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University of Guelph Athletics

Gryphons Athletes of the Week (Oct. 13-19, 2025) - Kirsten Sutter (WLAX) and Joe Columbus (MLAX)

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Joe Columbus (Men’s Lacrosse) and Kirsten Sutter (Women's Lacrosse) Named Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week, presented by POWERADE

GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2025-26 season, the University of Guelph Department of Athletics will be highlighting various members from our Gryphon varsity programs as part of our 'Gryph's Locker Athletes of the Week, presented by POWERADE' series. Joe Columbus (men's lacrosse) and Kirsten Sutter (women's lacrosse) have been named 'Gryphon Athletes of the Week' for the period covering October 13 to 19, 2025.
 

Joe Columbus (Men's Lacrosse)
 
Joe Columbus, a second-year face off specialist on the Gryphons men's lacrosse team earns this week's 'Athlete of the Week' honours. Columbus, a 19-year-old from Fergus, ON, displayed his dominance in the face off circle as he helped lead his team to victories over McMaster, Nipissing and Brock this week. On Wednesday (Oct. 15) against the Marauders, Columbus won 17 of his 18 face offs and had an assist in his team's 15-1 win. The mechanical engineering major continued his brilliance in the face off circle in the Gryphons 18-7 victory over Nipissing on Saturday (Oct. 18), winning 22 of his 27 draws. Columbus, a CUFLA (Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association) West Division All-Canadian last season, capped off his fabulous week in the circle winning 25 of his 29 face offs while adding a goal and an assist in an 18-5 win over Brock. The goal Columbus scored was a pivotal one for the Gryphons as he won the subsequent face off and took it to the house for a goal, :11 seconds after the Badgers scored as it gave Guelph a 4-2 and they never looked back en route to an 18-5 win. Colubmus and the Gryphons men's lacrosse team finish their regular season with a 9-1 record and are off until Sunday, November 2 when they will host a Baggataway Cup Play-In Game with the winner heading to nationals (Nov. 7-9 in Brampton).
 

Kirsten Sutter (Women's Lacrosse)
 
Gryphons women's lacrosse defender, Kirsten Sutter is this week's 'Athlete of the Week' after leading her side to an OUA bronze medal at the 2025 OUA Women's Lacrosse Tournament over the weekend. Sutter, a fifth-year team captain from Chatsworth, Ontario, was one of key figures in her team's defensive success in Waterloo throughout the weekend at the conference championship tournament. The creative writing major led her defensive line through several of situations which allowed the Gryphons to hold off Laurier on Sunday (Oct. 19) in their 10-8 win to take home the bronze medal. Sutter's phenomenal season saw her named an OUA major award winners as the 2025 OUA Defensive Player of the Year while also earning a spot on the OUA All-Star team on defence. The OUA bronze medal finish from Sutter and the rest of her Gryphons women's lacrosse teammates marked the first time in 12 years in which the University of Guelph was represented on the OUA podium in women's lacrosse, with the team's last podium finish coming back in 2012 when they earned silver. 
 

2025-26 Gryphon Athletes of the Week 
 
Name Sport Date
Joseph Columbus Men's Lacrosse Oct. 13-19, 2025
Kirsten Sutter Women's Lacrosse Oct. 13-19, 2025
Charles Trollip Men's Rugby Oct. 6-12, 2025
Sophie Helfenstein Women's Hockey Oct. 6-12, 2025
Abby Warriner Field Hockey Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2025
Olivier Ciarlo Men's Hockey Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2025
Olivia Rizakos Women's Soccer Sept. 22-28, 2025
Ethan Fraser Men's Soccer Sept. 22-28, 2025
Alexandra McDougall Women's Cross Country Sept. 15-21, 2025
William MacLeod Men's Lacrosse Sept. 15-21, 2025
Jacqueline Giles Women's Golf Sept. 8-14, 2025
Landon Hutar Baseball Sept. 8-14, 2025
Carter Robart Men's Soccer Sept. 1-7, 2025
Rachel McConvey Women's Lacrosse Sept. 1-7, 2025
Olivia Rizakos Women's Soccer Aug. 25-31, 2025
 
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Players Mentioned

Joseph Columbus

#17 Joseph Columbus

Face Off Specialist
6' 1"
2
William MacLeod

#16 William MacLeod

Attack
6' 0"
4
Rachel McConvey

#6 Rachel McConvey

Midfield
5' 10"
4
Kirsten Sutter

#2 Kirsten Sutter

Defence/Midfield
5' 6"
5

Players Mentioned

Joseph Columbus

#17 Joseph Columbus

6' 1"
2
Face Off Specialist
William MacLeod

#16 William MacLeod

6' 0"
4
Attack
Rachel McConvey

#6 Rachel McConvey

5' 10"
4
Midfield
Kirsten Sutter

#2 Kirsten Sutter

5' 6"
5
Defence/Midfield