Winners and Finalists for the 2025-2026 Gee-Gees Year-End Awards
The annual Gee-Gees awards highlighting the outstanding athletic, academic, and community engagement of student-athletes in 2025-2026 were presented on Tuesday, April 14 at the National Arts Centre.
Team MVP Awards, True Sport Culture Builder Award recipients, and Career Achievement Award recipients were announced at the gala event, while the award categories of Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, President's Award, Garnet and Grey Community Engagement Award, and the Leadership and Initiative Awards featured finalists which were unveiled on social media prior to the event.
The breadth of achievements across all finalists displays the outstanding work on and off the field of play by Gee-Gees student-athletes. The winners of the categories below have been indicated with *asterisks. A full list of winners (without finalists information) can be found on this page.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Women's Teams
Allie McCarthy – Basketball
A fifth-year wing, McCarthy delivered one of the most prolific scoring seasons in Gee-Gees history, averaging 21.6 points per game to rank second in U SPORTS. She set a new single-season program record with 475 total points and earned OUA Second Team All-Star honours.
*Audrey Odigie – Volleyball*
A fourth-year outside hitter, Odigie was named a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian and OUA First Team All-Star after ranking fourth among the national leaders in both kills and points per set. She set new single-season program records in total kills and points scored, while leading Ottawa to the OUA quarterfinals.
Abigail McKinley – Swimming
In her fifth year, McKinley earned a U SPORTS bronze medal in the 200 metre backstroke and claimed four RSEQ podium finishes. Contributing to seven team records this season, her performances helped lift the Gee-Gees to RSEQ silver and a sixth-place finish at the national championships, matching the team's best-ever result.
Ngozi Mosindi – Rugby
A U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and RSEQ First Team All-Star at centre, Mosindi helped Ottawa capture RSEQ silver and place sixth nationally. She also competed with the Ontario Senior Women's Team during the 2025–26 season.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Men's Teams
Brock Newton – Basketball
Newton earned OUA Second Team All-Star recognition while averaging 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, helping Ottawa finish 16–6 and advance to the OUA quarterfinals. He also played in national and international 3x3 basketball tournaments.
*Alym Kurji – Swimming*
A third-year swimmer, Kurji captured five RSEQ gold medals and a U SPORTS bronze medal in the 50m butterfly. He established five team records. His performances helped Ottawa's men's team earn RSEQ silver and a sixth place national overall finish.
Jaxxon Brashear – Football
An OUA First Team All-Star at linebacker, Brashear ranked among conference leaders in tackles (44, 5th) and interceptions (2, 6th). The third-year Gee-Gee earned an invitation to the 2026 CFL National Combine.
Max Grondin – Hockey
An OUA East Second Team All-Star, Grondin recorded career-high totals with 12 goals and 30 points. The fifth-year forward signed a tryout contract with the AHL team Syracuse Cruch after playing three games in the ECHL.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Garnet Women's Teams
Jessica Gyamfi – Track and Field
Gyamfi earned U SPORTS and OUA bronze medals in shot put and set a new Gee-Gees team record of 13.87m. She reached the podium consistently throughout the season and represented Canada at the FISU World University Summer Games in 2025.
*Bronwyn Williams – Nordic Skiing*
Williams dominated the OUA Championships with two individual gold medals, and was also the top University performer at the Eastern Canadian Championships. In her first season competing with the Gee-Gees, she won gold in the 20km mass start at the Canadian Colleges and Universities National Championship and also claimed the Women's University Aggregate Award. She helped lead Ottawa to silver medal finishes in the overall women's standings at the conference and national levels.
Zoe Gardiner – Cross Country
In her first season with the Gee-Gees, Gardiner qualified for the U SPORTS National Championships, becoming the program's first women's national qualifier since 2022. At the OUA Championships, she placed 20th.
