Varsity Blues defend OUA Men's and Women's Swimming Championship banners

LONDON, Ont. – The Toronto Varsity Blues continued to dominate on Day Three of the OUA Swimming Championship on their way to first place finishes on the men's and women's sides. 

Full Results 

Toronto's women's team finished with 1,049 points, followed by Western (670) in second and Guelph (499) in third. On the men's side, Toronto had 1,019 points while Western (737) and McMaster (517) rounded out the top three in second and third, respectively.

The title is Toronto's 64th in school history on the men's side and 27th on the women's. Both programs have been nearly unbeatable in recent years, with the women's team claiming three straight titles and the men's team winning 15 of a possible 16 OUA banners since 2001. 

The Varsity Blues stormed out of the gates once again on Saturday, winning gold in the first five events and setting a conference record in four of them. The women's team finished with six gold medals out of a possible seven to go with four records while the men's team closed out the event with five more gold medals and two more records. 

Kylie Masse finished off her excellent Championship with a bang, breaking a 50m Backstroke national record as part of a gold-medal winning performance from the 200m Medley Relay team (1:50.39) and a conference record in the 100m Butterfly (57.84). She also claimed gold in the 50m Backstroke (26.82) to bring her individual gold count to four through three days. 

For her efforts, Masse was named the OUA's Female Swimmer of the Year. Toronto's Hochan Ryu, who also won four individual medals, received the award on the men's side. He won gold in his only event on Friday, the 400m Individual Medley (4:18.06), and was the male recipient of the Dr. Jeno Tihanyi award for individual medley excellence. 

Toronto's OUA records on Friday came from the women's 200m Medley Relay team (1:50.39), the men's 200m Medley Relay team (1:40.18), Paige Schultz in the women's 200m Freestyle (1:58.08), Victoria Wicks in the women's 50m Breaststroke (32.01), Masse in the women's 100m Butterfly and 50m Butterfly, and the men's 400m Freestyle Relay team (3:18.98). 

In total, Toronto broke 18 records over the three-day event.

Schultz finished the weekend with four individual medals, two of which were gold, and six medals total. She broke two individual records and was part of another two record-breaking relay teams. To top it all off, she was the female recipient of the Dr. Jeno Tihanyi Award. 

Her teammate on the men's side, Cameron Kidd, was named the men's Rookie of the Year after winning two gold medals as part of relay teams, a bronze in the 50m Butterfly (24.46), and setting an OUA record in the 50m Freestyle (21.91) earlier in the competition. 

Western's Gamal Assaad broke an OUA record on his way to a gold medal in the 100m Butterfly (53.16). The women's 400m Freestyle Relay team (3:45.83) had the Mustangs' other gold on Saturday, as Western registered eight podium finishes on the final day of competition.

Keira Brazeau's bronze medal in the women's 200m Freestyle gave her a total of three medals on the weekend, two of which were individual bronzes and the other a silver in the 800m Freestyle Relay. She was recognized as the OUA's Female Rookie of the Year. 

The only gold medal not won by Toronto or Western on Saturday went to McMaster's Kenny Mackenzie in the men's 50m Breaststroke (28.17). Mackenzie beat out Waterloo's Jonathan Ramkissoon (28.26), who finished with three medals over three days, and Toronto's Eli Wall, who finished with three individual medals and was part of two gold medal-winning relay teams. 

Both of McMaster's teams had a strong showing on Saturday, with two relay silvers on the women's side and a pair of top-two finishes in men's competition. The Marauders were barely edged out on the women's side by Guelph, who helped their cause with a bronze from Leili Tilvaldyeva in the 50m Backstroke (32.26) and another in the 200m Medley Relay (1:56.88).

One of the highlights of the day on Saturday came in the morning from Ottawa's Camille Berube, who broke her own Swimming Canada para-record in the 400m Individual Medley preliminaries with a time of 6:33.37. Her team finished the day with two more silver medals, one in women's competition and one in men's, to claim fifth place on both sides.

