QUEBEC CITY, Que. - A trio of Guelph Gryphons women's rugby student-athletes were recognized on Thursday evening (Nov. 2) in Quebec City as U SPORTS announced the list of All-Canadians and major award winners for the 2023 women's rugby season.
Taylor McKnight was named a First Team All-Canadian, with
Kennedy Feasby and
Lara Jorgensen earning Second Team All-Canadian status. The Gryphons women's rugby team is currently in Quebec City for the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship. The Gryphons defeated StFX on Wednesday, and will now prepare for a national semifinal matchup with Victoria on Friday. See below for more information on the three Gryphons women's rugby players who earned All-Canadian status in 2023.
2023 Gryphons Women's Rugby All-Canadians
Taylor McKnight, a 20-year-old bio-medical science major at the University of Guelph and Gryphon women's rugby hooker, earns U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honours for the second time in her Gryphon career. The Stouffville, Ontario native, currently in her third season for the Gryphons women's rugby team, put together an impressive 2023 season. During Guelph's 6-game regular season McKnight scored three tries but impacted the Gryphons season most as a ball-carrier. Since earning All-Canadian status in her rookie season McKnight has established herself as one of the best student-athletes with the ball in her hands. McKnight has continued to impress in the playoffs, including scoring in each of the Gryphons OUA playoff games en route to a silver medal finish in the OUA. In the Gryphons U SPORTS Quarterfinal win, McKnight proceeded to one again show off her talent with as a ball-carrier, playing a significant role in the win.
For the second consecutive season, Gryphon third-year flanker
Kennedy Feasby earns U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian recognition. The Port Perry, Ontario native currently in her third year of studies at the University of Guelph, majoring in human kinetics, produced another sensational campaign for the Gryphons. Feasby scored a team-high six tries during the regular season before continuing her impressive play into the postseason. On Wednesday in the U SPORTS quarterfinals, Feasby scored the opening try of the game and first Gryphon score of the national tournament before earning a second try with an impressive run in the second half to help lead the Gryphons to a 29-14 win over StFX. Also earning Second Team All-Canadian status is third-year centre
Lara Jorgensen, who is recognized nationally for the first time in her University of Guelph rugby career.
The microbiology major from Aurora, Ontario is experiencing the best season of her career after having been named an OUA First Team All-Star for the first time last week.
McKnight, Feasby, Jorgensen and the rest of the Gryphons women's rugby team will look to book their ticket to the national final with a win on Friday night against the University of Victoria. Game time versus the Vikes is set for 5pm and can be seen live online through CBC Sports.
For more information on the list of 2023 U SPORTS women's rugby All-Canadians and major award winners, visit usports.ca.
2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Major Award Winners
U SPORTS Player of the Year - Savannah Bauder, UBC Thunderbirds
U SPORTS Rookie of the Year - Akwaima Akpan, StFX X-Women
U SPORTS Community Service Award - Soleil Brooks, Victoria Vikes
U SPORTS Coach of the Year (Jim Atkinson Award) - Francois Vachon-Marceau, Laval Rouge et Or
2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby First Team All-Canadians
Sara Grant, Acadia Axewomen
Ketsia Kamba, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Tylo Borsboom, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Corinne Frechette, Laval Rouge et Or
Laura Guay, Laval Rouge et Or
Ngozi Mosindi, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Taylor McKnight, Guelph Gryphons
Carmen Izyk, Queen's Gaels
Grace Anderson, Queen's Gaels
Lizzie Gibson, Queen's Gaels
Zoe Williams, Victoria Vikes
Rori Wood, UBC Thunderbirds
Rachel Smith, UBC Thunderbirds
Savannah Bauder, UBC Thunderbirds
Maggie MacKinnon, Victoria Vikes
2023 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Second Team All-Canadians
Emily Duffy, UPEI Panthers
Akwaima Akpan, StFX X-Women
Amanda Jardine, Acadia Axewomen
Cecile Leclerc, Laval Rouge et Or
Anne-Frederique Simard, Laval Rouge et Or
Lauren Minns, McGill Martlets
Audrey Champagne, Laval Rouge et Or
Paige DeNeve, Brock Badgers
Lara Jorgensen, Guelph Gryphons
Kennedy Feasby, Guelph Gryphons
Jordan McLeod, UBC Thunderbirds
Madison Jumeau, Victoria Vikes
Alayna Scramstad, UBC Thunderbirds
Olivia Sarabura, UBC Thunderbirds
Lucie Romeo, Victoria Vikes
