GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2021-22 season, the University of Guelph Department of Athletics will be highlighting various members from our Gryphon varsity programs as part of our "BioSteel Gryphon Athletes of the Week" series. This week's edition features
Kiana Gibson (women's cross country) and
Ian Vidovich (men's soccer) for their impressive performances during the week of Oct. 18-24, 2021.
Kiana Gibson (Women's Cross Country)
In her senior season as a Gryphon,
Kiana Gibson is putting together a 2021 season to remember. Gibson, an Ottawa native majoring in arts and sciences, has led the way for the Guelph Gryphons No. 1-nationally ranked women's cross country team in 2021. This past Friday (Oct. 22), Gibson headlined another strong performance from the Gryphons women's cross country team, as they finished
first in the overall team standings at the Marauder Invitational.
In a field of 87 runners representing 10 different universities from across the province,
Kiana Gibson finished 1st in the individual standings, completing the 8km race in a time of 29:21.5, one second ahead of 2nd-place finisher Jazz Shukla from the University of Toronto. Gibson's 1st-place finish was part of a dominating showing by the Gryphon women, who placed four runners in the top six (
Kiana Gibson - 1st,
Sadie-Jane Hickson - 3rd,
Olivia Roussel - 4th, Annika Arriano - 6th). Gibson's performance at Bayfront Park in Hamilton on Friday afternoon marked the second consecutive meet in which she had earned a first-place finish in the overall individual standings after also crossing the line first at the Don Mills Open back on October 2. In three officiall meets this season, Gibson has finished 2nd (Western Invitational - Sept. 25), 1st (Don Mills - Oct. 2) and 1st (Marauder Invitational - Oct. 22). Throughout her time at the University of Guelph, Gibson has excelled not only athletically, but also academically and within the community. Following the 2019 OUA cross country season, the Ottawa native was named
the recipient of the OUA's community service award.
Ian Vidovich (Men's Soccer)
Toronto native
Ian Vidovich takes home Gryphon Athlete of the Week honours after leading the Gryphons men's soccer team to a pair of shutout victories over the Brock Badgers this past week. Vidovich, who wears the captain's band for the No. 5-nationally ranked Gryphons men's soccer team, helped anchor the Gryphon defence in 1-0 and 2-0 victories over the Badgers this past week.
The sociology major, now in his fourth-year of eligibility and fifth-year with the U of G men's soccer program, has put together an impressive career during his time as a Gryphon. As a rookie back in 2017, Vidovich was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team, and went on to twice earn OUA All-Star honours, including OUA West First Team All-Star status following the 2019 season. During the 2021 campaign, Vidovich has continued to play a key role for the Gryphons, who currently sit atop the OUA West Division standings with a 6-0-2 record (wins-losses-draws). With Vidovich helping lead the way defensively, the Gryphons as a team have conceded just 3 goals against in 8 games this season, the fewest goals allowed by any team in U SPORTS men's soccer this season. Up next for Vidovich and the Gryphons, the final two games of the regular season schedule with a home-and-home matchup with the Laurier Golden Hawks. Guelph will host Laurier on Wednesday night (Oct. 27) before heading to Waterloo for the regular season finale on Sunday (Oct. 31).
"Gryphon Athletes of the Week" for 2021-22
| Name |
Sport |
Date |
| Jacqueline Giles |
Women's Golf |
Oct. 18, 2021 |
| Connor McKinney |
Men's Rugby |
Oct. 18, 2021 |
| Venessa Mazur |
Women's Soccer |
Oct. 11, 2021 |
| Justin Allen |
Men's Golf |
Oct. 11, 2021 |
| Lucas Doros |
Men's Soccer |
Oct. 4, 2021 |
| Hannah Beaumont |
Women's Rugby |
Oct. 4, 2021 |
| Olivia Rizakos |
Women's Soccer |
Sept. 27, 2021 |
| Mitchell Ubene |
Men's Cross Country |
Sept. 27, 2021 |
| Emily Power |
Women's Lacrosse |
Sept. 20, 2021 |
| Cam MacLeod |
Men's Lacrosse |
Sept. 20, 2021 |
