BURLINGTON, Ont. – For the first time during the 2026-27 season, a student-athlete from the University of Guelph has been recognized at the provincial level as part of the 'OUA Athlete of the Week' honours.
Olivia Rizakos from the Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team has been named 'OUA Athlete of the Week' for the period covering August 24-30, 2026. Rizakos was among three student-athletes from across the OUA to earn recognition, with Tayshaun Jackson (Laurier Golden Hawks - football) and Nathan Walker (York Lions - football) rounding out the weekly honours.
Olivia Rizakos earned provincial recognition after scoring a first half hat-trick in her team's season opening win over Algoma on Saturday, Aug. 29.
OUA Athletes of the Week (Aug. 24 - 30, 2026)
| Olivia Rizakos |
Women's Soccer, Guelph Gryphons |
| Tayshaun Jackson |
Football, Laurier Golden Hawks |
| Nathan Walker |
Football, York Lions |
Olivia Rizakos (Toronto, ON) picked up right where she left off a season ago, with the reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year getting her senior season as a Gryphon started off on a high note in her team's OUA season opening match against the Algoma Thunderbirds on Saturday night (Aug. 29). The reigning OUA Player of the Year and U SPORTS Women's Soccer Player of the Year scored a first half hat-trick in her side's convincing 9-0 win in their home opener over Algoma. The 24-year-old forward and team captain in her 45 minutes of action, registered a team-high 6 shots on target. Rizakos, currently pursuing her Master's in psychology at the University of Guelph, was the top scorer in the entire country last season with 20 points, leading the OUA with 9 assists while ranking 2nd in the conference with 11 goals.
Olivia Rizakos' incredible 2025 season saw her become the 10th U of G student-athlete to be named OUA Athlete of the Year (across all sports) and the first player in Gryphons women's soccer program history to be the recipient of the Chantal Navert Memorial Award as the U SPORTS women's soccer player of the year. Rizakos and the rest of the No. 8-ranked Gryphons women's soccer team will now head to London for their first road game of the 2026 season when they take on the No. 7-ranked Western Mustangs on Friday afternoon (Sept. 4) at 1pm.
Guelph Gryphons named OUA Athletes of the Week in 2026-27
