Today, the Western Mustangs community is recognizing 2020-21 Purple Blanket Award Winner, Kyra Urabe of the Mustangs Women's Rowing Team.
Video Interview with Winner Kyra Urabe
To view a video interview with Kyra Urabe and Women's Rowing Team Head Coach Dr. Matthew Waddell, please click below. For closed captioning options, please view the video on our YouTube platform https://youtu.be/MZJ7Kgr1xQw.
Purple Blanket Awards are granted to students who, often in their graduating year, are nominated by their coaches and chosen by members of the Selection Committee. Nominated individuals must have been a Western Mustangs student athlete for a minimum of three (3) years, have received a minimum of three (3) First Colour Awards throughout their career, and have been an active participant in their respective sport at the time of recommendation.
Urabe is part of the Mustangs Rowing Team and has been with the team since 2017. She has won four (4) First Colour Awards over her career with the Mustangs and has been a Team Captain for the past three seasons. She was an OUA All Star in the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, and was a Canadian University Rowing Championship All Star in the 2019-20 season. She was the Rowing Team M.V.P. in the 2018 season. Urabe led her team to victory to win OUA Gold in the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, and placing in the Canadian University Rowing Championships in the same seasons. In the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, Urabe individually won gold in the OUA Women's Lightweight 8 competitions, and she won gold in the 2019-20 Canadian University Rowing Championships Women's Heavyweight 8 competition.
Rowing Head Coach Dr. Matthew Waddell described Urabe as being "an integral member of the Western Rowing Team". Coach Waddell explained that, alongside Urabe's position as Team Captain, "[Urabe] has complemented this fantastic body of service, leadership and mentorship accomplishments with those of a high-performance athlete as well." He noted that, "[Urabe's] resume as a student-athlete demonstrates both her desire to pursue excellence individually as well as nurture a successful team around her. She is the quintessential athlete who both embodies the characteristics required for success and 'pulls up' those around her."
Urabe is finishing her degree in the Medical Sciences program at Western and in addition to her position as Team Captain, Urabe has been recognized as a Rowing Canada NextGen athlete and was set to compete and represent Team Canada on an international level in 2020 before the events had been cancelled due to COVID-19.
We want to congratulate Kyra Urabe on winning a 2020-21 Purple Blanket Award. Your efforts and contributions to the Western Mustangs are appreciated!
