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University of Guelph Athletics

Gryphon 2022 Hall of Fame class

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Gryphons Announce 2022 Hall of Fame Class

GUELPH, Ont. – The University of Guelph Department of Athletics is thrilled to announce the latest group of inductees into the Gryphon Hall of Fame. Four athletes, two teams and one builder make up the 2022 Hall of Fame Class, who will be enshrined in the Gryphon Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Two-time national Player of the Year Brienne Stairs (field hockey, 2007-2011), two-time national gold medalist Jamie Cox (men's wrestling, 2000-2006), former U of G Female Athlete of the Year Kelly Rogers (nordic skiing and cross country, 1979-1983) and 13-time OUA medalist, Scott Van Doormaal (men's swimming, 2005-2010) will all enter the Gryphon Hall of Fame under the athletes category.
 
In the team category, the first ever national champion-winning men's lacrosse team (1995-96) enters the Gryphon Hall of Fame, alongside the University of Guelph women's hockey era of the late 1960's-to-mid-1970's, owners of six intercollegiate women's hockey conference titles.
 
In the builder category, former Gryphon football head coach Stu Lang enters the Gryphon Hall of Fame for the immeasurable impact he has made over the years at the University of Guelph.
 

2022 Gryphon Hall of Fame Class


Athletes:
Brienne Stairs (Field Hockey, 2007-2011)
Jamie Cox (Wrestling, 2000-2006)
Kelly Rogers (Nordic Skiing & Cross Country, 1979-1983)
Scott Van Doormaal (Swimming, 2005-2010)
 
Teams:
1995-96 Men's Lacrosse
Women's Hockey Era - Late 60's-to-mid-70's (1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72, 1973-74)

Builder:
Stu Lang
 

2022 Gryphon Hall of Fame Banquet

Date:  Saturday, June 25, 2022
Time:  5pm-9pm
Location:  Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre
Tickets:  $100 per ticket (includes cocktail reception & dinner)
5pm: Reception
6pm: Opening Remarks
6:15pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Inductions
 
Click for Tickets Button


For more information contact:
Chris Moulton | Senior Development Manager, Athletics & Student Affairs
cmoulton@uoguelph.ca | 519-824-4120 ext. 53170
 

 
Brienne Stairs
Field Hockey (2007-2010)   

One of the most accomplished field hockey players in Gryphon history, Brienne Stairs put together a star-studded four-year career at U of G from 2007-08 to 2010-11. During that time, the Kitchener native was the best player in the conference in what was the most successful four-year stretch in program history. As a rookie in 2007, Stairs burst onto the scene scoring 8 goals to earn OUA all-star status while helping lead the Gryphons the first OUA title in program history. Brienne StairsFrom there, the list of accolades continued to grow, with Stairs leading the country in scoring on three separate occasions while also helping the Gryphons capture two more OUA banners (2009 & 2010). When the dust settled, Stairs ended her varsity career as a Gryphon with an incredible 94 career goals to her name. She was a two-time National Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010, becoming the first Gryphon ever to receive the national honour. Stairs was just as impressive in the classroom as she was on the field, with the bio-medical science major earning the University of Guelph's President's Trophy in her final year (2010) for her outstanding combination of academic and athletic excellence. That same season (2010-11), she was named the recipient of the W.F. Mitchell Sportswoman Award for her outstanding accomplishments over her time as a Gryphon.  Following her Gryphon career, Brienne would go on to put together a decorated international playing career, earning more than 180 senior caps for Team Canada while showcasing her scoring prowess at the highest level as one of the national team's leading scorers since 2011. In 2019, Brienne became the all-time leading goal scorer for Canadian women's field hockey with over 100 goals. Brienne also represented Canada at the 2022 Pan Am Championships, where Canada defeated the USA 1-0 to win bronze, marking the first time in 28 years Canada had qualified for the Field Hockey World Cup.

