OCAA NAMES MAJOR CROSS COUNTRY AWARDS WINNERS

TORONTO -  Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is proud to announce its major cross country running award recipients for 2025.

David Hopton of Mohawk College has been named the OCAA Coach of the Year, as voted on by his peers. This marks Hopton's second time receiving the honour in his five-year tenure leading the Mountaineers. Hopton last earned the award in 2023, when he was also recognized nationally as the CCAA Coach of the Year. Under Hopton's guidance, the Mountaineers posted strong results at last Saturday's 2025 OCAA championships. The men's team captured gold, winning its second title in three seasons, while the women's team earned bronze. Six Mohawk runners finished inside the Top 10.

Alex Leinweber (London) of Fanshawe College and Ryan Johnston (Killaloe) of Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford were the Top Rookies at the recent OCAA championships. Leinweber won the men's eight kilometre race in a time of 24:49, while Johnston finished sixth overall in the women's six kilometre race in a time of 23:55. Both runners were named to their respective OCAA All-Ontario First-Teams.

Melody Knight (Tecumseh) of St. Clair College is named the OCAA Fair Play Award winner for displaying impeccable fairness, integrity and respect throughout the championship.

The top seven runners in each race at provincials are named to the OCAA All-Ontario First-Team. Joining Leinweber in order of the men's race finish are Brendan Currie (LaSalle) of St. Clair College; Nathan Paul (Kitchener) of Conestoga College; Blaise Uglow (Schomberg) of Mohawk; Gavin Mathieson (Cayuga) of Mohawk; Karl Olivo (Cambridge) of Sheridan College; and Kinnon Ringler (Toronto) of Sheridan.

The top seven in the women's race named OCAA All-Ontario First-Team members are Dianne Deboer (Guelph) of Conestoga; Taylor Kampen (Richmond Hill) of Seneca Polytechnic; Catherine Irwin (Kingston) of Humber Polytechnic; Mette Siemens (Saskatoon, Sask.) of Sheridan; Grace Boyce (Markdale) of Fanshawe; Johnston; and Jennifer Hartnell (Mississauga) of Humber.

The OCAA All-Ontario Second-Team consists of individuals who placed eighth through 14th. The men's All-Ontario Second-Team in order of finish includes Sage Sultentic (Dundas) of Mohawk; Christian Jaros (Burlington) of Mohawk; Noah Derganc (St. Thomas) of Fanshawe; Noah Nicoletti (Windsor) of St. Clair; Santiago Mendoza (Mississauga) of Mohawk; Luke Nelson (Windsor) of St. Clair; and Liam Bauman (Bolton) of Humber.

The women's All-Ontario Second-Team in order of finish includes Annie Clarke (Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Nfld.) of Conestoga; Zoe Crookham (Grimsby) of Mohawk; Raina Hartnell (Waterford) of Mohawk; Megan Hutson (London) of Fanshawe; Abril Sena (Mendoza, Argentina) of Mohawk; Regan DeWinter (Mississauga) of Fanshawe; and Ana Fodor (Windsor) of St. Clair.

With files from Mohawk Mountaineers

2025 OCAA CROSS COUNTRY AWARDS

OCAA Cross Country Top Rookies
Men: Alex Leinweber, Fanshawe
Women: Ryan Johnston, Laurier Brantford

OCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year
David Hopton, Mohawk

OCAA Cross Country Fair Play Award
Melody Knight, St. Clair

OCAA Cross Country Men's All-Ontario First-Team
Alex Leinweber, Fanshawe
Brendan Currie, St. Clair
Nathan Paul, Conestoga
Blaise Uglow, Mohawk
Gavin Mathieson, Mohawk
Karl Olivo, Sheridan
Kinnon Ringler, Sheridan

OCAA Cross Country Women's All-Ontario First-Team
Dianne Deboer, Conestoga
Taylor Kampen, Seneca
Catherine Irwin, Humber
Mette Siemens, Sheridan
Grace Boyce, Fanshawe
Ryan Johnston, Laurier Brantford
Jennifer Hartnell, Humber

OCAA Cross Country Men's All-Ontario Second-Team
Sage Sultentic, Mohawk
Christian Jaros, Mohawk
Noah Derganc, Fanshawe
Noah Nicoletti, St. Clair
Santiago Mendoza, Mohawk
Luke Nelson, St. Clair
Liam Bauman, Humber

OCAA Cross Country Women's All-Ontario Second-Team
Annie Clarke, Conestoga
Zoe Crookham, Mohawk
Raina Hartnell, Mohawk
Megan Hutson, Fanshawe
Abril Sena, Mohawk
Regan DeWinter, Fanshawe
Ana Fodor, St. Clair

- OCAA -

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