members and saw significant involvement throughout the year, including a Halloween costume themed practice week and a Valentine's themed skate.
Cricket
The year marked the first time the University of Guelph had an established Cricket Club. The team successfully organized both outdoor and indoor practice sessions, participated in two recreational tournaments, and acquired premium equipment for their players. They have made significant progress in strengthening and growing their team.
Atcha Crew
This year, Atcha Crew placed second overall in a freestyle battle in London, won the Team Spirit Award, and had dancers placed third and sixth in overall trios, as well as winning two special awards at the View Dance Competition. Their social media has skyrocketed, gaining close to 200,000 views, and the team has maxed out the number of dancers to compete. They were recently voted by other schools as the recipient of the Community Builder Award, which goes to the team with the most positivity and sportsmanship.
FAMCHA Award: Edensage Mantovan | Most Improved: Victoria Fiorini | Atcha Standout: Chloe Boulianne | Most Improved: Bronwyn Taylor
Dance Pak
Dance Pak placed first overall out of twenty teams at the Be U Varsity Challenge and first overall out of nineteen teams at the Terpsichore UDC University Dance Challenge. They also won a variety of special awards, such as solo, duet, tri, and group overalls at each event, in addition to winning the Team Artistry award at the Be U Varsity Challenge.
Overall Excellence: Ellie Germano | Rookie of the Year: Jenna Catanzaro
GryphSteps
GryphSteps expanded their team's strength and size, competing in multiple different routines. They competed at the University Dance Challenge and performed at multiple halftime shows at Gryphons basketball games this year, including the Shoot for the Cure game.
Team Spirit Award: Kaitlyn Burtch | Rookie of the Year: Alexis Jordan
Tap Pak
Tap Pak had an incredible season, competing at three competitions and consistently representing themselves with dedication and team spirit. Throughout the year, they earned many overall awards and top discipline recognitions, placed in the top ten teams at the Be U Varsity challenge, and secured third runner up at the Final Event in the Clash of the Student Body. Tap Pak brought unwavering support and positive energy to every stage, making this season as meaningful as it was successful.
MVP: Julia Afonso | Dedication Award: Victoria Richards
Cheerleading
The cheerleading program has grown to over 100 athletes and now proudly fields three competitive teams: one co-ed team and two all-girl teams. All three teams competed at the PCA Collegiate Nationals. The co-ed team captured the National Championship title, making them three-time National Champions. The newest all-girls team earned a National Championship of their own. At a competition in Montreal, all three teams returned as champions, receiving three first place results. They were also awarded the Scholastic Award of Excellence for achieving the highest overall scores of the day.
Advanced MVP: Richelle Chiu | All-Girl MVP: Lauren Stanley | Co-ed MVP: Ivy Lima
Artistic Swim
This year, the Artistic Swim team made the finals at their Nationals competition in Quebec City. One athlete placed first at McGill, at the Eastern Championships and Nationals. Overall, Artistic Swim had a great and memorable season.
MVP: Ashley Sharpe | Rookie of the Year: Madeleine Poirier
Dragonboat
The Dragonboat team had a very successful 2025 regatta season, bringing home silver medals in the 500m sprint race at both the Milton and Hamilton competitions. They also raced in the 'A' division 2km final in Hamilton, where they competed against some of the top teams in Ontario. The team spent the academic year building a stronger atmosphere and encouraging each other to become better athletes, so that new accomplishments can be reached in the summer 2026 season.
Most Valuable Teammate: Katelin Young | Rookie of the Year: Jacob Boyd
Underwater Hockey
Underwater Hockey hosted a successful tournament drawing sixteen teams from across Canada, with over 170 people participating. They also hosted individual players travelling from the United States and South America, contributing to a very year overall with quick learning rookies and are proud to have an equal number of women and men trying the sport.
Sportsmanship & Dedication Award: Kiersten Buchholz | Rookie of the Year: Hudson Graham
Waterpolo
Waterpolo successfully brought in a new coach this season following the retirement of their coach of 15 years. They hosted several team socials and bonding events throughout the year. The focus this year was on practice, improvement, and team development. They are looking forward to a major tournament in April 2026.
