MURPHY AND QUINLAN NAMED OUA ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
HUNTSVILLE, Ont. - Guelph rugby standout Jacey Murphy (Alliston, Ont.) and McMaster quarterback sensation Kyle Quinlan (South Woodslee, Ont.) were named the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Year, presented by Pioneer Energy at the 2012 OUA Honour Awards Banquet. The event was held on Thursday evening at Grandview Golf Course in Huntsville, Ontario. Murphy and Quinlan are the second class of OUA Athletes of the Year, and follow up last season’s inaugural award winners Windsor's Jessica Clemençon (St. Rambert, France) and Carleton's Tyson Hinz (Ottawa).
Murphy, a number 8 player in her fifth year of eligibility, led the conference with 12 tries in five games, as the Gryphons outscored their opponents by a 453-8 margin. The Gryphons continued to dominate in the playoffs, and took home its fourth consecutive OUA championship banner, and second CIS title in program history. During the regular season, Murphy was recognized by both OUA and CIS coaches, who voted her as MVP. She also earned all-Canadian status and was named a CIS championship all-star.
In 2011, Quinlan, a fourth-year economics student, had one of the greatest playoff runs in recent memory to lead the McMaster Marauders to their first-ever CIS football national championship. In what is considered by many to be the greatest CIS football game ever played, Quinlan racked up 482 yards and two majors on 36-of-55 passing, while also rushing for a team-high 106 yards. Despite only appearing in five regular season outings, he was named to the second all-Canadian team after he averaged a CIS-best 342 passing yards per game. The 6-foot-3, 215 pound senior earned game-MVP honours following each of the last three duels of the campaign.
Pioneer Energy, the presenting sponsor for the OUA Athletes of the Year, also provided a monetary award to each recipient to go towards educational expenses.
The McMaster Marauders football team took home the OUA Team of the Year award. The Marauders entered the campaign as one of the top contenders for the Yates Cup, and aside from an early season loss to the Western Mustangs, won every subsequent game en route to its first Vanier Cup title. In 2012, the Marauders boasted seven OUA First Team All-Stars, OUA MVP Michael DiCroce (Hamilton, Ont.), President’s Trophy winner Ryan Chmiewlewski (St. Catharines, Ont.), and Dalt White Trophy winner Kyle Quinlan. The McMaster Marauders football team is the second OUA team to be named Team of the Year, following up inaugural winner Windsor Lancers women’s basketball, who took the title in 2011.
Western Mustangs track and field coach Vicki Croley and Queen’s women’s soccer coach Dave McDowell were named the 2011-12 Fox 40 OUA Coaches of the Year.
In her 17th season with the Mustangs, Croley led the purple and white to OUA silver on both the men’s and women’s sides and was honoured with the Sue Wise Award as OUA women’s coach of the year. In Winnipeg at the CIS championships, Croley led the Mustangs men’s track team to its first CIS banner in program history, and took home the Bob Boucher award as CIS men’s coach of the year.
In 2011, Dave McDowell led the Queen’s Gaels women’s soccer team to their second consecutive national championship and their first OUA championship title since 2002. The Gaels won the OUA East division with a 13-1-2 record, and went on to sweep their three OUA playoff games, including the final on penalty kicks. Under McDowell’s leadership, the Gaels beat Alberta, Ottawa and finally Montreal to win their second national title in as many years.
Iconic York University basketball coach Bob Bain was this year’s recipient of the John McManus Award, presented by Game Tape Exchange, given to a retired OUA coach who exemplifies the highest ideals and qualities of sportsmanship and service while engaged in coaching in university sport. The longest-serving head coach at York finished his unprecedented 37th season with the Lions men’s basketball team is 2009-10. In his nearly four decades with the squad, Bain’s teams made the playoffs 35 times. He led York to 11 OUA East division championships and six OUA championships, and he also took his team to the CIS national championship eight times, winning the bronze medal in 1978 and 1979. He has coached 14 All-Canadians and over 80 OUA All-stars. Bain amassed more than 700 victories during his tenure, including exhibition, regular season and playoff action.
Mike Koreen of the Ottawa Sun is the 2012 recipient of the OUA Media Award of Distinction. After graduating from Ryerson University, Koreen began establishing himself on the sports journalist scene as a beat writer for the Toronto Raptors. After a brief stint in the OUA as the Sports Information Director at York University, Koreen joined the staff at the Kingston Whig-Standard as the Sports Editor. His support of Queen’s and RMC has helped establish sports in the Kingston community, and fostered positive relationships between the city and its student-athletes. After serving with the Whig for five years, Koreen recently took a position with the Ottawa Sun, where he broaden his scope of Eastern Ontario OUA teams.
OUA HONOUR AWARD WINNERS
OUA Female Athlete of the Year
Jacey Murphy, Guelph Gryphons Rugby
OUA Male Athlete of the Year
Kyle Quinlan, McMaster Marauders Football
OUA Team of the Year
McMaster Marauders Football
Fox 40 OUA Female Coach of the Year
Vicki Croley, Western Mustangs Track and Field
Fox 40 OUA Male Coach of the Year
Dave McDowell, Queen’s Gaels Women’s Soccer
John McManus Award
Bob Bain, York Lions Men’s Basketball
Media Member Award of Distinction
Mike Koreen, Ottawa Sun
