Women's soccer MVP Hannah Chownn and men's national high jump champion Aiden Grout were named the 2025-26 University of Toronto Varsity Blues T-Holders' athletes of the year on Friday, March 27.
Tennis player of the year Anastasiya Dyadchenko and baseball hitter of the year Diego Fuentes earned the 11th annual Frank Pindar athlete of the year awards, which are given annually to athletes competing in a sport whose official season concludes with either an OUA or other university recognized championship event.
The Blues also honoured men's volleyball veteran Hunter Arulpragasam and women's basketball captain Faith Joseph with the George M. Biggs Trophy and Dr. Clara Benson Honour Award, respectively, for their outstanding athletic achievement, scholarship and community service during their tenure at the University of Toronto.
In addition, first-year standouts Chloe Danks of the women's swimming team and Jordan Grey of the men's soccer team took home the 15th annual Varsity Blues rookie of the year awards.
The University of Toronto also honoured 15 championship banners and 23 Varsity Blues student-athletes with Silver T awards at the gala inside the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport – Kimel Family Field House. The prestigious Silver T is awarded primarily to Bronze T holders in their graduating year for outstanding athletic performance.
T-Holders' Athletes of the Year
Hannah Chown played a pivotal role in the Varsity Blues women's soccer teams historic run to their first OUA provincial championship banner in program history.
A teaching major from Mississauga, she rounded out her five season Varsity Blues career serving as a team captain and shutdown defender. Along with thwarting the top strikers from across the province, she also added two goals and three assists on the other end of the pitch, including scoring the game-winning goal in the OUA gold medal match. Her efforts earned her OUA all-star, OUA MVP and U SPORTS All-Canadian recognition. This is in addition to receiving the OUA Community Service Award, honouring her outstanding work as a leader off the pitch as well.
Chown concludes her U SPORTS career having competed in 68 total regular season and postseason matches, tallying 20 career goals. She was recognized as an OUA all-star in all five seasons as a Varsity Blue.
Aiden Grout was named both the 2026 U SPORTS and OUA Male Field Athlete of the Year, sweeping the top step of the podium in his signature event this season.
A sustainability management major from Pitt Meadows, B.C., the Varsity Blues veteran won his fourth career OUA gold and third career U SPORTS gold in the high jump. He was the lone athlete to clear 2.18m in the field of 12 at the national championships and the only to clear 2.17m of 17-entrants at the provincial championships.
The OUA all-star and U SPORTS All-Canadian also registered the best high jump from across the country this season, clearing a career-best 2.23m at the Texas A&M Charlie Thomas Invitational in early-February.
Frank Pindar Athletes of the Year
Anastasiya Dyadchenko received the Frank Pindar athlete of the year honour for a second time in her U of T career after leading the Blues to yet another OUA women's tennis championship.
Named a 2025 OUA all-star and the 2025 OUA Player of the Year, Dyadchenko helped the Varsity Blues claim their third straight OUA banner. Serving as the team's No. 1, the social science major from Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ont., lifted the Blues through the first two rounds of the championship weekend with four wins across two singles and two doubles matches, not conceding a single set to her opponents. She then helped U of T secure the doubles point in the gold medal match alongside her partner. Dyadchenko also helped the Blues complete a perfect 7-0 regular season prior to the provincial showcase.
The Blues have won the OUA championship across all three seasons Dyadchenko has been a member of the team, with her earning OUA all-star recognition at all three championships. She is also a two-time OUA player of the year, was the 2023 OUA rookie of the year, and is a two-time Canadian University Tennis Championships all-star.
Diego Fuentes delivered in the clutch for Blues baseball, registering vital hits during the Blues run to both the OUA banner and the Canadian University National Championship title this season.
Appearing in 23 total contests throughout the fall, the kinesiology major from B.C., finished with a .536 batting average. With 12 of his 45 hits resulting in extra bases, including four home runs, Fuentes registered a total of 27 RBI, while also crossing the plate himself for 28 runs. He would be named an OUA all-star, OUA Most Valuable Hitter, and the CUNC Tournament MVP.
