GUELPH, ON – "Moments don't last forever. Memories fade over time. We wanted to give the players something they could look at years down the road to help keep those memories fresh and to remind them that they accomplished something great."

Those were the words of former Head Coach Stu Lang on Saturday night (Jan. 26, 2016) as the Gryphon Football team unveiled their 2015 Yates Cup championship rings during the team's annual awards dinner held at the Delta Chelsea Hotel and Conference Centre in Guelph.
 
After capturing the school's first Yates Cup since 1996, Gryphon players and coaches received commemorative rings as part of a celebratory night that also saw a total of 20 individuals take home some hardware. The trophy for which the dinner is named after, the Ted Wildman Memorial Award, is given annually to a football player who excels not only on the field, but also in the classroom and in the community.  This year's award was given to fourth year linebacker Pat McGrath who majors in Environmental Engineering and is a four-time Academic All-Canadian.
 


It was no surprise that the Donald Forster Trophy for team MVP went to fifth year linebacker John Rush. In 2015, Rush became the first Gryphon football player to ever receive the CIS Presidents' Trophy as the most outstanding stand-up defensive player in the country. The Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards went to receiver Jacob Scarfone and linebacker Curtis Newton. Scarfone set a U of G single-season record with 940 receiving yards, while his 10 touchdown receptions rank him 2^nd in school history behind only Parri Ceci's 11 TD receptions in 1984. Newton meanwhile put together another impressive season, finishing with 40 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions while teaming with John Rush and Andrew Graham to form one of the most dominant group of linebackers in the country.
 
The Special Teams Player of the Year award was shared by kicker/punter Gabe Ferraro and return specialist Ryan Nieuwesteeg. Gabe Ferraro, who took over kicking duties from his older brother Daniel, was impressive in his first year in charge of the kicking duties, as his 15 made field goals during the regular season tied him for 3^rd-most in school history with Rob Maver's 2007 total. Nieuwesteeg's 2015 season was, in a word, remarkable. The fourth year native of Niagara Falls led the CIS with 846 punt return yards during the regular season. That total is not only a school record, it's also the 2^nd-highest single-season total in CIS history behind only Laurier's Dillon Heap who had 912 punt return yards in 2009. Nieuwesteeg also became the Gryphons all-time leader for punt return yards in a career as his 1,592 career punt return yards moved him past Michael Palmer (1,211) and into top spot in Gryphon history.
 
Guelph native Job Reinhart took home the team's Rookie of the Year honours while senior offensive lineman Matthew Toppan was named the Lineman of the Year. The Kyle Walters Trophy, given to the Gryphon student-athlete who best embodies the highest level of preparation on the practice field, in the film room and in the weight room, went to second year defensive back Nick Parisotto who was named a Second Team CIS All-Canadian in 2015.
 
A complete list of award winners is provided below.
 

AWARDS SUMMARY
 
Ted Wildman Memorial Trophy:  Pat McGrath
Donald Forster Trophy (MVP):  John Rush
Tom Dimitroff Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year):  Curtis Newton
Stuart Lang Trophy (Offensive Player of the Year):  Jacob Scarfone
Special Teams Player of the Year:  Gabe Ferraro and Ryan Nieuwesteeg
Tom Mooney Lineman of the Year:  Matt Toppan
Rookie of the Year:  Job Reinhart
Kyle Walters Trophy:  Nick Parisotto
Richard P. Kohler Perseverance Award:  Daniel Palmer-Salmon
Captains Award:  Andrew Graham
Granite Gryphon Award:  James Roberts
Scout Team – Offensive Player of the Year:  David Luke
Scout Team – Defensive Player of the Year:  Riley Baines
Support Staff Award:  Gabby Boulding
Unsung Hero Award:  Alex Ross
Academic Support Award:  Nick Pankerichan
Pflug Family Community Service Award:  Matt Nesbitt
Riddell High School Coach of the Year:  Neil Majoros & Jon Beresford (St. Roch Catholic Secondary School)