Figure Skating Team Wins OUA Championships

February 19, 2009 - News Release

The University of Guelph's figure skating team captured the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships Thursday. It's only the second time the Gryphons have won the title.

U of G led from start to finish in the two-day event, which was held at the University of Toronto. Overall, the Gryphons took home seven gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal.

“I’m so proud of our team,” said head coach Janet Gibson. “It was an emotional but very exciting moment for Guelph whose team hasn’t won the OUA championships since 1993/94.”

Ariel Porty, a second-year biological sciences student, won a gold medal in open solo dance and a second gold in the senior silver similar dance event with partner Laura Barbison, a second-year environmental biology major.

Sandra McCubbin, a second-year biological sciences student, took home the gold in senior silver solo dance and won another gold medal in junior silver dance with partner Catilyn McCann, a second-year political science major.

Second-year English student Charlotte Drewett took home gold in the senior silver ladies event.

Barbison, Porty, McCubbin and McCann also won the gold medal in the bronze rhythm dance fours category.

Josh Belletti, a first-year biological sciences student, won a silver medal in the open men’s event and the team of Heather Higgins, a fourth-year history student, and Laura Hanna, a first year bachelor’s of commerce major, won a bronze in gold creative dance.

The synchronized skating team also captured the gold medal, which was the final event of the competition. Their victory is what boosted the Gryphons to the top spot on the podium.

Barbison, Drewett, McCubbin and Porty also earned OUA All-Star status for their performances.

For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt at Ext. 53338, lhunt@uoguelph.ca or Barry Gunn, Ext. 56982, bagunn@uoguelph.ca.

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