Aurora Bowie named RSEQ MVP, 11 Gee-Gees claim All-Star Honours

It was nearly all Garnet and Grey as the RSEQ conference Major Award Winners and All-Stars were announced on Saturday in advance of the 2024 conference final.

Fifth-year veteran fly half Aurora Bowie and head Coach Duncan McNaughton were named Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, while a record 11 Gee-Gees were selected to the all-star teams.

Bowie led the conference in points scored by a healthy margin, recording two tries, 36 converts, and two penalty goals for a total of 88 points in her six games played. Her 36 converts set a new Gee-Gees program single-season record, while her points total ranks second in team history for a single season. 

A product of Stouffville, Ont., and a Master's student in Counselling Psychology, Bowie finishes her Gee-Gees career third in program history with a total of 154 points scored in regular season play. 

Of note, Bowie becomes just the second Gee-Gees player to be selected as conference Most Valuable Player, breaking a 19-year drought dating back to Tanya Gaffney's selection in 2005. 2024 marks the first All-Star selection for Bowie, who has been a regular contributor to the Gee-Gees success since her rookie campaign in 2019, and is a four-time Academic All-Canadian. 

Duncan McNaughton was voted the Coach of the Year having guided the Gee-Gees to an undefeated regular season record in his second season as head coach. Ottawa has shown prowess at all facets of the game, which is reflected in the all-star selections across all position groups, and outscored opponents by a 367-59 margin this season. 

Joining Bowie on the RSEQ First All-Star team are four fellow fifth-year players who have all received previous All-Star recognition: Alysia Comtois at prop, Ketsia Kamba and Leigha Stiles at lock, and Emma Wade at hooker. Ngozi Mosindi, a fourth-year veteran at centre, was named an All-Star for the third straight season. For Wade, it was the fourth all-star award of her career – joining just three other Gee-Gees to have achieved that.

The five uOttawa members of the RSEQ Second All-Star team include fifth-year flanker Anna Dodge, who recorded a team-high seven tries and ranked fifth in conference scoring. Quynh-Ni Au was recognized for the first time in her four seasons in Garnet and Grey. 

RSEQ First Team All-Stars: 

Aurora Bowie – fly half – 5^th year (first recognition)

Alysia Comtois – prop – 5^th year (2021)

Ketsia Kamba – lock – 5^th year (2023, 2022)

Ngozi Mosindi – centre – 4^th year (2023, 2022)

Leigha Stiles – lock – 5^th year (2023)

Emma Wade – hooker – 5^th year (2023, 2022, 2018)

RSEQ Second Team All-Stars:

Fiona Day – wing – 1^st year

Anna Dodge – flanker – 5^th year (2021)

Tylo Borsboom – flanker – 5^th year (2023)

Quynh-Ni Au – flanker – 4^th year (first recognition)

Julia Latremouille – scrum half – 5^th year (2022)