Hannah Bourdon (Women’s Basketball) & Jonny Pickett (Men’s Volleyball) Named Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week presented by Core Power

GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2023-24 season, the University of Guelph Department of Athletics will be highlighting various members from our Gryphon varsity program as part of our ‘Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week, presented by Core Power’ series. This week’s ‘Gryph’s Locker Athletes of the Week presented by Core Power’ recipients are Hannah Bourdon (women’s basketball) and Jonathan Pickett (men’s volleyball) for the period ending January 21, 2024. 
 

Hannah Bourdon (Women’s Basketball)

19-year-old guard Hannah Bourdon takes home ‘Athlete of the Week’ honours after helping the Gryphons pick up back-to-back wins this past week with a pair of strong performances. The second-year physical science major produced the second double-double of her career Wednesday night (Jan. 17) against the McMaster Marauders, helping lead the team to a 65-54 road win in Hamilton. Bourdon had 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, her second highest total of the season, and brought down a game-high 14 rebounds. Her most important play of the evening came late in the fourth quarter when she connected on a layup with :13 seconds remaining to seal the victory. The Fort Erie, Ontario native has only recorded one other double-double in her career which came in a 68-61 win over Windsor on January 6, 2024. Bourdon’s performance helped the U of G women’s basketball team avenge their OUA quarterfinal loss, suffered in Hamilton last postseason while also bringing the Gryphons record to 10-5 on the season.

Four days later with the Gryphons back on their home court, Bourdon once again played a key role in a memorable Gryphon win, this time over the OUA Central-leading TMU Bold. Bourdon recorded 9 points, 8 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in a 60-36 U of G win. It was the fewest points the Gryphons have given up since November 25 when the team held the Algoma Thunderbirds to 33. Bourdon was on the court for 30 minutes of a defensive effort which saw the Bold score just 12 points after the first quarter and connect on a single basket in the second half. The win vaulted the Gryphons back up into the top spot in the OUA West division, with the team holding a single-game advantage over the Waterloo Warriors in second place. The Gryphons (11-5), will return to action on January 31 when they head to London to take on their OUA West rivals, the Western Mustangs. 
 

Jonathan Pickett (Men’s Volleyball)

All-Canadian talent Jonathan Pickett earns ‘Athlete of the Week’ for the second time this season after another sensational performance in a Gryphon men’s volleyball victory. On Friday night (Jan. 19) the fourth-year Wiarton, Ontario native recorded a game-high 19.5 points and 19 kills while recording a .444 hitting percentage to help lead the U SPORTS No. 9-ranked Gryphons to a 3-1 win over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at home. The sport and event management major also picked up half a point on an assisted block in a match which saw the Gryphons stop the Varsity Blues at the net 14 times. Pickett got off to a hot start in the Gryphon win, picking up 7 of his 19 kills in the first set to give the Gryphons the early lead, which ultimately led to the 12th win of the U of G men’s volleyball team’s season. 

The leftside hitter is producing another all-star caliber season and ranks among the best in the OUA in several key statistical categories. Pickett ranks 3rd in total points (205) and 4th in kills (174) while also producing the conferences sixth-best hitting percentage (.322) and 7th most total blocks (30). Pickett’s impressive season is one of the many reasons the Gryphons have held their position atop the conference standings with a 12-2 record and a single-game lead over the Brock Badgers (11-3) and and U SPORTS No. 3-ranked McMaster Marauders (11-3) who are tied for second place. With just six games remaining on the regular season schedule the Gryphons will need strong performances from Pickett and the rest of the U of G men’s volleyball team as all three doubleheaders come against current playoff teams. The first test for the Gryphons comes this coming weekend (Jan. 26 & 27) when the team will host the Windsor Lancers who are currently the 6th seed in the conference standings. 
 

2023-24 Gryphon Athletes of the Week

*Indicates U SPORTS Athlete of the Week
*Indicates OUA Athlete of the Week