Rebecca Cocchetto – Rowing
Cocchetto earned the OUA silver medal in the lightweight single and bronze in the lightweight double. At nationals, she recorded two top-five finishes for uOttawa. She was also a member of Team Ontario for the 2025 Canada Cup and was a silver medallist at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Garnet Men's Teams
Aidan Kirkham – Nordic Skiing
Kirkham earned OUA silver and bronze medals in individual events while helping to the Gee-Gees to an overall third place finish at the conference championship. He also notably placed second and third in events at the FIS Eastern Canada Cup, and was fifth at the 50km Gatineau Loppet.
Ben Holahan – Rugby
A Second Team CUMRC All-Canadian and RSEQ First Team All-Star, Holahan ranked third in RSEQ with 45 points scored. A central figure in Ottawa's lineup, he earned four player of the match awards.
*Safwan El Mansari – Track and Field*
Safwan won two silver medals at the U SPORTS national championships and set two school records this season. He won an OUA gold medal and set an OUA Championship record with the 4x400 metre relay team, and earned conference silver in the 600 metres. He also ran the second fastest time in team history in the 800 metres earlier in the season.
Kyle Lamprecht – Rowing
Lamprecht raced to an OUA bronze medal in the men's coxed four and also placed sixth in the men's coxless pair. At nationals, he helped Ottawa finish 8th in the eight and came eighth in the pair coxless pair.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Grey Women's Teams
Lilianne Shannon – Ultimate
Shannon helped lead Ottawa to a second consecutive national championship final appearance and earned selection to Team Canada U24, competing at the World Championships. At the University nationals, she caught the game-winning point in the semifinal match.
*Ela Day-Bédard – Softball*
Ela was named an Ontario University Softball All-Star at shortstop, ranking second in the league in batting average. Ela led the Gee-Gees in hits, doubles, and triples and had the highest batting average by a Gee-Gee since 2017. Ela was selected to Baseball Canada's Women's National Team and will compete at the Women's Baseball World Cup in July.
Camdyn Wilson – Ringette
Wilson set the program rookie goal-scoring record with 50 goals in 38 games overall. She played a key role in Ottawa's University Challenge Cup national championship win, scoring nine goals in the nine-game tournament. At the provincial championships, she was again scoring a goal per game, this time seven in seven en route to the gold medal.
Zaria Fontaine – Dance
Fontaine a Judges' Choice awards at both the Be U Varsity competition and at The Final Event. She was a member of the Gee-Gees' seventh place trio at UDC, as well as the team's top ten placings in overall group at Be U.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Grey Men's Teams
*Alex Lungu – Tennis*
A historic OUA silver medal for the Gee-Gees men's tennis team was anchored by Lungu, who was named an OUA All-Star. Lungu earned important victories in both singles and doubles during the OUA championships, and helped the Gee-Gees defeat the defending national champions in the semifinal to advance to the final. There, he won his doubles match as Ottawa swept the doubles.
Edward Yang – Fencing
Yang anchored Ottawa's men's epee relay team, producing a point differential of plus 132 over the season. He was named and OUA All-Star and helped lift the team to the bronze medal in the epee team relay.
Julien Belair – Lacrosse
Belair led the CUFLA East Conference in scoring with 44 points in eleven games. He was named a CUFLA All-Canadian and was selected in the 2025 NLL Draft.
Maxime Ayad – Ultimate
Ayad helped the Gee-Gees finish fourth nationally while earning international success with Team Canada U24 and signing with Toronto Rush for 2026. The U24 squad won bronze at the 2025 World Championships.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Women's Teams
*Béatrice Bilodeau (Hockey)* – 4th year Eligibility, 2nd year Medicine
In addition to her community work which earned her the Garnet and Grey Community Engagement Award, Béatrice had a fantastic season on the ice this year. Béatrice scored seven goals during the regular season which ranked fourth on the team, and added seven assists. She scored three goals in the OUA playoffs including a two-goal performance in Game 3 of the second round, ultimately helping the women's hockey team reach the national championship tournament and win the OUA silver medal. She now ranks tenth in team history for career points, and has been team captain for two seasons while in medical school.
