GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2022-23 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 "BioSteel Gryphon Athletes of the Week" recipients are
Kendra Cousineau (women's rugby) and
Arthur Kowara (baseball) for the period ending September 11, 2022.
Kendra Cousineau (Women's Rugby)
Gryphons women's rugby standout centre,
Kendra Cousineau, takes home Gryphon Athlete of the Week honours after helping lead the No. 5-nationally ranked Gryphons a dominant home opener performance versus McMaster.
On Saturday (Sept. 10), Cousineau and the Gryphons rolled to an 86-5 victory over the Marauders at Varsity Field, with the Port Colborne, Ontario native accounting for 26 of Guelph's 85 points on the day. Cousineau, a sociology major currently in her fourth-year academically and third-year of eligibility with the women's rugby program, scored two tries while also connecting on 8 converts. For Cousineau, who was named a co-captain for the Gryphons ahead of the 2022 women's rugby season, Saturday's game versus McMaster marked the latest standout performance is what has been a impressive collegiate career with the Gryphons women's rugby team. Kendra was named an OUA All-Star during the 2021 season while helping lead to the Gryphons to an OUA title, and during her rookie season back in 2019, played a key role with a Gryphon squad that finished 4th at nationals. Cousineau and the rest of the No. 5-ranked Gryphons women's rugby team will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 17) when they play host to the York Lions at 1pm. The game versus York will also mark the first half of a "Gryphon Rugby Day" doubleheader, with the U of G men's rugby team set to play at 3:30pm.
Arthur Kowara (Baseball)
Software engineering major,
Arthur Kowara, takes home Gryphon Athlete of the Week honours after an outstanding weekend with the Gryphon baseball team.
The power-hitting first baseman helped the Gryphons sweep their doubleheader with the York Lions on Saturday (Sept. 10), while splitting their doubleheader on Sunday (Sept. 11) versus perennial OUA rivals, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Over the course of the four games on the weekend, the Etobicoke native was the driving force in the middle of the Gryphon lineup, driving in 6 RBI's on 8 hits, including 1 HR and 2 doubles. Kowara, now in his fourth-year academically and third year with the Gryphon baseball program, finished his memorable weekend of OUA action with a .533 batting average. The Gryphons are off to a hot start to the 2022 season, posting a 5-1 record through their first 6 games of OUA play. The team will return to Hastings Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 17) to host a doubleheader versus the Western Mustangs, before travelling to Windsor on Sunday (Sept. 18) for a doubleheader with the Lancers.
2022-23 Gryphon Athletes of the Week
