First- and third-year with back-to-back OUA honours
Ryan Nieuwesteeg was named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Special Teams Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 8, with Nick Parisotto taking home Defensive Player honours the following week.
Nieuwesteeg has been a consistent force to be reckoned with since his pivotal moment in the Gryphons’ home opener against the Toronto Varsity Blues on Sept. 6. With Guelph down 18-17, the third-year Sociology major capitalized with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown. The play would ultimately be the turning point of the game, and arguably the season, as the Gryphons put up 33 unanswered points for a 50-18 win.
“At the time I just thought, you know, it’s a touchdown,” Nieuwesteeg, who totaled for nine punts returned for 175 yards on the game, explained. “After, I realized it was pretty big. Everyone kind of rallied after that, but it’s a testament to how hard everyone was working. Everyone did their job and you could tell we all just started playing like it was fun again.”
The Niagara Falls, Ontario native has been riding the momentum ever since, with another strong showing of eight punts returned for 205 yards during Guelph’s dominant 66-0 homecoming win against the Queens Gaels. Nieuwesteeg now leads the country in punt return average, with a personal average of 20 yards and the Gryphons also atop the standings with an average of 16 yards per return.
However, it hasn’t been the easiest road to the field for the third-year veteran. With this clear breakout season, Nieuwesteeg credits his biggest fan.
“My dad’s been my biggest fan, even when I wasn’t starting,” Nieuwesteeg said. “He was always the one giving me motivation. Now that I’m finally starting and playing well, he’s always had my back.”
Defensive back Nick Parisotto received OUA Defensive Player of the Week honours for the week ending Sept. 15. In just his second start dawning the red, black, and gold, Parisotto helped hold off the Ottawa GeeGees to just seven points in the Gryphons 42-7 win, intercepting two passes and running back for a total of 66 yards – including a 47-yard turn – while breaking up an additional three pass attempts. The rookie also had four solo tackles.
“After I got my second interception, I kind of felt like things were going my way,” Parisotto explained, adding that having his first game as a Gryphon under his belt helped. “The game started to slow down in front of me, and I wasn’t so nervous about everything.”
Adjusting after one game is quite the feat, let alone adjusting to the point of provincial honours, something Parisotto feels his teammates deserve recognition for.
“The guys in my position group took me under their wing and showed me the ropes,” the Guelph native explained. “They just helped me adjust to the speed of the game, the mental aspects of the game, and just how to act out there.”
Having a first- and third-year with back-to-back OUA Player of the Week honours proves there is room for anyone to step up and play a significant role on this Gryphons team.
“I’d credit the special teams players around me,” Nieuwesteeg explained of the foundation provided for success. “Everyone was doing their jobs and playing well; I was just the one who was able to capitalize on it.”
“We came in prepared, working hard, training together pretty much every day,” said Parisotto of the hard work it took to see success. “We just came in ready to work.”
The Gryphons look to improve to 4-1 when they visit the Windsor Lancers on Oct. 4.
Although the outcome of the rest of the season remains in question, one thing is for certain: this Gryphons team seems to get better as they go. In addition to Nieuwesteeg and Parisotto, the third straight Gryphon, Cam Walker, received OUA honours as Defensive Player of the Week (for the week ending Sept. 22); all clear individual examples of consistent improvements. However, the experienced success is not chalked up to individuals with this team.
“We’re all brothers out there,” Nieuwesteeg explained. “Just knowing everyone has your back, it’s easy to go out and play because you just want to play for your guys beside you.”