Team Honours:
- Team MVP - 2010
 
University Honours:
- W.F. Mitchell Sportswoman - 2011
- President's Trophy - 2010
- Honour Award – 2011
- 3rd leading scoring at UofG over career with 94
 
Conference Honours:
- OUA Player of the Year - 2009, 2010
- OUA First Team All-Star - 2008, 2009, 2010
- OUA Second Team All-Star - 2007
- OUA Team champions - 2007 (first time ever), 2009, 2010
- OUA Team silver - 2008
 
Career Scoring: 94 goals
2007   8 goals
2008  19 goals - OUA Scoring Leader
2009  31 goals - OUA Scoring Leader
2010  36 goals - OUA Scoring Leader
 
National Conference Honours:
- CIS Player of the Year - 2009, 2010
- CIS Scoring Leader - 2008, 2009, 2010
- CIS First Team All-Canadian - 2009, 2010
- CIS Second Team All-Canadian - 2008
- CIS team silver - 2007 - first ever
- CIS team bronze - 2010
- CIS Tournament All-Star - 2008, 2010
 
Other:
- more than 180 senior caps for Canada since her debut in 2011
- one of Canada's most prolific scorers
- scored 6 goals at the 2011 Pan Am Games
- scored 12 goals in 2014 to crack the top ten goal scorers worldwide
- Pan American Cup bronze - 2013, 2022
- Pan American Games bronze - 2015
- Commonwealth Games - 5th in 2018
- named to the Pan American Elite team 4 times  - 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2019
- led Canada with 2 goals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- qualified for FIH World Cup 2022
 
 
Jamie Cox
Men's Wrestling (2000-01-to-2005-06)  
 
The University of Guelph has a long, storied tradition when it comes to men's varsity wrestling. In the early 2000's, Jamie Cox helped add to that by putting together one of the most decorated wrestling careers in U of G history. The local product, who was named the University of Guelph's Male Athlete of the Year on two different occasions (2001-02 & 2004-05), enters the Gryphon Athletics Hall of Fame following a standout wrestling career that spanned from 2000-to-2006. Jamie CoxA three-time OUA gold medalist and two-time U SPORTS gold medalist, Jamie established himself as a perennial power in the men's heavyweight division at the collegiate level and beyond. The Geography major finished his varsity career with four trips to the podium at the national level (2 gold, 2 bronze) as well as five trips to the podium at the conference level (3 gold, 2 silver). Outside of his success at the varsity level, Cox also made a name for himself on the international stage thanks to several standout performances at some of the largest international events on the wrestling calendar. Included on this list is a pair of gold medals from the prestigious Alberta Invitational and Guelph Open, as well as a silver medal from the esteemed New York Athletic Club meet. A senior national team member in 2006, Jamie would also go on to serve as an alternate for the Canadian Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
 
Jamie's Gryphon wrestling career was temporarily sidetracked during the 2002-03 season when he was forced to sit out the entire year due to a herniated disc in his back. Cox would bounce back in style, however, and just two seasons after the injury, would return to the top of the podium at both the OUA and U SPORTS levels en route to be named U of G Male Athlete of the Year. Jamie's success on the wrestling mat was matched only by his leadership off of it, where he was revered by his teammates and coaches for the class in which he conducted himself, constantly going out of his way to help out others at practice while displaying a work ethic and commitment to the team that were second-to-none.
 
Team Honours:
- Team MVP - 2002, 2005, 2006
 
University Honours:
- Athlete of the Year - 2002, 2005
- Honour Award – 2005
 
Conference Honours:
- OUA champion - 2002, 2005, 2006
- OUA First Team All-Star - 2002, 2005, 2006
- OUA Silver - 2001, 2004
- OUA Second Team All-Star - 2001, 2004
 
National Conference Honours:
- CIS champion - 2002, 2005
- CIS First Team All-Canadian - 2002, 2005
- CIS bronze - 2001, 2006
 
Other:
- Senior National champion 2006
-  Senior World team member 2006
-  13th at the World Championships 2006
-  Olympic team alternate 2008
-  Canada Cup champion 2008 (beat Olympic team member in finals)
- Dave Shultz Memorial International champion 2008 (one of the world's elite international tournaments) held in Colorado Springs

 
Kelly Rogers
Women's Nordic Skiing (1979-80-to-1982-to-83)  