STANDINGS
 
Women's
1) Toronto (1,049)
2) Western (670)
3) Guelph (499)
4) McMaster (459)
5) Ottawa (339)
6) Laurentian (240)
7) Brock (167)
8) Queen's (133)
9) Laurier (112)
10) Waterloo (92)
11) York (64)
12) Carleton (49)
 
Men's
1) Toronto (1,019.5)
2) Western (737)
3) McMaster (517)
4) Guelph (335.5)
5) Ottawa (330.5)
6) Waterloo (311)
7) Laurentian (162.5)
8) Queen's (161.5)
9) Laurier (121)
10) Brock (64)
11) York (61)
12) Carleton (11)
 
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
 
Women's
 
Swimmer of the Year: Kylie Masse, Toronto
Rookie of the Year: Keira Brazeau, Western
Coach of the Year: Byron McDonald & Linda Kiefer
Dr. Jeno Tihanyi Award for IM Excellence: Paige Schultz, Toronto
Graduating Athlete Award of Distinction: Paulina Bond (Western) & Jennifer McNaughton (Western), Bridget Croley (Toronto)
 
Men's
 
Swimmer of Year: Hochan Ryu, Toronto
Rookie of the Year: Cameron Kidd, Toronto
Coach of the Year: Jeff Slater, Waterloo
Dr. Jeno Tihanyi Award for IM Excellence: Hochan Ryu, Toronto
Graduating Athlete Award of Distinction: Graeme Kemp (Waterloo)
 
DAY THREE INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS
 
Women 200 Medley Relay
1) Toronto 1:50.39 OUA RECORD | CANADIAN Record Kylie Masse 50 backstroke
(Kylie Masse, Victoria Wicks, Sherry Patel, Heather Lam)
2) McMaster 155.27
(Kieran Liew, Rebecca Ngu, Hanna Dvorski, Emily Fung)
3) Guelph 1:56.88
(Emily Anzai, Leili Tilvaldyeva, Shania Van Herk, Tess Wey)
 
Men 200 Medley Relay
1) Toronto 1:40.18 OUA RECORD
(Kyle Haas, Eli Wall, Matt Dans, Joao Pedro Fontenelle)
2) McMaster 1:40.86
(Cameron Chow, Kenny Mackenzie, Mohamed Eldah, Kurt Schubert)
3) Western 1:41.47
(Matthew Fox, Matthew Loewen, Peter Serles, Brent Waddell)
 
Women 200 Freestyle
1) Paige Schultz, Toronto 1:58.08 OUA RECORD
2) Victoria Radounski, Toronto 2:00.19
3) Keira Brazeau, Western 2:00.97
 
Men 200 Freestyle
1) Oliver Straszynski, Toronto 1:48.65
2) Gael Chaubet, Toronto 1:50.35
3) Philip Vranic, Guelph 1:50.62
 
Women 50 Breastroke
1) Victoria Wicks, Toronto 32.01 OUA RECORD
2) Audrey Prayal-Brown, Ottawa 32:22
3) Leili Tilvaldyeva, Guelph 32.26
 
Men 50 Breaststroke
1) Kenny Mackenzie, McMaster 28.17
2) Jonathan Ramkissoon, Waterloo 28.26
3) Eli Wall, Toronto 28.39
 
Women 50 Backstroke
1) Kylie Masse, Toronto 26.82
2) Heather Lam, Toronto 28.52
3) Kate Vanderbeek, Laurier 28.75
 
 
Men 50 Backstroke
1) Dan Kuiack, Toronto 25.17
2) Kyle Haas, Toronto 25.24
3) Gordon Barkwell, Western 25.71
 
Women 100 Butterfly
1) Kylie Masse, Toronto 57.84 OUA RECORD
2) Paulina Bond, Western 59.84
3) Sherry Patel, Toronto 1:00.12
 
Men 100 Butterfly
1) Gamal Assaad, Western 53.16 OUA RECORD
2) Matt Dans, Toronto 53.54
3) Michael Sinila, Toronto 54.31
 
Women 400 Individual Medley
1) Paige Schultz, Toronto 4:44.09
2) Sarah Asselin, Western 4:53.38
3) Bridget Coley, Toronto 4:54.34
 