2025 marked a breakout for Fuentes, more than doubling his batting average and tripling his total RBI from the 11 contests he appeared in last fall during his rookie campaign with the Varsity Blues.
George M. Biggs Trophy & Clara Benson Honour Award
Hunter Arulpragasam was honoured for both his exceptional achievements as a member of the Varsity Blues men's volleyball team and as a student in U of T's human biology program.
Concluding a stellar Varsity Blues career which began in 2021, Arulpragasam has combined exceptional play on the court with active community engagement throughout the past five seasons. From Abbotsford, B.C., he became just the fourth Varsity Blue to surpass 1,000 career points between regular season and playoff matches. He is a three-time OUA all-star and a U SPORTS academic All-Canadian.
He additionally coached within the community, serving as a beach volleyball coach with Leaside Volleyball Club.
Extending himself beyond his sport though, he also volunteered with Hospice Toronto Caring Communities Centre, served as an assistant with Abbotsford Sports and Orthopedic, and worked as a researcher at BC Children's Hospital.
Faith Joseph, a member of the Varsity Blues women's basketball team, has showcased herself as a leader in the University of Toronto campus and the community at-large.
A mechanical engineering major from Mississauga, Joseph has kept a busy schedule since first landing on the U of T campus in 2020. A disruptive defensive force on the women's basketball team, she has been a team captain and holds the program record for most steals in a season (70) and a single game (9).
Beyond the court she has been a Varsity Board rep, BVA executive member, and ICSN Emerging BIPOC leader.
She has also been a community coach with Aspire 4 Higher, Lay-Up Youth Basketball, and TKT Basketball Camp. Additionally, she has supported her communities as a Training Ground Summit student organizer, The Life Church youth minister, AIA Toronto student leader, and Canadian Tire Play To Lead mentor.
Academically, she is a two-time recipient of the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award and received the J.E. McAllister Scholarship.
Rookies of the Year
Chloe Danks, a life sciences student from Ottawa, was a member of a strong contingent of first year swimmers with the U of T women's team.
Helping the Blues to a 12th straight OUA banner, she scored OUA Rookie of the Year honours after winning gold in the 200m breaststroke and 4x100m medley relay, along with silver in the 100m breaststroke. The OUA all-star then followed that up with national bronze and a U of T record in the 200m breaststroke at the U SPORTS Championships. Alongside her teammates she also scored bronze in the 4x100m medley relay, contributing to an overall team silver at the national showcase.
Jordan Grey, a first-year life sciences student from Ajax, garnered OUA all-star, OUA Rookie of the Year, and U SPORTS all-rookie honours in his debut season as a Varsity Blue.
In 12 regular season appearances, he ranked second on the team and ninth in the entire OUA with six goals. This helped the Blues offence record a league-best 46 markers, lifting them to first place in the OUA East. With three more goals during the postseason, Grey would also be a key factor in the Blues winning their first OUA banner since 2010, and earning their spot at the U SPORTS National Championship this season.
Silver T Recipients
This award is presented primarily to Bronze T holders in their graduating year for truly outstanding athletic performance.
Julia Agostinelli – Cross Country/Track & Field
A Physical Therapy graduate student, Agostinelli has earned both OUA all-star and U SPORTS All-Canadian honours. She earned provincial silver as a member of the U of T cross country team. And with the track team, she collected four OUA medals, including two gold this season, along with three U SPORTS national medals, winning gold in the 1500m in 2025 and two silver medals this year.
Hunter Arulpragasam – Volleyball
A Human Biology major, Arulpragasam has climbed the U of T record books as a member of the Blues men's volleyball team since 2021. A three-time OUA all-star, he has accumulated over 1000 career points between regular season and postseason totals, becoming just the fourth Varsity Blue in program history to surpass the 1000-point plateau.
Sam Aslanowicz – Baseball
A two-time OUA all-star, Aslanowicz first donned the Blue and White in 2022. The Computer Science major has been a menace on the base-path for opponents, also utilizing that same speed in the outfield. His exceptional ability around the entire diamond has helped U of T win three straight provincial championships.
