2023-2024 Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week
FEBRUARY 13
Women’s track athlete Katie Manor and men’s hockey player Mathieu Desgagnes are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Katie Manor was an impressive force on the track at the Windsor Team Challenge over the weekend, breaking the program record in the women’s 60-meter dash with a time of 7.53. The result puts Manor at 9th in the national rankings, and 4th in the OUA for the event. Manor also placed 6th in the 300 meter dash.
Mathieu Desgagnés ended the regular season with a splash, scoring the game winning goal in the Colonel By Classic. The unassisted goal was Desgagnés’ 10th of the season, and helped the Gee-Gees earn a 3-1 win over the Ravens in front of a rowdy crowd at TD Place Arena.
FEBRUARY 5
Women’s Nordic skier Emma Archibald and men’s basketball player Brock Newton are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Emma Archibald had an outstanding performance in Italy at the Para Nordic World Cup, securing valuable World Cup points and making her a strong candidate for the 2026 Paralympics. Archibald placed 5th overall in the Women’s standing 1.2km Sprint Classic, and earned 6th, 7th, and 11th place finishes in other events.
Brock Newton played a key role in the men’s basketball team’s 71-61 win in the Capital Hoops Classic. Newton scored a game high of 20 points while contributing two blocks and two assists. With a 50-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Newton scored ten points in the final ten minutes to help the Gee-Gees secure victory in front of over 6,000 fans.
JANUARY 29
Women’s track & field athlete Jessica Gyamfi and men’s basketball player Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Jessica Gyamfi earned a fourth-place finish at the McGill Team Challenge in women’s shot put. Consistent through all six attempts, her best throw was measured at 12.10m. Gyamfi ranks 11th in U SPORTS, recording an impressive 12.39m throw at the uOttawa Winter Classic.
Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta returned to the men’s basketball lineup after a five-game absence, making an instant impact in the team’s 63-46 win over Waterloo. Logging 14 points, Guemeta also led the team with five steals. The following night, he contributed 17 points in an important matchup against the #4 Laurier Golden Hawks. The Gee-Gees took the 75-67 win, closing out a perfect weekend at home.
JANUARY 24
Women’s track athlete Doyin Ogunremi and men’s swimmer Brendan Van Herk are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Doyin Ogunremi had a standout sprinting performance at the uOttawa Winter Classic. Ogunremi’s outstanding split anchoring the women’s 4x400m relay helped the team earn a time of 3:55.33, currently good for sixth best in the nation. Individually, Ogunremi finished with a 39.79 in the women’s 300m, ranking 5th best in the OUA and 11th in U SPORTS.
Brendan Van Herk started the weekend with a first-place finish in the 50m fly in the Ottawa, Carleton, and Queen’s tri-meet. A few days later, Van Herk helped the Gee-Gees men’s swim team to a second-place finish in RSEQ Cup #4, helping lead the 4x100m medley relay team to a win (3:41.65) and logging key wins in the 400m IM (4:29.50) and 100m fly (55.39).
JANUARY 16
Women’s volleyball player Audrey Odigie and men’s basketball player Justin Ndjock-Tadjore are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Audrey Odigie was unstoppable with 22 kills, 3 service aces, and a block assist to help the Gee-Gees women’s volleyball team capture a 3-2 win over Laval. Her efforts carried into Sunday, where the Gee-Gees fell 3-1 to UQAM on the road. Despite the loss, Odgie was a highlight for the team with 30 kills, 2 service aces, a solo block and block assist. Odigie now ranks second in the country in both kills and points.
Justin Ndjock-Tadjore had a high scoring weekend, helping the men’s basketball team lock up two dominant wins at home. Ndjock-Tadjore logged the game high of 19 points in Friday night, securing the 69-56 win over Laurentian. The following night, he contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks to defeat Nipissing 79-56 and improve to 13-1 in the regular season.
JANUARY 9
Women’s basketball player Melina De lulio and men’s hockey player Franky Lapenna are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Melina De lulio recorded a weekend of career highs, starting with a 10-rebound effort against Queen’s. De lulio also added eight points in the 70-61 loss. The following night, De lulio scored a career high 21 points against Ontario Tech. De lulio’s leadership and strength in the paint helped the Gee-Gees earn a 88-62 victory to close the weekend.
Franky Lapenna started 2024 with a 30 save performance in a 4-1 win over Carleton on Thursday before logging his first shutout as a Gee-Gee on Sunday evening. Keeping the puck out of the net throughout regulation, overtime, and stopping two shootout attempts, Lapenna was flawless during the 1-0 win. His efforts helped the Gee-Gees secure their seventh consecutive victory and put them at the top of the OUA East standings.