The late 1970's and early 1980's marked the most successful era in the history of Guelph Gryphons women's Nordic Skiing. Kelly Rogers was the driving force behind that success. Kelly RogersRogers enters the Gryphon Athletics Hall of Fame after a standout, four-year career on the ski trails with the Gryphon Nordic team from 1979-80 to 1982-83. As a rookie in 1979-80, Rogers was a key part of a Gryphon team that would go on to capture the OUA team title, which to this date remains the lone Nordic Skiing conference title in program history. In the process, Rogers earned Second Team All-Star status as a rookie, helping the Gryphons overtake perennial powers Carleton to claim the OWIAA banner. For Rogers, the memorable rookie year on the trails closed out a two-sport season after she also competed with the U of G women's cross country team. In her second season, Kelly Rogers would reach the pinnacle of her sport, finishing first overall at the OWIAA Nordic Skiing Championships to claim the title of women's overall champion, while leading her team to a 2nd-place finish in the final team standings. The following year, Rogers would repeat as the women's overall champion. To this day, she remains the only Gryphons women's Nordic athlete to ever be named the OUA overall champion on multiple occasions. For her outstanding accomplishments in her sport, Kelly was named the University of Guelph's Female Athlete of the Year in 1981-82. Her decorated varsity skiing career would come to a close the following year with yet another podium finish in 1982-83 where she led her team to a bronze medal in the final team standings while also finishing 3rd overall in the individual standings. 

Team Honours:
Nordic Skiing Team Captain - 1980, 81, 82
Most Outstanding Skier - 1980, 81, 82
 
University Honours:
Female Athlete of the Year - 1982
Most Outstanding Skier - 1980, 81, 82
Honour Award - 1982
 
Conference Honours:
Nordic Skiing:
 
Individual:
  • OWIAA First Team All-Star - 1980, 81, 82
  • OWIAA Second Team All-Star - 1979
  • OWIAA gold medal - 1980
  • OWIAA gold medal - 1981
  • OWIAA bronze medal - 1982
 
Team:
  • OWIAA gold medal - 1979
  • OWIAA silver medal - 1980
  • OWIAA silver medal - 1981
  • OWIAA gold medal (Relays) – 1981
  • OWIAA bronze medal - 1982
 
 
Scott Van Doormaal
Men's Swimming (2005-2010)

Over the course of five seasons as a member of the Gryphons men's swim program (2005-2010), Scott Van Doormaal put together a star-studded varsity career at the University of Guelph. The Guelph native finished his Gryphon swimming career with 13 OUA medals to his name, including an astonishing 9 OUA gold medals. Of those nine OUA gold medals, five came in backstroke events (3 in the 200m backstroke, 2 in the 100m backstroke), three came in the butterfly (2 in the 200m butterfly, 1 in the 100m fly) with one gold medal coming in the men's 1,500m freestyle. Scott Van DoormaalFollowing a sensational freshman season in 2005-06, in which he claimed OUA gold in the men's 200m backstroke, Van Doormaal would put together an unforgettable sophomore season in 2006-07, a year which was capped off with the local product earning University of Guelph Athlete of the Year honours. The biological chemistry major racked up four gold medals at the 2007 OUA Swimming Championships en route to taking home the OUA's highest honour as the 2006-07 "OUA Swimmer of the Year." No Gryphon swimmer has earned the OUA-wide award since. Van Doormaal also impressed at the national level, reaching the podium at the CIS Championships on four separate occasions (1 silver, 3 bronze), highlighted by a CIS silver in the men's 200m butterfly in 2007. A mentally tough competitor with an incredible work ethic, Scott embodied the best qualities of what it was to be a Gryphon and was revered by teammates and coaches alike within the Gryphon varsity swim program. His incredible dedication to both his teammates and his sport was on full display in his senior season, when a broken bone in his foot could not keep him from attending the final OUA Championships of his Gryphon career to support his teammates while also competing for a final time in the red, black and gold. Van Doormaal took home three University of Guelph major awards during his Gryphon career, taking home U of G's Rookie of the Year award (2005-06), Athlete of the Year honours (2006-07) as well as ending his collegiate career as the W.F. Mitchell Sportsman of the Year (2009-10).
 
