Flashback to homecoming 2013: The first monumental varsity event of the year pitted the McMaster Marauders against our Guelph Gryphons at a revamped Alumni Stadium. For the first time in Canadian Football League (CFL) history, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats played an entire season away from Ivor Wynne Stadium, which was being torn down and then rebuilt into Tim Horton’s Field. Over 12,000 fans packed U of G’s upgraded stadium and braved single-digit temperatures, hurricane winds, and sideways rain to watch the Gryphons beat the Marauders and go on to finish the season 7-1.
The varsity season ended just as it began – on a high. Gryphons Track and Field brought home a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) gold medal on the women’s side and a silver medal on the men’s.
Along the way were many marquee moments that made this past year a memorable one, including a Cross Country CIS gold medal, a Canadian University Field Lacrosse gold, a CIS bronze in field hockey, an OUA gold in golf, a CIS silver in women’s rugby, an OUA bronze in men’s rugby, and a CIS bronze in men’s wrestling.
Gryphons baseball had the best season in team history when men went 17-7, and reached the OUA semi finals.
On the women’s side, the hockey and volleyball teams finished atop the standings in their respective divisions, but failed to medal in the playoffs.
In what was Gryphons athletics’ most heartfelt moment of the year, the women’s hockey team organized an event called “Fight for Kevin,” a fundraiser for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma research, that displayed the U of G community’s solidarity with Kevin Siddall, the 14-year-old brother of senior goaltender Brooke Siddall, who battled with, and eventually succumbed to, cancer.
While it was impossible to fit all of the great moments of teams and athletes that donned the red, black, and gold this past year, we’ve picked the best moments, players, and coach and presented them to you in this year’s installment of the Ontarion’s “Gryphons sports year in review.”
Third best record in the OUA (17-7), third place finish in the OUA playoffs, the league’s best batting average (.529), catcher of the year, and offensive player of the year Justin Interisano, along with OUA pitcher of the year, Brandon Sorichetti, and coach of the year Matt Griffin. Those numbers and accolades speak for themselves in what is being touted as U of G baseball’s best ever season.
The most dominant varsity team to wear red, black and gold, Guelph’s Cross Country team captured both the men’s and women’s gold medals at the CIS Championships. The men have won eight gold medals in a row while the women have won nine. If the women win a gold next year, they will share the Canadian university title for most consecutive gold medals (10) in a sporting event with UBC’s swim team.
The Gryphon’s field hockey team captured their fourth straight bronze medal at the CIS Championships, and continued what is recognized as a longstanding history of excellence in field hockey at the U of G.
While there is no central governing body for Canadian university Lacrosse, the Gryphons won the sport’s highest current accolade when they brought home the Baggataway Cup at the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) Championships. Guelph also earned six of 10 CUFLA awards for performance in what was a dominating season by Guelph lax.
For the third straight year, gold was in sight for the Gryphons, but a heartbreaking loss in the OUA semi finals to Western meant Guelph played and beat the McMaster Marauders to capture their third consecutive OUA bronze medal. Five Gryphons players were named OUA All-Stars.
The always-dominant Guelph women’s rugby program reached the CIS gold medal game, but were defeated by the U of Alberta Pandas 29-10 to capture a silver medal and the 11th CIS medal in team history.
Guelph’s varsity season rounded out with utter dominance at the CIS level by both the women’s team, who captured a gold medal, and the men’s team, who earned a silver medal. Dave Scott-Thomas won his second coach of the year honour (cross country being the other), proving that when it comes to running events in Canada, there is no better Canadian university than Guelph.
Coming off an OUA gold for the men and a bronze for the women, the Gryphons wrestling team managed a CIS men’s bronze medal for the men and a sixth place finish for the women.
Senior golfer Chris Hemmerich was the leader of the Gryphons gold program, there’s no two-ways about it. This season Hemmerich defended his OUA Championship title after shooting consecutive rounds of two-under-par (69). Moreover, it was announced late last year that Hemmerich would be golfing for the Team Canada 2014 national team.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Try rhyming off these accomplishments in one breath: OUA gold in 600m and 800m, OUA silver in 4×400 and 4×800, Dr Wendy Jerome Trophy for most outstanding female athlete at OUA Championships, nominated for female track and field athlete of the year, CIS bronze in 4×800 second in Canada in 1000m, and CIS rookie of the year… Oh yeah, she won CIS gold in the 1000, but was DQed after a trip on the final lap. Pretty good for a rookie.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Justin Interisano won Catcher of the Year, Offensive play of the Year and led the league in batting average (.529). Guelph’s senior slugger was the backbone of Gryphon’s batting lineup and integral to the team’s best season ever.
COACH OF THE YEAR
After coaching both the men’s and women’s cross country teams to CIS gold medals and eating coach of the year honours, Scott Thomas’ track and field women’s team won CIS gold as well, earning him the coach of the year for the second time this school year.