DECEMBER 12
Women’s swimmer Isabelle Melanson and men’s swimmer Hugo Lemesle are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Isabelle Melanson brought home a pair of second place finishes at the RSEQ Cup #3. Melanson swam a time of 1:01.89 in the 100m Backstroke and a time of 29.35 in the 50m Backstroke. With her efforts, the Gee-Gees women’s team earned third place at the meet and move into second place in the RSEQ.
Hugo Lemesle had an outstanding RSEQ Cup #3 performance, including breaking a team record in the men’s 4x50 free relay with a time of 1:32.12 for a second-place finish. Lemesle and the 4x50 medley team swam a time of 1:41.34 to place first. To round out the weekend, Lemesle swam a time of 2:15.52 in the 200m Breastroke, earning another first place finish.
NOVEMBER 28
Women’s volleyball player Audrey Odigie, men’s basketball player Justin Ndjock-Tadjore, and men’s water polo athlete Felix Labelle are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
The Gee-Gees went the distance with the #3 Sherbrooke Vert et Or on Sunday afternoon. Outside hitter, Audrey Odigie, led the way with an impressive 23 kill effort, logging 27 points for the Gee-Gees. In the fifth set, Odigie delivered the final blow, sending the ball through the middle of the court and giving Ottawa a 3-2 win.
Justin Ndjock-Tadjore was a consistent force for the Gee-Gees, logging a pair of 16-point games against the Lakers and Voyageurs. In Friday night’s 97-69 win over Nipissing, Ndjock-Tadjore added eight assists and four rebounds to the stat-sheet, the following night, he shot 60 per cent from the field to help Ottawa remain undefeated with an 84-59 victory against Laurentian.
Felix Labelle helped the Gee-Gees earn a silver medal finish at the OUA Water Polo Championship. With an impressive total of 11 goals, including seven in a crucial 11-10 victory over Western in the quarterfinals, Labelle’s standout performance put the Gee-Gees on route to their best result since 1989.
NOVEMBER 21
Women’s basketball player Natsuki Szczokin, men’s basketball player Kevin Otoo, and equestrian athlete Ève Tremblay are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week!
Gee-Gees point guard, Natsuki Szczokin lead Ottawa to a pair of wins against the Thunderwolves and the Badgers. Szczokin started with a 21-point, five rebound, and two steal effort in a 70-62 win over Lakehead on Friday night. She went on to close the weekend by logging 17 points and four rebounds in a 74-56 win over Brock.
Kevin Otoo put up two solid performances in the Gee-Gees home opening weekend, helping the team remain undefeated. In their home opening 97-81 win against Lakehead, Otoo contributed 12 points and six rebounds. Against Brock the following night, Otoo led with 20 points, adding six rebounds and four steals to the 73-63 victory.
Ève Tremblay had an outstanding weekend competing at St. Lawrence University. On Saturday, Tremblay placed second in her over-fences classes and first in her flat class. She kept the momentum going into Sunday, placing first in both her over-fences class and flat class. Tremblay’s efforts go beyond her individual placings, as she contributed to the Gee-Gees win reserve high-point team on both competition days.
NOVEMBER 14
Rower Kennedy Burrows and men’s basketball player Brock Newton are this week’s Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week.
Kennedy Burrows capped off an incredible season by being crowned the Canadian University Rowing Women’s Athlete of the Year. After winning a pair of gold medals at the OUA Championships, Burrows continued her winning streak at the 2023 Canadian University Rowing Championship. Burrows earned uOttawa’s first national gold medal in the lightweight women’s 1x.
Brock Newton had two outstanding performances over the weekend, including his first double-double of the season. In an 81-68 win over Windsor, Newton contributed 25 points and six rebounds. Even more impressive, Newton logged 28 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in the Gee-Gees’ 84-77 victory over Western.
NOVEMBER 6
Women's soccer player Jenna Matsukubo and men's rugby player Glenn Roy are the Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week.
Gee-Gees forward Jenna Matsukubo was sensational in an OUA Championship victory for the Gee-Gees. Facing off against her former team, the Ottawa, Ont. native was a constant menace on the wing for Ottawa, burning Queen’s defenders down the sidelines. Showcasing her top-flight speed and precise shot, Matsukubo scored two goals and was brought down in the box drawing a penalty that resulted in another Ottawa goal. Matsukubo was selected as Ottawa’s MVP for the game that gave the Gee-Gees their 11th OUA crown.
Glenn Roy led the Gee-Gees men’s rugby team to their first ever RSEQ Championship on Sunday, as Ottawa defeated ÉTS 18-17. Roy, who was also named an RSEQ First Team All-Star, booted his team to victory, converting a 34-yard penalty kick in the 80th minute to put the Gee-Gees ahead by one. Roy led the way with 8 points, splitting the uprights with a 50-yard penalty kick earlier in the match, as well as converting one of Ottawa’s two tries. The Ottawa native also led the RSEQ in points scoring this season with 70.