Team Honours:
- Team MVP - 2008, 2009
 
University Honours:
- Rookie of the Year - 2006
- Athlete of the Year - 2007
- W.F. Mitchell Award Winner - 2010
- Honour Award - 2009
 
Conference Honours:
- OUA champion/1st Team All-Star in 200m Backstroke - 2006
- OUA silver/2nd Team All-Star in the 100m Backstroke - 2006
- OUA silver2nd Team All-Star in the 200 Butterfly - 2006
- OUA Swimmer of the Meet - 2007
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 100m Butterfly - 2007
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 200m Butterfly - 2007
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 100m Backstroke - 2007
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 200m Backstroke - 2007
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 200m Butterfly - 2008
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 200m Backstroke - 2008
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 1500 Freestyle - 2008
- OUA champion/First Team All-Star in the 200m Backstroke - 2009
- OUA silver/Second Team All-Star in the 1500m Freestyle - 2009
- OUA bronze in the 100m Backstroke - 2009
 
National Conference Honours:
- CIS bronze in the 200m Backstroke - 2006
- CIS silver in the 200m Butterfly - 2007
- CIS bronze in the 100m Backstroke - 2008
- CIS bronze in the 200m Butterfly - 2008
 
 
Stu Lang
Builder
 
Entering the 2022 Gryphon Hall of Fame, in the 'builder' category, is Stu Lang - a man who has forever changed the University of Guelph for the better with transformational gifts made through his charitable foundation, The Angel Gabriel Foundation. Over the past decade, Stu and his wife, Kim, have together gifted more than $50 million to the University of Guelph, supporting a wide variety of areas on campus. Stu LangSome of these historical donations made to the University include a $21 million donation to the U of G business school (now named the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, named after Stu's late father); an $11 million gift to U of G's Ontario Veterinary College; and a $10.5 million gift to the Gryphon football program in the form of a state-of-the-art Pavilion at Alumni Stadium. 

Stu's decorated career in the business world saw him take a lead role in the family business, serving as President of CCL, Label International - the largest label making corporation in the world. The family business, which started as Lang Lamps back in 1951, has now grown to a multi-billion dollar company with CCL Industries listing annual revenues of $5.3 billion (CDN) in 2019. Stu joined the family company in 1982, but prior to that, enjoyed a standout eight-year CFL career where he was a five-time Grey Cup champion with Edmonton. Stu's passion for football led him to the University of Guelph in 2009, when the nearby resident (Puslinch) volunteered as a receivers coach with the Gryphon football program. One year later in 2010, Stu would take over head coaching duties of the Gryphon football team, marking the beginning of a phenomenal six-year stretch for the Gryphon football program (2010-to-2015), which was capped off by the Gryphons capturing the 2015 Yates Cup
 
Coach Lang's impact reaches far beyond the product on the field during his six seasons as head coach. Stu's vision to make Gryphon Football the best program in the country has driven him to bring together a wide variety of stakeholders associated with Gryphon football. He has provided endless support of the Parent of Players group, created strong connections with Alumni through the development of the Friends of Gryphon Football Program and has engaged community through charity fundraising and support of the HeforShe movement. In 2022, Stu's latest game-changing investment was completed, with the Gryphon football program opening the doors on the team's new, state-of-the-art Performance Centre. This project is the latest in a long list of incredible upgrades to the University of Guelph's football stadium.
 
FACILITIES
  • High Performance Centre
    • An athletics training facility designed specifically with football players' needs in mind
  • Video Scoreboard
    • State of the art scoreboard installed at the new field
  • Turf Field
    • Improvement from grass playing surface geared towards improved player performance
  • Pavilion
    • Three level building housing a 3300 square foot locker room, players' lounge, offices for coaching staff, rooftop patio, floor to ceiling windows overlooking field in the team meeting room/event lounge, therapy room with hot and cold tubs
  • Lang Way
    • Gathering place before games, housing Champions' Corner that lists national champions at U of G Gryphons.  Mini playing field for children, concourse that's used as a gathering space before games.
  • Celebration Corner
    • Houses Jerimiah Junior (canon) that celebrates touchdowns on gameday field, and a large bell that is rung on field goals
  • Performance Centre Expansion
    • New project designed to enhance the previously designed performance centre with the goal of providing Gryphon Football players additional facilities to train for excellence
 
