NEWS: Five Gee-Gees honoured by RSEQ including Crawley as Coach of the Year
The Gee-Gees men's rugby team took another step in the RSEQ this season, advancing to the semifinals after a 3-3 regular season. The team's strength was recognized by the conference with four team members receiving RSEQ All-Star status at the end of the season. Additionally, Stephanie Crawley was chosen as the conference Coach of the Year.
Jamie Armstrong was selected to the RSEQ First Team of All-Stars. The six-foot-two economics student from Ottawa notched two tries during five games in the regular season. Three members of the Garnet and Grey were selected to the Second Team of All-Stars: James Flemming, Nat Maginnis, and William Redgate. Together, this group of all-stars formed a dynamic core of talent in the open field. Flemming and Redgate provide the veteran presence, with Armstrong and Maginnis, who led the team with 48 points on 12 converts and 8 penalty goals, poised to be key players of the future.
Stephanie Crawley has been the head coach of the Gee-Gees men's rugby team since 2016, and spearheaded the team's move into the RSEQ. After a 2-4 debut season in the conference, the Gee-Gees improved significantly this season and have a strong base moving forward.
"Steph has done an incredible amount of work not only in developing the team this year but years ago she had the foresight of moving the team to the RSEQ. She had a very clear plan on how she could develop the student-athletes that she had and how we could bring this team up to be very competitive in the RSEQ which obviously she showed this year," commented Gee-Gees High Performance Compliance Advisor, Danika Smith.
"Steph has a growth mindset and constantly challenges herself, making herself better, which I think is reflected in the players that she has because they are also adopting that mindset. She is creating a high performance culture within the men's rugby program, and she truly deserves this recognition."