NOVEMBER 1
Rower Kennedy Burrows and men’s hockey player Max Grondin are the Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week.
Kennedy Burrows led the way for the Gee-Gees with a pair of gold medals, placing first in the women’s lightweight 1x and earned her second consecutive OUA gold medal in the women’s heavyweight 1x and was Named OUA Women's Rowing Athlete of the Year.
Grondin continued his strong offensive output on the weekend against Windsor and Western, scoring three goals in two games, including a highlight reel shorthanded snipe against Windsor. The Hearst, Ont. product currently leads the Gee-Gees in scoring with 5 goals in 7 games to start the season.
OCTOBER 25
Women's rugby player Tylo Borsboom and men's hockey player Justin McCrae are the Gabriel Pizza Athletes of the Week.
Tylo Borsboom's leadership and familiarity with the championship stage helped the Gee-Gees play a dominant game over a previously undefeated team, earning a 27-12 win over Laval and taking home the program's seventh RSEQ Championship title. Borsboom was recognized as the game's MVP and was named an RSEQ First Team All-Star.
Justin McRae was a key piece on both sides of the puck for the men's hockey team. In the Gee-Gees 5-4 win over Laurier, McRae logged a pair of goals including the overtime game winner. Throughout the weekend, McRae contributed an outstanding performance on the penalty kill unit to help the team secure a pair of wins at home.
OCTOBER 18
Women's rugby player Emma Wade and Cross-Country runner Andre-Alie Lamarche are the Athletes of the Week.
Emma Wade led the Gee-Gees with two tries in their RSEQ semi-final victory over the Concordia Stingers. In a physical, competitive, high-stakes matchup, Wade touched the ball down for 10 points, and was named the game's MVP. The 19-0 win over the Stingers secured the team's place in the U SPORTS National Championship tournament and the chance for a rematch with Laval for the RSEQ Championship title.
In Sherbrooke, Andre Alie-Lamarche continued his podium run, placing second on a tough and hilly course. He claimed the second fastest performance ever on the course, finishing six seconds behind the event winner. Placing 1st and 3rd earlier in the season, Alie-Lamarche has battled shoulder to shoulder and earned strong finishes against U SPORTS All-Stars and will look to keep it up heading into the OUA Championships at the end of the month.
OCTOBER 11
Women's rugby player Ketsia Kamba and men's hockey player Franky Lapenna are the Athletes of the Week.
To close out the regular season, Ketsia Kamba was an absolute force for the women's rugby team, who powered through Bishop's and earned their third shutout of the season. Contributing 15 points in the 69-0 win over the Gaiters, Kamba's three-try effort puts her at nine tries throughout the regular season, leading the Gee-Gees with 45 points.
In the Gee-Gees regular season home opener, first-year goaltender Franky Lapenna had an outstanding 30-save performance. Lapenna's impressive effort helped Ottawa secure a 5-1 win over the two-time defending OUA champion, the UQTR Patriotes, and set the tone for the 2023-24 season. Lapenna stopped 30 of 31 shots, earning the first star of the game honour.
OCTOBER 4
Women's soccer player Cassandra Provost and football player Campbell Fair are the Athletes of the Week.
Cassandra Provost flourished over the weekend, scoring six goals during the Gee-Gees two-game road swing. In their 9-0 win against Trent, Provost fired in three goals within five minutes. She didn't stop at the hat trick, finding the back of the net one more time. Against RMC, Provost contributed a pair of goals as well as an assist in the 6-0 win. Provost is currently tied for first in the OUA with 11 goals, despite playing less games than the other leader.
Gee-Gees kicker Campbell Fair added another heroic Panda Game performance to his career. After being iced with one second remaining, Fair recollected and unloaded a 55-yard bomb that went through the uprights with no time on the clock to secure a fifth consecutive Panda victory for the Gee-Gees. Fair also turning in a strong day punting and showing off his speed on a fake punt. Fair, who has featured in all five of the Gee-Gees recent wins at Panda, also hit the game-winner in 2021.
SEPTEMBER 12
Gee-Gees soccer player Cassandra Provost scored five goals over the course of the weekend and was named the OUA Athlete of the Week as well as the uOttawa Athlete of the Week.
SEPTEMBER 7
Women's soccer player Alana Oriente and football player Amlicar Polk are the Athletes of the Week.
Oriente scored her first gola of the season in the Gee-Gees home opener against the Trent Excalibur. Oriente's long shot found the top right corner of the net. She also contributed an assist on the final goal of the game, helping the women's soccer team earn a 5-0 win to start the season.
Amlicar Polk was dominant in the run game for the Gee-Gees in Toronto, rushing for 191 yards on 23 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Polk put the Gee-Gees in scoring range numerous times and helped the football team improve their record to 2-0 as they took down the Varsity Blues 15-10.
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View the Athletes of the Week from 2022-2023.