Quynh-Ni Au (Rugby) – 5th year Eligibility, 4th year Computing Technology
Au is a five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and was the rugby team co-captain this season. Au was selected to the RSEQ First Team of All-Stars for 2025, recognizing her outstanding play at the number 8 position. Ottawa claimed RSEQ silver and sixth place at the U SPORTS national championship.
Camryn Giddens (Volleyball) – 3rd year Eligibility, 3rd year Biomedical Sciences
Giddens was second on the Gee-Gees in both total kills (147) and points per set (2.6) this season, establishing career highs in both categories. A three-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, Giddens also serves as an academic advisor for the women's volleyball team.
Enora Touloute (Basketball) – 3rd year Eligibility, 4th year Psychology
Touloute was the 2025-26 OUA Champions of EDI Award winner and ranked 8th in the OUA in steals per game (2.5). Touloute's honours thesis focuses on how integrating mindfulness exercises can improve the mental health of first-year university students. The Repentigny, Que. product also volunteers at the Early Lab, contributing to research that examines the impact of childhood adversity and parenting.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Men's Teams
Brock Newton (Basketball) – 5th year Eligibility, 4th year Finance
Newton led the Gee-Gees in rebounding with 7.6 per game, which ranked eighth in OUA and was a career high for the versatile forward. He was second on the team with 14.5 points per game, leading Ottawa to a 16-6 regular season record. Newton is a four-time Academic All-Canadian.
Charlie Trofimuk (Swimming) – 2nd yr Eligibility, 2nd year Biomedical Mechanical Engineering
Trofimuk won RSEQ gold with the 4x50m freestyle relay team and added a relay silver and a bronze in the 50m breaststroke. At nationals, the 4x100 relay squad placed sixth while individually he placed in the top 24 in all three breaststroke events. He was part of two team relay records this season.
*Charles Asselin (Football)* – 4th yr Eligibility, 4th yr Economics and Public Policy
Charles accumulated the most all-purpose yards in U SPORTS this season, ranking third in the nation in total kick return yards and sixth in OUA in total rushing yards. He was invited to the CFL national combine, and now ranks tenth in team history for career rushing yards. Charles held a 9.44 annual GPA.
Alexis Bonefon (Hockey) – 2nd yr Eligibility, 3rd year Biomedical Sciences
Bonefon recorded a career high in points this season with four goals and seven assists, playing in all 28 regular season games. The team recorded a 16-10-2 record in the regular season and advanced to the OUA quarterfinal round. Bonefon held a 10.0 annual GPA.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Garnet Women's Teams
Natalie Feberova (Track and Field) – 4th year Human Kinetics
A pentathlete, Feberova competed at the OUA Championships where she scored ninth in shot put (9 metres), high jump (1.41 metres), and the 800 metres (2:49.51). Feberova held a 10.0 annual GPA.
*Maja Mooers (Nordic)* – 3rd year Biology, Ecology-Evolution-Behaviour
At the OUA Championships, Maja secured career-best finishes with 17th and 18th place scores which were pivotal in the Gee-Gees winning the women's team overall silver medal. In addition to her course-work, Maja is involved in entomology research for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and also volunteers as a tutor with Learning for Charity, which donates all proceeds to CHEO. Maja is from Fredericton.
Alex Storah (Rowing) – 4th year Human Kinetics
Storah was a member of the women's eight team which scored an OUA bronze medal and a tenth place finish at nationals this season. Storah also placed fourth at the OUA Championships in the women's pair.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Garnet Men's Teams
Ben Holahan (Rugby) – 3rd year Health Sciences
Named a CUMRC Second Team All-Canadian, Holahan ranked third in the RSEQ conference with 45 points scored. He was selected as the match MVP four times, which led the conference, and served as team captain.
Riley de Gans (Nordic) – 4th year Electrical Engineering and Computing Technology
The men's team captain, de Gans faced injuries this season and still found a way to make an impact on the team with technical support. At the 27km freestyle event at the Gatineau Loppet, he placed fourth overall.