Men 400 Individual Medley
1) Hocan Ryu, Toronto 4:18.06
2) Montana Champagne, Ottawa 4:22.34
3) Osvald Nitski, Toronto 4:23.30
 
Women 400 Freestyle Relay
1) Western 3:45.83
(Charis Huddle, Kelly Hotta, Paulina Bond, Hayley Hess)
2) Toronto 3:46.59
(Melanie McDonald, Victoria Radounski, Jennifer Tapley, Heather Lam)
3) McMaster 3:48.40
(Hana Dvorski, Olivvya Chow, Jacqueline McDonald, Emma Mittermaier)
 
Men 400 Freestyle Relay
1) Toronto 3:18.98 OUA RECORD
(Dan Kuiack, Mitch Ferraro, Gael Chaubet, Oliver Straszynski)
2) Guelph 3:19.28
(Eric Trevisan, John Carroll, Evan Van Moerkerke, Philip Vranic)
3) Western 3:22.61
(Matthew Fox, Brent Waddell, Nathan Lethbridge, Aaron Rode)
 
DAY 2 INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS (Friday)

W 200 IM
1. Jennifer McNaughton, Western, 2:15.67
2. Melanie McDonald, Toronto, 2:15.76
3. Rebecca Stellino, Toronto, 2:18.44

M 200 IM
1. Hochan Ryu, Toronto, 1:58.47 OUA Record 
2. Montana Champagne, Ottawa, 2:02.05
3. Graeme Kemp, Waterloo, 2:02.35

W 100m Free
1. Paige Schultz, Toronto, 54.17 OUA Record
2. Paulina Bond, Western, 54.94
3. Emma Mittermaier, McMaster, 56.45

M 100m Free
1. Evan Van Moerkerke, Guelph, 49.19
2. Mitch Ferraro, Toronto, 49.93
3. Oliver Straszynski, Toronto, 49.95

M 1500m Free
1. Osvald Nitski, Toronto, 15:44.07
2. Alex Bartley, Western, 15:45.22
3. Ryan Hatch, Western, 15:45.57

W 200m Back
1. Kylie Masse, Toronto, 2:04.44 OUA Record
2. Emily Anzai, Guelph, 2:11.31
3. Heather Lam, Toronto, 2:14.02

M 200m Back
1. Hochan Ryu, Toronto, 1:58.26
2. Robert Bonomo, Ottawa, 1:58.93
3. Dan Kuiack, Toronto, 1:59.31

W 100m Breast
1. Audrey Prayal Brown, Ottawa, 1:09.62 OUA Record
2. Victoria Wicks, Toronto, 1:10.46
3. Rachael Parsons, Toronto, 1:10.83

M 100m Breast
1. Jonathan Ramkissoon, Waterloo, 1:00.18 OUA Record
2. Eli Wall, Toronto, 1:00.93
3. Steven Lee, Queen's, 1:02.20
3. Matthew Loewen, Western, 1:02.20

W 50m Fly
1. Paulina Bond, Western 26.78 OUA Record
2. Sherry Patel, Toronto, 27.01
3. Hayley Hess, Western, 27.93

M 50m Fly
1. Eric Trevisan, Guelph, 24.34
2. Matt Dans, Toronto, 24.41
2. Cameron Kidd, Toronto, 24.46

W 800m Free
1. Bridget Coley, Toronto, 8:40.85
2. Victoria Radounski, Toronto, 8:41.34
3. Lisa van Breugel, Toronto, 8:53.64

W 400 Medley Relay
1. Toronto 4:06.89 OUA Record
(Kylie Masse, Victoria Wicks, Josee Barrette, Paige Schultz)
2. McMaster 4:12.85
(Kieran Liew, Rebecca Ngu, Micayley Cromwell, Emma Mittermaier)
3. Western 4:13.33
(Piper Ferguson, Sophie Cieplucha, Jennifer McNaughton, Keira Brazeu)