MVP: Avery Wilson | Most Improved Player: Abigale Tozer
Dressage
Dressage was the high point team in 2024-2025 in the Ontario Collegiate Dressage Circuit and is aiming to regain that title next year. They have had several riders placing top 3, with high scores in the 70% range. They have all successfully adapted and competed on multiple unfamiliar horses throughout the season, while gaining outstanding results at their events.
Red Ribbon Award: Ally Raso | Outstanding Rookie Award: Janeva Bach
English Equestrian
Throughout the season, English Equestrian has won the high point team at two competitions and earned reserve high point team at a competition. They had six riders qualify for Regionals on April 1. A highlight of the season was their final placement of second overall in their region.
MVP: Meghan Darlington | Rookie of the Year: Shifa Sheikh
Western Equestrian
The Western Equestrian team had an amazing season, representing Guelph very well as the only Canadian IHSA Western Team. They finished as the fifth high point team. They had nine riders qualify for Regionals, and two riders qualify for the semifinals.
MVP: LiLe Piper | Leadership Award: Hope Nelson
Ringette
Gryphon Ringette had a fantastic year with a lot of success. They hosted the University National Championship where they made it into the championship pool. They won gold in Sudbury, in London, and silver in Guelph. They also won bronze at the provincial tournament in Kingston. This marked a quadruple-medaling season!
MVP: Sarah Storey | Sportsmanship Award: Kaia McColgan | Gryphon Award: Lauren Nagy
Quadball
The Quadball team made huge steps this season both on and off the field, creating a team environment that lifted every player and supported their development throughout the year. This season, they competed in four tournaments, placing 2nd in both Ottawa and Waterloo, 4th at Regionals, and 5th at Nationals. They also volunteered at two events, running games for children and giving back to the community.
MVP: Derick Montoya Vargas | The Bryan Melchior Leadership Award: Queelin Gibbs
Tennis
Gryphons Tennis had a strong season where they were one of four teams to qualify for the winter term exhibition tournament featuring multiple OUA teams. They were one of three teams to qualify on both the men's and women's sides. They received second place on Giving Tuesday raising almost triple their initial goal of $5,000. This year, they also ran the first ever tennis team alumni event. They earned wins against OUA varsity teams Waterloo and Brock, and narrowly lost 4-3 to Queen's, the OUA bronze medalist. Gryphons Tennis led all Ontario teams in matches played throughout the year, leading to improved showings against recent opponents. The men's team placed 2nd overall in the winter league and the women's team placed 3rd overall.
Men's MVP: Davis Brustur | Women's MVP: Jazlyn Cheung
Women's Softball
The Women's Softball team had an excellent season this past fall. Competing in an exceptionally competitive division, they worked hard on and off the field, growing as a team and just narrowly missing a qualifying spot for playoffs. This year, they also ran their first 'Fans in the Stands' event, giving the community an opportunity to attend their doubleheader and allowing young fans to join the athletes between games for a skills competition. This event helped strengthen their presence within the community, fostering connections with their players and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Gryphons Hear: Jade Gordon | Lean on Me Award: Sarah Scott
Ultimate Frisbee
The Ultimate Frisbee team had a very successful season this year. Their Open Ultimate team came third in Nationals, their best finish since 2016. The Women's Ultimate team won their first indoor tournament ever in November. They are looking forward to recreating these successes in their upcoming season.
Open MVP: Oscar Stonehouse | Open MVP: Kelsi Mallany | Women's MVP: Rhea Palmer | Legacy Award: Kira Cheer
Women's Football
The Women's Football Club had an incredible year, highlighted by a third-place finish in the fall 5v5 season and a strong quarterfinal run in their winter 11v11 season. This year also marked a major milestone as they successfully hosted their first-ever 5v5 tournament in the fall. The team has continued to develop in both skill and competitiveness, demonstrating resilience and commitment on the field. They competed in a national qualifying tournament in early April with the goal of earning a spot at Nationals in Saskatchewan.