Kyle Lamprecht (Rowing) – 4th year Health Sciences
Lamprecht raced to an OUA bronze medal in the men's coxed four and also placed sixth in the men's coxless pair. At nationals, he helped Ottawa finish 8th in the eight and came eighth in the pair coxless pair.
*William Harris (Track and Field)* – 3rd year Translational/Molecular Medicine
Will was a member of the 4x400 metre relay team which won the silver medal at the U SPORTS national championships and also claimed the OUA gold medal. The team set an OUA championship record and also broke a Gee-Gees team record which had stood for thirteen years. His annual GPA in Translational and Molecular Medicine was 9.40.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Grey Women's Teams
Veronica Alba (Waterpolo) – 3rd year Medicine
A key offensive player for the Gee-Gees, Alba scored 10 goals at the national tournament and 28 goals in total this season. Alba is a founding member of the Ottawa chapter of the National Council of the Canadian Association of Latin Medical Students and was awarded the Undergraduate Medical Education Scholar Competency Award.
Maryam Moussa (Fencing) – 2nd year PhD candidate in Chemistry
Named the fencing team's MVP for 2025-26, Moussa reached the top 16 in the women's sabre at the OUA Championships. In team sabre, Mousa helped Ottawa to a fifth place finish, and she totalled a +75 point differential for the full season.
Léa McNeil (Equestrian) – 2nd year Anthopology
In both the IHSA and OCEA circuits, McNeil regularly placed in the top two. This consistency of performance led to her qualification for the IHSA Regionals and the OCEA Finals.
*Kaitlyn Flear (Softball)* – 3rd year PhD candidate in Biology
Kaitlyn set a team record this season, stealing 20 bases in 21 attempts which also led the league. She also led the team in walks and was second in runs scored, also sporting a .319 batting average. Her current PhD work examines why some zebra-fish are better able to survive in low‑oxygen conditions – an important question as climate change leads to more low‑oxygen aquatic environments. Kaitlyn presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Society of Canadian Zoologists and two additional seminars, and won the Best Student Poster prize at the 2025 International Congress on the Biology of Fish. Kaitlyn, from Sydenham, has two peer-reviewed publications and has been a member of the Gee-Gees softball team for eight seasons.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Grey Men's Teams
*James Humber (Volleyball)* – 4th year Translational and Molecular Medicine
James was an honourable mention for an ECVA North Division All-Star nod thanks to his stellar play at libero for the Gee-Gees, who captured the division championship. He averaged 3.4 digs per set on the court, while his academic average has been a steady 10.0 for the past two seasons. The team captain, from Ottawa, is active in team fundraising while studying Translational and Molecular Medicine.
Julien Turk (Fencing) ) – 4th year Medicine
Turk is the captain of the OUA silver-medal winning men's foil relay team. He totalled a +30 point differential across all competitions this season, and placed tenth individually at the OUA Championship in foil. Turk has participated in two global health initiatives as a medical student abroad: The Community Health initiative at KCMUCO in Tanzania (2025) and Projet Benin (2026).
Andy Bai (Badminton) – 2nd year Medicine
Bai is the Head Coach and an athlete on the Gee-Gees Badminton Team, and earned OUA All-Star honours this season. He holds leadership positions on both the uOttawa Aesculapian Society and the Ontario Medical Student's Association as uOttawa VP External, and on the Canadian Federation of Medical Students as National Officer of Political Action. He is also a student researcher at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Mathis Doyon (Tennis) – 4th year Human Kinetics
Rookie Of The Year Finalists – Varsity Women's Teams
Cameron De La Salle (Basketball)
De La Salle provided consistent minutes at the point guard position, including 14 starts. She averaged 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game, along with four points per game.
Annabelle Jackson (Swimming)
Jackson earned five total RSEQ medals including gold in the 50 free and the 4x50 free relay. She competed in four events at U SPORTS Nationals and was part of six team records this season, including the 50 and 100m freestyle records.