ALUMNI
  • Friends of Gryphon Football
    • Developed to engage and attract alumni
    • Membership program that generates $30 000 annually to support the football program
    • Gala Dinner $30 000 - $40 000 of revenue generated annually to support the football program
  • Captains' Lunch
    • Annual event that recognizes former Gryphon Captains
  • Order of the Gryphon
    • Annual dinner honouring those who have donated over $50 000 to Gryphon Football
  • Team of the Decade Recognition
    • A way to recognize Gryphon Football Players who were voted the best in the decade by their peers
    • Members recognized at a bi-annual Team of the Decade dinner
  • Glory Bowl
    • Annual Alumni football game at homecoming
  • Honourary Captain
    • Recognizes playing achievements of alumni by providing them an opportunity to participate in the coin toss on game day
  • Distinguished Alumni Award
    • Honours one alumni yearly for his contributions to Gryphon Football and subsequent contributions to society after graduation
  • Honour Jersey
    • Recipient is an alumnus who is honoured for his playing ability.  The recipient is selected by the Friends of Gryphon Football Board of Directors and is announced at the Gala Dinner
 SCHOLARSHIPS
  • Triple Victory Project
    • matched donations of $1 million for an endowed Gryphon Football scholarship
  • 2015 Yates Cup Scholarship creation
  • Jean Hewitt Scholarship
    • supports students to participate in Me to We
  • HeforShe Ally Scholarship
    • Given to a U of G student demonstrating commitment to gender equality
  • 25% of net revenue from the Pavilion goes to Women's sports
 
ADVANCEMENT TEAM CONTRIBUTION
  • Spring Training at IMG Academy in Florida
    • Committed to facilitating a trip for the team to Florida every 4 years to the world class IMG Academy
  • Social Media & Marketing
    • Believes in the importance of strengthening our fan base through targeted marketing.
  • Team Building Events
    • Provided players and coaches with the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities over the years including paintball, Wonderland, go karting
FOOTBALL
  • Yates Cup Championship 2015 (final season as Head Coach)
  • Four consecutive 7-1 seasons (best season record ever for Gryphon Football)
  • 39 wins and 19 losses over his career
  • 3 Yates Cup appearances in 4 years
  • 20 consecutive home game wins (record for Gryphon Football)
  • 4-5, 2-6, 7-1, 7-1, 7-1 regular season as Head Coach
  
 
Men's Lacrosse (1995-1996)

The 1995-96 Gryphons men's lacrosse team enters the Gryphon Hall of Fame after helping build the foundation for one of the most successful men's lacrosse programs in the country. Led by standout goalie, Darcy Bishop, who was named team MVP for the 1995 season, the Gryphons would put together an unforgettable run at the 1995 national championship tournament (Baggataway Cup). Standing in the way of Guelph's first ever national title hopes were a familiar foe in the Brock Badgers, with the two OUA rivals meeting up in the championship final. Pete Alcock was named championship MVP for the Gryphons, who also received a pair of goals from Tom Hawke, helping the Gryphons claim an 8-6 victory over the Badgers, securing Guelph's first-ever national title in men's lacrosse. Since that inaugural national title in 1995, head coach Sam Kosakowski has since gone on to lead the Gryphons to four additional Baggataway Cup titles in 2000, 2008, 2013 and 2014.

Roster/Coaches: Brian Cullen, Dave Dempster, Pete Andrews, Dan Mielko, Steve Thake, Kevin Smith, Dean Nixon, Theo Spartinos, Angelo Ligotti, Brent Lunnie, Shayne McGivern, Trevor Rosine, Pete Alcock, Kerry Nash, Andrew Leach, Tom Hawke, Frayne Kyte, Glen Hughson, Darcy Bishop, John Van Slingerland, Tim Mahoney, Sean Moore, Ed Bentley, James Parkin.