Victoria Bocknek – Figure Skating
A two-time OUA all-star as a Varsity Blue, Bocknek played a pivotal role in U of T's return to the top step of the overall podium in 2026. The Psychology major from Richmond Hill has earned two individual gold medals, winning the Women's Gold Freeskate event in back-to-back seasons. This is in addition to helping the Blues win gold in the Pairs Fours, all together marking three individual provincial gold medals and an overall team title during her tenure.
Carter Buck – Swimming
A backstroke specialist, Buck has earned 21 OUA medals across his five seasons as a Varsity Blue, first joining U of T swimming in 2021. A five-time OUA all-star, the Engineering Science student's impressive medal haul has played a role in five consecutive provincial championships and a U SPORTS national banner during his tenure as a Blue.
Sophie Corradini - Rowing
A Master of Information and Master of Museum Studies graduate student, since joining the Blues in 2019 Corradini has earned OUA gold, silver and bronze as a member of the women's lightweight 8+ crew, as well as an OUA bronze in the lightweight 2x and lightweight 1x. She additionally captured national bronze in the lightweight 1x at the Canadian University Rowing Championships.
Anastasiya Dyadchenko - Tennis
A Social Sciences student, Dyadchenko played a key role in two OUA championship banners for the women's tennis team since becoming a Blue in 2023. Consistently serving as the team's No. 1, Dyadchenko's outstanding performance saw her recognized twice as OUA Player of the Year, along with being a three-time OUA all-star and the 2023 OUA Rookie of the Year.
Anna Foley – Golf
A PhD student first joining the Blues in 2023, Foley has allowed the U of T women's golf team to remain a top contender throughout her tenure. After helping U of T to provincial silver in her first season, the OUA all-star then lifted the Judy McCrae Trophy as individual champion in 2024, seeing the Blues reclaim the OUA banner as overall champions.
Gabriella Guo – Figure Skating
A standout on the U of T figure skating team, Guo has earned seven individual provincial gold medals since becoming a Blue in 2022. This includes three straight victories in the Women's Novice Short Program and Senior Similar Pairs. The Psychology and Physiology student from Markham has been named an OUA all-star in three consecutive seasons for her efforts, while helping Toronto reclaim the provincial banner in 2026.
Will Harris – Squash
A Kinesiology student first joining the Blues in 2021, Harris is a three-time OUA all-star. A consistent presence at the top of the U of T lineup, Harris has helped Toronto earn three provincial team silver medals and a provincial bronze across his five seasons with the team.
Carter Hercun – Baseball
A two-time OUA all-star, Hercun provided a strong defensive presence within the U of T infield at both first and third base, while also contributing with a powerful bat. The Public Policy major would be a key contributor in three consecutive OUA banners since joining the Blues in 2022.
Hannah Levin – Water Polo
First joining the Varsity Blues in 2021, Levin has played a key role in U of T dominance in the pool. The Chemistry and Pharmacology double major is a two-time NCWP all-star and earned NCWP Championship MVP honours while helping Toronto win five more NCWP titles.
Hugo Li – Figure Skating
A veteran with the Varsity Blues figure skating team, Li has been part of two OUA Championship squads since joining the program in 2021. The Ecology and Evolution major from Markham has earned five individual provincial gold medals, winning events such as Senior Similar Pairs, Star 8-9 Pairs Dance, and Pairs Fours. His outstanding performances have garnered OUA all-star honours on three separate occasions.
Joely Ma – Softball
An Astronomy and Astrophyics major, Ma has been a consistent presence in the pitching circle for the Blues since 2022. Across four seasons she has garnered OUS all-star and OUS Top Pitcher honours, while helping the Varsity Blues claim two provincial banners (2023, 2024), winning a first for the program since 2015.
Quinn Matteis – Swimming
An Economics and International Relations student, Matteis has helped U of T swimming remain a national contender, including contributing to the Blues 2024 U SPORTS Championship title. A distance freestyle specialist, he has received such honours as OUA all-star, U SPORTS All-Canadian, and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.