*Grace Dingwall (Rugby)*
The U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All‑Canadian, Dingwall ranked among the country's top try scorers and helped lead Ottawa to RSEQ silver. Her ten tries in the regular season ranked fourth in team history. She also competed at the Canada Games and at the Global Youth 7s Competition.
Emery Twardochleb (Hockey)
Twardochleb gained key playoff and national championship experience while contributing efficiently in her first varsity season. She recorded a goal and four assists in 15 regular season games.
Rookie Of The Year Finalists – Varsity Men's Teams
Justin Tounkara (Basketball)
An OUA All‑Rookie Team selection, Tounkara ranked eighth in the conference in steals while providing efficient scoring with a 51.5 field goal percentage. He was third on the team in both rebounds and assists, helping the team to the OUA quarterfinals and a 16-6 regular season.
*Nicholas Radjenovic (Swimming)*
Radjenovic was the RSEQ gold medallist in the 50 metre backstroke and broke the team record in that event and the 100 metre backstroke this season. He won three RSEQ silver medals and placed sixth at U SPORTS in the 50 metre backstroke and the 4x100 medley relay, where he was part of a third team record breaking performance. He added a ninth place finish in the 100m backstroke at nationals, helping the team to an overall sixth place finish.
Emyl Gregoire (Football)
Gregoire earned OUA All‑Rookie honours as the conference's top first‑year receiver and delivered a standout playoff performance with 7 catches for 135 yards in the OUA quarterfinal.
Alexis Daviault (Hockey)
The OUA East Rookie of the Year, Daviault counted five goals and 19 assists as a defenseman. He led all league rookies in scoring and finished second on the team in points, helping Ottawa to the OUA quarterfinals and a 16-10-2 regular season.
Rookie Of The Year Finalists – Varsity Garnet Women's Teams
*Sophia McIntyre (Track and Field)*
Sophia qualified for the OUA final in the 600 metre and has already cracked the top 15 times in team history. She was also a member of the Gee-Gees 4x400 metre relay team at the OUA Championship, and contributed to the 4x200 relay team during the season. Sophia is a Human Kinetics student from Ottawa.
Emily Mellor (Nordic)
Emily was a member of the Gee-Gees women's team silver medal at the OUA Championships, placing 28th in the 15 kilometre classic, 24th in the 9 kilometre freestyle, and racing to a sixth place finish in the 3x3 kilometre relay event as a member of Ottawa's second squad. Her year was highlighted by a second place finish at the Gatineau Loppet in the 27km Classic.
Rookie Of The Year Finalists – Varsity Garnet Men's Teams
Sam Currie (Nordic)
Sam was the third Gee-Gee to finish the 15 kilometre classic event at the OUA Championships, contributing points to the team's overall bronze medal. He also placed 25th in the 9 km freestyle at the OUA Championship, and led the men's B-relay team. He competed at the National Championships, earning an eighth place finish in the Team Sprint. Sam is a Management student from Littleton, Massachusetts.
*Nate Phillips (Rugby)*
Nate was the team's starting scrumhalf for the final four games of the season, earning his spot with solid play. He placed second in the voting for the RSEQ Rookie of the Year and scored two tries. Nate is a Finance student from Smiths Falls.
Westley Martin-Root (Rowing)
Westley was a member of the men's coxed four crew which won OUA bronze. He also finished eleventh at the OUA Championships in the men's pair. At nationals, he joined the eight crew which took eighth place. He was also named Rookie of the Year by Ottawa Rowing Club in the Senior Men category.
Rookie Of The Year Finalists – Varsity Grey Women's Teams
*Sofia Morello (Ringette)*
Playing center, Sofia had an important impact defensively and came through with clutch goals as the ringette team won both the provincial and national championships. Sofia was third in team scoring and led the team in short-handed goals. She scored the team's opening goal in the national championship final and at provincials Sofia led the team with 6 goals and 8 assists in 7 games. Sofia is a Human Kinetics student from Pointe-Claire, Que.