Head Coach:  Sam Kosakowski
Assistant Coaches:  Jim Potvin, Keith Langdale
Team Manager:  Diane Dobbins
Trainers:  Staci McPhail, Rene Chong
 
 
Women's Hockey Era (late 1960's-to-mid-1970's)
(1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72, 1973-74)

In recent years, women's hockey at the University of Guelph has reached new heights, with the Gryphons winning three OUA titles in the past six seasons, including the program's first national title in 2018-19. But it was back in the late 1960's and early 1970's where the University of Guelph first established championship roots when it comes to intercollegiate women's hockey. 
 
Entering the Gryphon Hall of Fame in 2022 under the 'team' category, is a collection of five different U of G women's hockey teams ranging from the late 1960's-to-mid-1970's. This golden era of women's hockey at the University of Guelph remains, to this day, as one of the most successful and influential eras in Gryphon Athletics history. Led by a Gryphon Hall of Fame coach in Shirley Peterson, the University of Guelph claimed six conference titles in women's hockey during that span, establishing the Gryphons as perennial powers on the ice within the W.I.A.U. and O.W.I.A.A. (Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Union & Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Association). 
 
1973-74 Women's Ice Hockey (OWIAA)
Jay Morris, Jill Finlin, Deb McWade, Marion Coutts, Sheila Stevenson, Barb Lovett, Holly Law, Sherry Bondarenko, Kathy Durham, Joanne Yausie, Donna Stevens, Anne Greenbank, Gwen Faint, Margot Holloway, manager: Mary Ann Irwin and head coach: Shirley Peterson.

1971-72 Women's Ice Hockey (OWIAA)
Becki Bookham, Marion Coutts, Susan Cummings, Gwen Faint, Ann Greenbank, Beth Huether, Holly Law, Kathy La Hay, Jay Morris, Deb McWade, Jill Patterson, Georgina Rayner, Sheila Stevenson, Joyce Tuck, Olga Verbeek, Sonja Wolf, manager: Petra Verhoeven and head coach: Shirley Peterson.

1969-70 Women's Ice Hockey (WIAU)
Carolyn Lane, Jill Paterson, Joyce Tuck, Kay Marsh, Georgina Phinney, Ann Brooks, Carman Purdy, Janice Burton, Janet Sutherland, Mary Krochak, Madeline Monaghan, Elizabeth McKenna, Margo Brown, Barb Waples, Sheila Stevenson, managers: Wendy Parker and Nora Reid and head coach: Shirley Peterson.

1968-69 Women's Ice Hockey (WIAU)
Nancy Bernhardt, Barb Waples, Wanda Wood, Madeline Monaghan, Margo Brown, Georgina Phinney, Jan Sutherland, Kaye Marsh, Ann Brooks, Mary Lou McPhedran, Marylou Malott, Carolyn Lane, Mary Krochak, manager: Sharon Pauls and head coach: Shirley Peterson.

1967-68 Women's Ice Hockey (WIAU)
Nancy Bernhardt, Kaye Marsh, Gladys Williams, Ann Brooks, Wanda Wood, Carolyn Lane, Barb Waples, Madeline Monaghan, Holly Lotimer, Mary Lou McPhedran, Colleen Templeton, Dorothy Carter, Barb Cameron, Janet Sutherland, assistant manager: Caroline Cameron, manager: Sharon Pauls and head coach: Shirley Peterson.

1966-67 Women's Ice Hockey (WIAU)
Colleen Templeton, Kaye Marsh, Nancy Bernhardt, Kathy Wolchuk, Ronnie LeCroix, Monica Dahl, Mary Gilbank, Shirley Foster, Judy McCaw, K. Hodgins, M.L. McPheron, Judy Beamish, B. Stanstell, Sharon Pauls, Ingrid Wicklund, Carolyn Cameron, D. Carter, manager: L. Morrow, faculty advisor: Shirley Peterson and head coach: Briggs Crichton.
 
Background:

The Gryphon Hall of Fame began in 1984 when the Gryphon Club recognized the need to honour the many athletes and builders who had made outstanding contributions to Athletics at the University of Guelph. Candidates are considered on the basis of playing ability, sportsmanship, character and exemplification of the spirit and ideals of the University of Guelph. To date, 134 athletes, 40 builders and 29 teams have been elected to the Hall. Plaques of the athletes and builders bearing their pictures and highlighting their accomplishments are displayed in the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre at the University of Guelph.
 





 
 
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