October 21, 2009
ROWERS LOOK TO DETHRONE QUEEN'S AT 2009 OUA ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS
HAMILTON, Ont. – Brock University will host the 2009 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) rowing championships at the Henley Island Course in St. Catharines, Ont. on Saturday.
The University of Western Ontario will be looking to regain the men's title after losing it to the Queen's Gaels at the 2008 championships. The host Badgers claimed three consecutive men's OUA titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and will look to surpass the Mustangs and defending Gaels in familiar waters this weekend. The Gaels swept both men’s and women’s team titles in 2008.
The consistently strong Western Mustangs men's team lost eight of their top rowers to graduation after the 2008 season, leaving the younger rowers to defend the winning record. The team took another blow when two cases of H1N1 in team members were confirmed, as well as other illnesses. Despite struggling in the weeks before the first regattas, the Mustangs were able to pull out a second-place ranking in OUA going into the championship.
The heavyweight men's double team of Mark Dawidek (London, Ont.) and Michael Davidson (Lakefield, Ont.) have so far been the most successful crew, winning the Brock Invitational Regatta. While the Mustangs don't have the stand-out performers of seasons past, the team's depth has developed nicely over the course of the season.
Western's women's team was dealt the same hand as the men, losing a number of members to graduation. They've been able to rebuild and have won every in-province regatta they've participated in. Lauren Wells (London, Ont.) has been the team's most successful rower, placing second in both the heavyweight and lightweight singles at the Brock Invitational.
The defending champion Queen's Gaels will be looking for their second consecutive title, after overpowering the Western Mustangs in 2008. Morgan Jarvis (Clearwater Bay, Ont.), a member of last year's winning OUA lightweight men's 8+ coxed team, will be defending his lightweight double title this weekend. He has had a strong season this year with many victories in the single, placing him well to challenge this event.
The Gaels women's lightweights, who were OUA champs in 2003, 2004 and 2005, took home gold in the eight and four (coxed) at the Brock Invitational, while the heavyweight eight came second to the Mustangs by just under four seconds. Katya Herman (Sudbury, Ont.), winner of last year's heavy and lightweight OUA single events, has been strong coming up to the championship, with victories in both the heavy and lightweight women's singles at the Brock Invitational. She will be looking to defend the lightweight women's single and to challenge the lightweight double this year.
Brock's heavyweight 8+ team placed first at the Brock Invitational Regatta earlier this month, along with the lightweight 4+ crew. Brock also beat out Queen's at the same regatta in the men's lightweight coxed four. Single rower Travis King (Grimsby, Ont.) placed first in the men's lightweight race. The women's teams have had small victories, placing second in the heavyweight 4+ behind Western at the Brock Invitational.
With these three teams consistently putting out impressive performances, this weekend will so some fierce competition between not only these schools, but each participating crew.
Other schools participating at the OUA championships include the Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, McGill Redmen/Martlets, McMaster Marauders, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Toronto Varsity Blues, Trent Excalibur, Ryerson Rams and UOIT Ridgebacks.
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
The University of Western Ontario will be looking to regain the men's title after losing it to the Queen's Gaels at the 2008 championships. The host Badgers claimed three consecutive men's OUA titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and will look to surpass the Mustangs and defending Gaels in familiar waters this weekend. The Gaels swept both men’s and women’s team titles in 2008.
The consistently strong Western Mustangs men's team lost eight of their top rowers to graduation after the 2008 season, leaving the younger rowers to defend the winning record. The team took another blow when two cases of H1N1 in team members were confirmed, as well as other illnesses. Despite struggling in the weeks before the first regattas, the Mustangs were able to pull out a second-place ranking in OUA going into the championship.
The heavyweight men's double team of Mark Dawidek (London, Ont.) and Michael Davidson (Lakefield, Ont.) have so far been the most successful crew, winning the Brock Invitational Regatta. While the Mustangs don't have the stand-out performers of seasons past, the team's depth has developed nicely over the course of the season.
Western's women's team was dealt the same hand as the men, losing a number of members to graduation. They've been able to rebuild and have won every in-province regatta they've participated in. Lauren Wells (London, Ont.) has been the team's most successful rower, placing second in both the heavyweight and lightweight singles at the Brock Invitational.
The defending champion Queen's Gaels will be looking for their second consecutive title, after overpowering the Western Mustangs in 2008. Morgan Jarvis (Clearwater Bay, Ont.), a member of last year's winning OUA lightweight men's 8+ coxed team, will be defending his lightweight double title this weekend. He has had a strong season this year with many victories in the single, placing him well to challenge this event.
The Gaels women's lightweights, who were OUA champs in 2003, 2004 and 2005, took home gold in the eight and four (coxed) at the Brock Invitational, while the heavyweight eight came second to the Mustangs by just under four seconds. Katya Herman (Sudbury, Ont.), winner of last year's heavy and lightweight OUA single events, has been strong coming up to the championship, with victories in both the heavy and lightweight women's singles at the Brock Invitational. She will be looking to defend the lightweight women's single and to challenge the lightweight double this year.
Brock's heavyweight 8+ team placed first at the Brock Invitational Regatta earlier this month, along with the lightweight 4+ crew. Brock also beat out Queen's at the same regatta in the men's lightweight coxed four. Single rower Travis King (Grimsby, Ont.) placed first in the men's lightweight race. The women's teams have had small victories, placing second in the heavyweight 4+ behind Western at the Brock Invitational.
With these three teams consistently putting out impressive performances, this weekend will so some fierce competition between not only these schools, but each participating crew.
Other schools participating at the OUA championships include the Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, McGill Redmen/Martlets, McMaster Marauders, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Toronto Varsity Blues, Trent Excalibur, Ryerson Rams and UOIT Ridgebacks.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