Bethany Foster (Equestrian)
Bethany qualified for regionals with 36 points in the IHSA circuit. Her performances included top place finishes at multiple competitions this season. She will be moving up a division for next season thanks to her outstanding results this year.
Sarah Power (Softball)
Sarah led the Gee-Gees in runs batted in (21) and tied for the team lead in doubles (7), also ranking second on the team in batting average (.329), hits (25), and runs scored (20). She played every game at either second base or shortstop, and also competed at the 2025 Canada Summer Games with Team Newfoundland.
Rookie Of The Year Finalists – Varsity Grey Men's Teams
*Marko Mysyk (Volleyball)*
Named an ECVA North Division 1 All-Star, Marko led the team offensively this season and helped the Gee-Gees claim the title of ECVA North D1 Champions. His hitting average of .400 and two blocks per set made him an impactful player. Marko is a Human Kinetics student from Ottawa.
Rayne Lang (Lacrosse)
Rayne started at attack or midfield and finished second in team scoring with 24 points in ten games. His points total ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Will Adamson (Tennis)
Will was undefeated in his singles matches as the team's fourth player at the OUA Championships. He secured 6-0,6-2 wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals, then came back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the gold medal match, with Ottawa narrowly taking the silver medal overall. He also teamed up for a doubles wins in the OUA quarterfinal and the gold medal match.
Grady Avarell (Ultimate)
Grady helped the Gee-Gees to a fourth place finish at the Canadian University Ultimate Championships (Division 1) this season. He was also selected as a member of Canada's U20 national team and will compete at the 2026 U20 World Championships this summer.
Garnet and Grey Community Engagement Award - Finalists
*Béatrice Bilodeau (Women's Hockey)*
Béatrice received the 2026 Marion Hilliard Award, presented to the U SPORTS hockey player who best combines athletics, academics, leadership and citizenship. Her resume includes encouraging sport participation and physical activity for all, uplifting students in rural communities, and assisting seniors in long-term care. A volunteer with Kids Help Phone, the Fillactive program, and the Festival of Sport in her hometown of Sainte-Marie, her outreach and role as a mentor during her university career has been widespread. In 2025, Béatrice joined multiple medical support teams at events including Festival Sportif and the Triathlon St-Noël, lending her knowledge as a second-year medical student. She also works with the Rural Outreach and Mentorship Initiative which offers free, personalized one-on-one mentorship for high school students from rural communities who are interested in exploring a career in medicine.
Christine Hachokaka (Women's Volleyball)
Hachokaka led initiatives connecting student‑athletes with local youth and advocacy organizations, amplifying access to sport and community resources. She is an advocate for The Maverick Youth Opportunities Fund, a member of the Task force for Black public servants which supported the development and implementation of the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Black Public Servants, and held the role of community engagement and advocacy officer with BSAAC.
Ben Maracle (Football)
Maracle created meaningful football development opportunities for Indigenous youth across Ontario, blending cultural connection with sport leadership. Working with both the Ottawa Redblacks and the Toronto Argonauts, he has delievered annual camps on site at both the Akwesasne Mohawk Reserve and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, as well as serving as a guest coach at the Skyhawks Camp in Belleville, mentoring high school athletes and speaking about how football builds discipline, resilience, and academic success.
Enora Touloute (Women's Basketball)
Touloute advanced campus and community engagement through education, advocacy, and outreach initiatives, while mentoring fellow student‑athletes. She has been volunteering at the Early Lab, contributing to research that examines the impact of childhood adversity and parenting, and organized a round table discussion called Finding Yourself Beyond Basketball to help athletes transition to their new lives after their athletic careers, and supports fundraising initiatives aimed at improving educational and health infrastructure for Uganda youth through BasketPlus. She received the OUA Women's Basketball Champions of EDI award this season.