M 400 Medley Relay
1. Toronto, 3:39.54 OUA Record
(Dan Kuiack, Eli Wall, Hochan Ryu, Cameron Kidd)
2. Western, 3:40.21
(Gordon Barkwell, Matthew Loewen, Gamal Assaad, Aaron Rode)
3. Waterloo (3:42.38
(Graeme Kemp, Jonathan Ramkissoon, Aidan Chow, Danyon Chu)

DAY 1 INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS (Thursday)

Women 200 Free Relay
1. Toronto 1:43.05 OUA RECORD
(Josee Barrette, Paige Schultz, Emily Russell, Jennifer Tapley)
2. Western 1:44.15
(Charis Huddle, Hayley Hess, Paulina Bond, Kelly Hotta)
3. McMaster 1:44.21
(Hannah Dvorski, Emma Mittermaier, Emily Fung, Jacqueline McDonald)

Men 200 Free Relay
1. Toronto 1:30.29 OUA RECORD
(Matt Dans, Mitch Ferraro, Kyle Haas, Cameron Kidd)
2. McMaster 1:33.13
(Kenny Mackenzie, Kurt Schubert, Alexandre Tropynine, Ali Rizk)
3. Western 1:33.19
(Nathan Lethbridge, Brent Waddell, David Armstrong, Peter Serles)

Women 400m Free
1. Bridget Coley, Toronto 4:10.62 OUA RECORD
2. Victoria Radounski, Toronto 4:12.89
3. Keira Brazeau, Western 4:15.89

Men 400m Free
1. Oliver Straszynski, Toronto, 3:53.31
2. Dominic Walter, McMaster 3:54.26
3. Osvald Nitski, Toronto, 3:54.28

W 100m Back
1. Kylie Masse, Toronto, 56.55 OUA Record | CANADIAN Record
2. Heather Lam, Toronto, 1:00.69
3. Emily Anzai, Guelph, 1:01.38

M 100m Back
1. Kyle Haas, Toronto, 54.23
2. Daniel Kuiack, Toronto, 54.43
3. Robert Bonomo, Ottawa, 55.07

W 200m Breast
1. Sophie Cieplucha, Western, 2:31.49
2. Leili Tilvaldyeva, Gurlph, 2:31.83
3. Rachael Parsons, Toronto, 2:33.72

M 200m Breast
1. Eli Wall, Toronto, 2:12.13 OUA Record
2. Matthew Loewen, Western, 2:14.58
3. Graeme Kemp, Waterloo, 2:16.11

W 200m Fly
1. Jennifer McNaughton, Western, 2:13.72
2. Melanie McDonald, Toronto, 2:15.39
3. Rachel Nogard, Brock, 2:16.08

M 200m Fly
1. Hochan Ryu, Toronto, 1:58.11
2. Osvald Nitski, Toronto, 2:00.54
3. Gamal Assaad, Western, 2:00.70

W 50m Free
1. Paulina Bond, Western, 25.26 OUA Record
2. Paige Schultz, Toronto, 25.29
3. Sherry Patel, Toronto, 25.67

M 50m Free
1. Cameron Kidd, Toronto, 21.91 OUA Record
2. Robert Bonomo, Ottawa, 22.58
2. Matthew Schouten, Laurentian, 22.58

W 800 Free Relay
1. Toronto, 8:09.63
(Melanie McDonald, Lisa van Breugel, Bridget Coley, Victoria Radounski)
2. Western, 8:14.83
(Keira Brazeau, Kelly Hotta, Lexi Meklensek, Jennifer McNaughton)
3. Guelph, 8:24.36
(Tara Mallory, Stephanie Papadedes, Sophia Papadedes, Haylie Burton)

M 800 Free Relay
1. Toronto, 7:21.23
(Gael Chaubet, Oliver Straszynski, Hochan Ryu, Osvald Nitski)
2. Guelph, 7:24.06
(Philip Vranic, Myles Zagar, Evan Van Moerkerke, John Carroll)
3. McMaster, 7:25.09
(Marc Muise, Alexandre Tropynine, Mitchell Muizelaar, Dominic Walter)