Nina Mollin – Swimming
Since joining the Blues in 2022, Mollin has garnered an impressive number of accolades across her four seasons swimming at U of T. For the Health & Disease, Biology, and Physiology student, this now includes two OUA Swimmer of the Year awards, four IM Excellence Award honours, two OUA grand slams, multiple OUA all-star and U SPORTS All-Canadian recognitions, and twice being named U of T's T-Holder's Female Athlete of the Year.
Lilla Mucsi – Fencing
A member of two OUA title-winning teams since joining the Blues in 2023, Mucsi lifted the Dr. Alex English Trophy as individual epee champion in 2025. The Ethics, Society & Law student is a three-time OUA all-star additionally helping U of T in winning two epee relay gold medals across the past three seasons.
Gemma Norman – Swimming
A freestyle and backstroke specialist, Norman joined the Blues in 2021 and has been a part of five OUA titles and two U SPORTS national championships. The Engineering major has earned OUA all-star honours across all five seasons as a Blue, collecting 13 provincial medals along the way.
Jason Okpere – Track & Field
Joining the Blues in 2023, Okpere has shown tremendous improvement throughout his time with the U of T track and field team, capping off this season with OUA gold and U SPORTS silver in the men's weight throw. The OUA all-star and U SPORTS All-Canadian now also holds the program record in the event, delivering a U of T record throw of 18.86 metres at the U SPORTS Championships this year.
Liam Weaver – Swimming
A national champion in the highly competitive 50m freestyle, Weaver has been a contributor in five OUA championship banners and a U SPORTS national championship since becoming a Blue in 2021. The Mathematics and Physical Science student has broken OUA records, received OUA all-star and U SPORTS All-Canadian honours, and has earned five U SPORTS medals.
Anthony White – Soccer
A Kinesiology student first joining the Blues in 2021, White is a two-time OUA all-star as a defender. He was selected first overall in the 2023 CPL-U SPORTS draft by Vancouver FC, before returning to U of T and contributing in the Varsity Blues OUA championship title run in 2025.
Catherine Wu – Fencing
First joining the Blues in 2022, Wu has raised an OUA championship banner in three of her four seasons. This has included two individual foil titles for the Psychology and Political Science double major, along with two foil relay gold medals and OUA all-star honours three times.
Anne Yeomans – Soccer
Joining the Blues in 2021, Yeomans has appeared in over 60 matches, scoring 22 goals and receiving OUA all-star honours twice. The Chemical Engineering major also became part of history this past season, leading her team in goals en route to a first OUA championship banner in program history.
2025-26 Varsity Blues Major Award Winners
T-Holders' Athletes of the Year
Presented annually to the student T-Holder - the U of T Athlete of the Year - for exhibiting the highest degree of excellence in athletics.
Men's – Aiden Grout (Track & Field)
Women's – Hannah Chown (Soccer)
Frank Pindar Athletes of the Year
Presented annually to a varsity athlete competing in a sport whose official season concludes with either an OUA or other university recognized championship event, who exhibits the highest degree of excellence while representing the University of Toronto at competitions during the team's intercollegiate schedule for the current academic year.
Male – Diego Fuentes (Baseball)
Female – Anastasiya Dyadchenko (Tennis)
George M. Biggs Trophy
Awarded to the graduating undergraduate male student-athlete who has contributed most to university athletics from the standpoint of leadership, sportsmanship and performance.
Hunter Arulpragasam (Volleyball)
Dr. Clara Benson Honour Award
Awarded to the graduating undergraduate female student-athlete who has contributed most to university athletics from the standpoint of leadership, sportsmanship and performance.
Faith Joseph (Basketball)
Rookies of the Year
Awarded to a male and female Varsity athlete in their first year of post-secondary eligibility that exhibit outstanding athletic performance.
Male – Jordan Grey (Soccer)
Female – Chloe Danks (Swimming)
Champions
Badminton *OUA, CUCC
Baseball *OUA, CNUC
Fencing (M) *OUA
Fencing (W) *OUA
Figure Skating *OUA
Soccer (M) *OUA
Soccer (W) *OUA
Swimming (M) *OUA
Swimming (W) *OUA
Tennis (M) *OUA
Tennis (W) *OUA
Water Polo (M) *NCWP
Water Polo (W) *NCWP
