Welland ON - The Mustangs Women's team continued their streak of OUA Championship banners on Saturday as they won the 2021 OUA Rowing Championships in Welland, ON.

"Credit for the banner win has to start with the lightweight and heavyweight women's eights. As the biggest boats, they are worth the most points towards the overall banner." said Mustangs Women's Head Coach Matt Waddell "Both crews showed tremendous resiliency this year, not allowing early season setbacks to dampen their enthusiasm or divert their focus, and they were rewarded with a fantastic result at the championships."
 
Western won their eighth consecutive women's championship by securing 442 points across ten boat classes. The Mustangs medaled in eight of the ten boat classes, bringing home three gold, two silver and three bronze medals. They dominated the big boats finishing first in both the women's eight and lightweight women's eight while also placing first in the lightweight women's double sculls.

"I am especially grateful for the hard work of our student leaders: team president Jackie Blunt; women's team captains Mallory Orr, Elisa Bolinger, and Alex Freeman; and veterans Ashley Skinkle, Leslie Kelley, and Karissa Riley." said Waddell.

In men's action, the Mustangs finished 2nd in the overall team standings with 364 points bringing home 2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze medals.

It was fantastic seeing crews back on the water racing for our league's highest award." said Mustangs Men's Head Coach Dan Bechard "It was surreal being there without the traditional purple mob of parents and alumni that follow us to these events. We're disappointed we fell short on the banner but excited to give it another go this weekend at National Championships."
 
The university rowing season has one more week to go as universities from across the country will return to Welland next weekend for Canadian University Rowing Championships. Western will enter a full slate of events (heavy eight, light four, heavy pair, light double, heavy single, light single) for both men and women. 

Full event results from the OUA Championship can be found at: https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results2/?job_id=7541&org_id=0. 

Team Standings

Women's
1. Western Mustangs – 442
2. Queen's Gaels – 324
3. Brock Badgers – 269
4. Ottawa Gee-Gees – 243
5. Trent Excalibur – 185
6. Toronto Varsity Blues – 171
7. Guelph Gryphons – 98
8. McMaster Marauders – 48
9. Laurentian Voyageurs – 41
10. Ontario Tech Ridgebacks – 26
11. Nipissing Lakers – 14
12. Carleton Ravens – 8
13. Waterloo Warriors – 4

Men's
1. Brock Badgers – 537
2. Western Mustangs – 364
3. Queen's Gaels – 278
4. Carleton Ravens – 156
5. McMaster Marauders – 111
6. Toronto Varsity Blues – 81
7. Trent Excalibur – 65
8. Guelph Gryphons – 64
9. Ottawa Gee-Gees – 63
10. Waterloo Warriors – 39
11. Nipissing Lakers – 20
12. Ontario Tech Ridgebacks – 4

Individual Major Awards
Men's Program Coach of the Year – Tom Kent (Brock)
Women's Program Coach of the Year – Stu MacKenzie (Ottawa)
Men's Athlete of the Year – Gavin Stone (Queen's)
Women's Athlete of the Year – Grace VandenBroek (Trent)