Varsity Blues rugby players Megan Boyles and Sonya Kuziw were recognized as top performers in the Russell division when the OUA announced their list of 2008 all-stars and major awards winners on Wednesday, October 22.
Hooker and team scoring leader Kuziw (Mississauga, Ont.) received her first all-star honour, while scrum half Boyles (Peterborough, Ont.) received this distinction for the third year in a row.
In other OUA awards announcements, the undefeated Guelph Gryphons swept the Russell division major awards and have five players named to the all-star team.
Gryphons coach Colette McAuley is named the 2008 Russell Coach of the Year after leading her team to an undefeated 5-0 regular season, with only seven points scored against all season.
Brittany Benn (Napanee, Ont.) is named rookie of the year after a standout first season with the Gryphons. The all-star fullback led the OUA in points with 62 on eight tries and 11 converts.
The third and last major award for the Russell division goes to Gryphons Michelle Joslin (Waterloo, Ont.). The fourth-year flanker was named the most valuable player. Joslin was the rookie of the year in 2005, and has been named to the all-star team for the last two years.
Shiels division most valuable player was awarded to Western Mustang and national team member Kelly Russell (Bolton, Ont.). The fourth-year flanker/8-man played an instrumental role in Western's undefeated season. Contributing six tries in five games, Russell ended the regular season second in scoring in the Shiels division with 30 points.
Brock Badgers head coach Daniel Valley was named Shiels Coach of the Year. Valley led the Badgers to a 3-1-1 regular season, good for second in the Shiels division.
Joining Valley on the major award winners list is Courtney Blum (Holland Landing, Ont.), this season's recipient of 2008 Shiels Rookie of the Year. Blum has recorded five tries in as many games for the Badgers in her first year.
2008 WOMEN'S RUGBY MAJOR AWARD WINNERS & ALL-STARS
SHIELS DIVISION
Most Valuable Player – Kelly Russell (Western)
Rookie of the Year – Courtney Blum (Brock)
Coach of the Year – Daniel Valley (Brock)
RUSSELL DIVISION
Most Valuable Player – Michelle Joslin (Guelph)
Rookie of the Year – Brittany Benn (Guelph)
Coach of the Year – Colette McAuley (Guelph)
OUA WOMEN'S RUGBY ALL-STARS 2008
SHIELS DIVISION
Hooker – Caitlin McCarthy (Brock)
Flanker – Sarah Maynard (Brock)
8-man/Flanker – Kelly Russell (Western)
8-man/Flanker – Laura Russell (Western)
8-man/Flanker – Nicole Bailey (Western)
8-man – Sarah Van Hoof (McMaster)
8-man – Natasha Turner (McMaster)
8-man – Megan Wiles (Laurier)
Centre – Melissa Baer (Western)
Centre – Nina Bui (McMaster)
Scrum Half – Nicola Holmes (Waterloo)
Fly Half – Paige Churchill (McMaster)
Fullback – Jasmine Isaac (Western)
Fullback – Caitlin Martin (Waterloo)
Fullback – Stefanie Pavlovich (Brock)
RUSSELL DIVISION
Lock – Lianne Schumacher (Trent)
Lock – Jennifer Redwood (Queen's)
Lock – Aleksandra Lauks (Guelph)
Hooker – Sonya Kuziw (Toronto)
Flanker – Michelle Joslin (Guelph)
Flanker – Julie Brown (Trent)
Stand-off – Kristine Boyles (Trent)
8-man – Jenna Livingston (Guelph)
8-man – Kaitlin Newton (Trent)
Scrum Half – Megan Boyles (Toronto)
Winger – Brittany Sammut (Guelph)
Fullback – Brittany Benn (Guelph)
Fullback – Ashley Holligan-Mytil (York)
Fullback – Jocelyn Poirier (Queen's)
Fullback – Karlye Wong (Queen's)
