BURLINGTON, Ont. – For the sixth, and seventh, times during the 2026-27 season, the University of Guelph has been recognized at the provincial level as part of the 'OUA Athlete of the Week' honours, with not one, but two, Gryphon student-athletes receiving the conference-wide honour.
Halle Woodcock of the Guelph Gryphons women's rugby team and
Heath Barnett-Ritcey of the U of G men's rugby team have earned 'OUA Athlete of the Week' honours for the period covering November 2 to 8, 2026. Woodcock and Barnett-Ritcey were among the four student-athletes from across the OUA to earn the recognition, with Jacob Baldwin (Queen's Gaels - football) and Myriam Kone (TMU Bold - women's basketball) rounding out the weekly honours.
Halle Woodcock was named a U SPORTS Tournament All-Star at nationals, while
Heath Barnett-Ritcey took home Man of the Match in his team's win in the 2026 OUA Championship Game over Western.
OUA Athletes of the Week (Nov. 2-8, 2026)
| Halle Woodcock |
Women's Rugby, Guelph Gryphons |
| Heath Barnett-Ritcey |
Men's Rugby, Guelph Gryphons |
| Myriam Kone |
Women's Basketball, TMU Bold |
| Jacob Baldwin |
Football, Queen's Gaels |
Halle Woodcock (Women's Rugby)
Fifth-year scrum half
Halle Woodcock has been named 'OUA Athlete of the Week.' Woodcock, the human kinetics major from Trenton, ON is a key member of the Gryphons women's rugby team. Woodcock helped lead the Gryphons to 4th-place finish at the 2026 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships in Guelph this past weekend. Halle has proven her durability throughout the tournament, playing in almost every minute in all three of her team's matches during nationals for the Gryphs. Woodcock's magnificent showing throughout the week for the Gryphons saw her named a Tournament All-Star at the 2026 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championships. Halle's outstanding 2026 season for Guelph saw her named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and OUA First Team All-Star, helping her team to a perfect 6-0 record in the regular season and an OUA silver medal.
Heath Barnett-Ritcey (Men's Rugby)
Heath Barnett-Ritcey earns 'OUA Athlete of the Week' honours following a big match performance in the OUA Championship Game for the Gryphons men's rugby team. Barnett-Ritcey, the third-year biomedical engineering major from Calgary was a key player in the team's 50-7 win in the OUA Championship Game on Saturday night (Nov. 7), scoring a try and being named 'Man of the Match.' Heath was involved in a high number of plays on both sides of the ball in the title game and was dominant with his carries and tackling throughout the night. His committed and physical style of play helped lead the Gryphons to a sixth straight OUA banner. Barnett-Ritcey, who transferred to the University of Guelph from Mount Royal in Calgary three years ago, put together a fantastic 2026 season for the Gryphons which saw him named an OUA Second Team All-Star. Barnett-Ritcey and the Gryphons men's rugby team are off this week before they make their way to Langley, BC for the 2026 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship where they look to win back-to-back McTavish Cups.
Guelph Gryphons named OUA Athletes of the Week in 2026-27
| Halle Woodcock |
Women's Rugby |
Nov. 2-8, 2026 |
| Heath Barnett-Ritcey |
Men's Rugby |
Nov. 2-8, 2026 |
| Jack Lehto |
Men's Cross Country |
Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2026 |
| Ela Jones |
Women's Golf |
Oct. 12-18, 2026 |
| Isabella Trepanier |
Women's Soccer |
Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026 |
| Alistair Yeomans |
Men's Rugby |
Sept. 14-20, 2026 |
| Olivia Rizakos |
Women's Soccer |
Aug. 24-30, 2026 |