Leadership and Initiatve Award - Finalists
This award recognizes a coach, volunteer, president and/or executive member who has made a meaningful impact on their team through leadership and a strong commitment to their team and the spirit of the game. This award is open for nominations from Varsity Grey teams and Varsity Garnet teams, but will only be presented once per career.
Nicole Bucur (Alpine Ski)
Mila Shull (Waterpolo)
Keiran Martini‑Wong (Baseball)
Zhenya Kondratovski (Tennis)
Zhenya was named the OUA Coach of the Year for men's tennis after the Gee-Gees claimed their first-ever silver medal at the OUA Championships. Zhenya was a member of the Gee-Gees team in the 1990s, including winning Team MVP honours in 1994-95, and has been a key figure in restoring the team's organization and competitiveness.
True Sport Culture Builder Award - Recipients
Enora Touloute (Women's Basketball)
Enora acts as a bridge between the athletes and the broader community on campus and in the city of Ottawa. She is constantly seeking and sharing the resources needed to succeed academically, professionally, and mentally. Enora keeps a big picture focus and realizes how student-athletes can help and support the community beyond sport. She has been volunteering at the Early Lab, contributing to research that examines the impact of childhood adversity and parenting, and her honours thesis in Psychology focuses on how integrating mindfulness exercises can improve the mental health of first-year university students.
Curtis Bourgeois (Baseball)
Curtis is the baseball team president and has organized and delivered coaching clinics for young baseball players, providing accessible opportunities to learn, develop skills, and experience sport in a fun and encouraging setting. These initiatives reflect his commitment to mentorship and giving back to the community that supports Gee-Gees athletics. A member of the student-athlete council, he has helped encourage interathletic support and build community among athletes. Curtis is a finance student from Bowmanville.
Nibo Dlamini (Women's Soccer)
Throughout her five-year career with the women's soccer team, Nibo has been the standard setter in the locker room. She consistently raises expectations, holds teammates accountable, and leads through both her actions and communication. Her presence has been instrumental in creating a culture rooted in trust, competitiveness, and mutual respect. On the field, she has been a key contributor on teams that have won three OUA championships and earned two U SPORTS national bronze medals. Nibo was selected for the 2025 Play to Lead national leadership program, where she mentors young athletes and continues to develop as a leader and future coach.
Career Achievement Award - Recipients
Brock Newton (Men's Basketball)
An all-around competitor who brought the house down at Montpetit Hall and TD Place with big plays and incomparable celebrations throughout his career, Brock has reached the top ten in team history in four different stats categories, including second in blocks and tenth in points and rebounds. His tenacity in the paint helped Ottawa capture two OUA Championships and three U SPORTS bronze medals during his career. He was an All-Canadian in 2024, a national tournament All-Star in 2025, and finished his career as a 2026 OUA All-Star while leading a young team. Brock is also a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and we recognize his outstanding impact on Gee-Gees history.
Ngozi Mosindi (Women's Rugby)
Consistent excellence and important leadership have highlighted Ngozi Mosindi's six years with the Gee-Gees. A four-time RSEQ First Team All-Star and two-time All-Canadian, Ngozi was also the winner of the RSEQ Leadership and Engagement Award in 2022 for their efforts in the community. A national silver medallist in 2021 and bronze medallist in 2022, Ngozi was also a key member of the RSEQ championship-winning squad in 2023. With 17 career tries, Ngozi ranks sixth in team history and is one of just five players in team history to be a four-time conference All-Star. Throughout their career Ngozi displayed exceptional work ethic, character, and a relentless commitment to excellence, leaving a lasting legacy within the program and setting a standard for future generations of Gee-Gees.
Franky Lapenna (Men's Hockey)
From one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in school history to the national championship MVP, Franky Lapenna's Gee-Gees career has been unique. Lapenna was named the OUA East Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year in 2023-24 as he set multiple team records for single season dominance in net. He holds the team records for best save percentage and goals against average, and led U SPORTS in save percentage in 2023-24. After winning a gold medal with Canada at the 2025 FISU World Winter Games, Franky electrified TD Place with three games of all-out effort during the 2025 National Championship. He earned the tournament MVP award as the Gee-Gees won the national championship for the first time in team history. In his final season in Garnet and Grey, Franky added fifteen wins to his career total, and he graduates as the all-time career record holder with 49 total wins. An Academic All-Canadian, Franky displayed exemplary energy, work ethic and preparation, culminating with his historic achievements.
