Gryphon Weekend Wrap (Feb. 2-4, 2024)

GUELPH, Ont. – A total of nine Gryphon varsity teams are featured in the latest edition of the ‘Gryphon Weekend Wrap’ for the period covering February 2 to 4, 2024.
 

Of the nine Gryphon teams in action this past weekend two were in postseason action, with the U of G men’s and women’s curling teams kicking off the playoff season with the 2024 OUA Curling Championships. Playing on their home ice at the Guelph Curling Club, the Gryphon teams produced strong weekends, with the Gryphon men capturing OUA bronze and earning a spot in the 2024 U SPORTS Championships in March, in addition to posting a 3-1 record through pool play followed by a quarterfinal win over Carleton. On the women’s side, the Gryphons earned a quarterfinal berth after missing out on the knockout rounds at the 2023 provincial championships. Despite a quarterfinal loss to the Waterloo Warriors the Gryphons impressed through pool play, going 2-2 with dominant wins over the Carleton Ravens and Windsor Lancers. 

For the Gryphon Nordic Skiing team, would made the trip out to Sherbrooke, Quebec for the Eastern Canadian Championships, it was a strong weekend despite challenging weather conditions. On Saturday, the teams took part in 6km races around an icy and fast 2km course with a difficult downhill, competing against collegiate skiers from both Ontario and Quebec in one of the largest races in North America. For the U of G men, the weekend was highlighted by a 22nd-place finish from Alec MacLean who finished the race just over a minute off the winning pace. Teammates Joshua Lonuzzo, Leo Lin, Svend-Emil Poulsen, and Robert Fraser also stepped up with strong races of their own. One the women’s side, Julia Shannon continued her excellent season with a 25th-place finish, followed closely by Gryphon teammates Abbygale Davidson and Janna Wardell. 

For the U SPORTS No. 1 & 2-ranked Gryphon track & field teams, it was another impressive weekend with the teams sending roughly 30 student-athletes to Toronto for the York Open. The weekend was highlighted by another record-setting performance from Jennifer Elizarov in the women’s pole vault, who broke her own record of 4.15m, which she set just two weeks ago, with a jump of 4.20m. The third-year Waterloo native now holds a commanding lead in the U SPORTS rankings, with Toronto’s Alexzandra Throndson the closest with a seasons best of 4.08m. 

On the ice, the U SPORTS No. 2-ranked Gryphons women’s hockey team picked up their 21st win of the season, tying a program record for wins in a single regular season and extending their unbeaten streak to 13 games. For the U of G men’s hockey team, they suffered back-to-back losses to the Western Mustangs in London and TMU Bold in Toronto, setting up a must-win regular season finale this Thursday (Feb. 8) in a rematch with the Mustangs. The Gryphons final game of the 2023-24 regular season also serves as the 2024 edition of Gryphon men’s hockey’s ‘Aggies Night’ game, as well as the team’s ‘Senior Night’ celebrations.

The University of Guelph basketball teams were also in action this past weekend, taking on the Windsor Lancers on the road. The Gryphon women captured their 13th win of the season and took sole possession of 1st-place in the OUA West and now hold a single-game advantage over the Waterloo Warriors. On the men’s side, the Gryphons suffered a 4-point loss and move to 5-13 on the year. With just four games remaining and the Gryphons men’s basketball team three games back of the 12th and final postseason spot, the team enters must-win territory in the final stretch of the regular season.

Finally, the Gryphons women’s volleyball team was in North Bay for a two-game set against the Nipissing Lakers. Despite splitting the weekend set, the Gryphons remain in a strong position heading into the final four games of the regular season as the current 4th-place team in the conference standings.
 

Gryphon Weekend Scoreboard

Saturday, February 3, 2024
 

Sunday, February 4, 2024