Versatility Award: Sydney Booth | Resilience Award: Payton Walker
Badminton
Badminton had a successful year, hosting six internal tournaments along with a large open tournament in collaboration with the Gryphons Varsity Badminton team. The club has supported 120 active members with the help of a team of twenty executives. The club has been a welcoming environment for players of all levels and has helped bring students together.
Welcoming Presence Award: William Ni | Most Improved: Anup Sd | Dedicated Member Award: Riya Trivedi
E-Sports
The E-Sports club had a standout year across multiple competitions. At WaterLAN, their League of Legends and Valorant Game Changers teams both reached the semifinals, competing against ten institutions from across the province, with Game Changers showcasing teams composed of women and female-identifying players. The Counter-Strike 2 roster advanced to the finals of the Collegiate Champions League, one of the largest nationwide collegiate E-Sports leagues. Beyond competition, the club expanded its presence on campus through regular Twitch streams and targeted marketing efforts, helping grow visibility and strengthen E-Sports culture at the university.
Excellence Award: CS2 Team | Leadership & Innovation Award: Muhammad Khan
Run Club
The second year of the Gryphons Run Club was a huge success, with over 125 members registered. The community of supportive runners has continued to grow and gain an even bigger presence on campus. The club hosted several events this year, including the O-Week Glow Run, a partnership run with HEAL Smoothies, and weekend coffee runs. Thanks to their partner store, The Running Works, they were also able to host two shoe demo runs where members could try shoes during their runs. The club was thrilled to have raised nearly $3,000 for cancer research through the Terry Fox Run and Relay for Life.
Most Dedicated: Colin Campbell | Leadership Award: Will Boate | Spirit Award: Saija Ottonen
Major Awards
The Gryphon Clubs Coaching and Leadership Award
The Gryphon Clubs Coaching and Leadership Award is given to a club leader or executive that has gone above and beyond in demonstrating qualities like integrity, initiative, and inspiration. This individual directly empowers and supports the growth and development of the team and the community and greatly contributes to a positive team environment. This year’s recipient is Shannon Adams of the Guelph Gryphons Run Club. Shannon founded the Run Club two years ago, and it has since become one of the most popular clubs on campus, with over a hundred members. Through partnerships with local businesses, fundraising efforts for cancer research, viral social media posts, and frequent group runs, she has formed a community where no one runs alone.
2025-2026 Gryphon Clubs Coaching and Leadership Award: Shannon Adams
The Momentum Award
The Gryphon Clubs Momentum Award is given to a club that has demonstrated a commitment to growth and improvement over the past season. This recognition showcases the club’s hard work and dedication to becoming a better space for its members and its community, even if it may have faced difficulties in the past. This year’s recipient is the Guelph Gryphons Tennis Club. The Tennis Club received second place on Giving Tuesday, raising almost triple their initial goal of $5,000. They won matches over OUA Varsity teams and qualified for both the men’s and women’s exhibition tournaments. They also led all Ontario teams in matches played throughout the year. The efforts made by the club have proven to have helped them achieve an exemplary season this past year and have made them well-deserved winners of the 2026 Momentum Award.
2025-2026 Momentum Award: Tennis
The Circle of Excellence Award
The Gryphon Clubs Circle of Excellence Award is given to a club that has embodied consistency and success over the past few seasons. This recognition highlights the club’s commitment to excellence and a constant drive to become even better. This year's recipient is the Gryphons Cheerleading Club. As a club with over 100 athletes, they field three competitive teams. At the PCA Collegiate Nationals, two of the teams became National Champions. At the KICKS Cheer Competition, all three teams earned first place results and returned to Guelph as champions, in addition to being awarded the Scholastic Award of Excellence for the highest overall scores of the day. Congrats to this club on their stellar season, which has made them the well-deserved recipients of the 2026 Circle of Excellence Award.
2025-2026 Circle of Excellence Award: Cheerleading