Sacha Vasiliev (Men's Fencing)
Recognized for the past two seasons with the OUA's prestigious George Tully Trophy, Sacha has led a resurgent Gee-Gees men's fencing team over the past four seasons. The anchor of the men's foil team, Sacha is a three-time individual medalist at the OUA Championships and averaged a plus 300 point differential across his career. His impact lifted the Men's Foil relay team to the OUA gold medal in 2025, and they followed up with a silver medal this season. In addition to the team's bronze medal in his first season, Sacha has six total OUA medals. He is one of just five Gee-Gees to ever win the OUA's George Tully Trophy since it was first awarded in 1949….. and he is the only one to win it twice.Serving as the heart of the Men's Foil group during a dominant run in team events, including going undefeated from 2024 to 2026, Sacha graduates as one of the Gee-Gees' most impactful fencers.
Mariève Vandervoort (Ringette)
A two-time national champion. Mariève Vandervoort is one of the very few people in Gee-Gees history who can say this. She was a member of this year's National Championship winning ringette squad… nine years after her first national championship win in Garnet and Grey which came in 2016-2017. Mariève is a PhD student in clinical psychology who has achieved academic and athletic success at uOttawa, beginning as an undergraduate student. She has been a member of the ringette team for the entirety of her impressive academic career, ultimately becoming captain for three seasons. Mariève holds the Gee-Gees ringette team record for most games played, most goals, most assists, and most points – totalling 506 points over 338 games. More than points, Mariève brought resources from her academic life to the ringette team; through her leadership she built partnerships with master's students in Mental Performance Coaching which elevated the team's support structure. This was Marieve's final season, and she leaves on top as back-to-back provincial champions, and the reigning national champions. She has been a foundational builder for the ringette team on and off the ice and will continue to be a great ambassador.
2025-2026 Team MVP Awards:
Alpine Ski: Sara Buzdugan
Artistic Swimming: Lauren El-Awadi
Badminton (M): Mithilesh Ramdany
Badminton (W): Ashley Ng
Baseball: Noah Harnish
Basketball (M): Brock Newton
Basketball (W): Allie McCarthy
Cheerleading: Zara Takach
Cross Country (M): Zach Sikka
Cross Country (W): Zoe Gardiner
Dance: Allisun Yu
Equestrian: Victor Lin
Football: Josh Janssen
Fencing (M): Edward Yang
Fencing (W): Maryam Moussa
Golf (M): none selected
Golf (W): Angelina Cattelan
Hockey (M): Peter Stratis
Hockey (W): Gillian Warren
Lacrosse: John McKinney
Nordic Ski (M): Cohen Norman
Nordic Ski (W): Erin Dunn
Ringette: Rhian Dentelbeck
Rowing (M): Kyle Lamprecht
Rowing (W): Rebecca Cocchetto
Rugby (M): Ben Holahan
Rugby (W): Ava Johnston
Soccer (M): Mansour Thioune
Soccer (W): Sabrina Mangiaracina
Softball: Annika Pocock
Squash (M): Jonathan Whelan
Squash (W): Shaylin Kryvenchuk-Bolanos
Swimming (M): Alym Kurji
Swimming (W): Abigail McKinley
Tennis (M): Alex Lungu
Tennis (W): Sophia Dimitrova
Track and Field (M): Safwan El Mansari
Track and Field (W): Jessica Gyamfi
Ultimate (M): Maxime Ayad
Ultimate (W): Chloe Rosenbloom
Volleyball (M): Zachary Shewan
Volleyball (W): Audrey Odigie
Water Polo (M): Alex Goriani
Water Polo (W): Samantha Zabchuk