Women’s volleyball player Sara Rohr added another impressive honour to cap off her spectacular university career.
On Wednesday, March 15, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced both its Honour Awards and C.H.A.M.P. Awards, celebrating standout athletic performances and achievements in marketing and promotions.
Rohr was named the OUA Female Athlete of the Year at the annual banquet which took place this year at the Queen’s Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“Sara’s recognition as the top female athlete in the OUA underscores her dedication and academic prowess,” said Melissa Krist, Executive Director of Brock Sports and Recreation. “Balancing her pursuit of a Master’s in Physical Education with her on-court excellence, she epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete at Brock. We celebrate Sara’s remarkable achievements and eagerly anticipate her future successes.”
During the season, the Milton native received numerous national and provincial accolades as she was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, OUA Co-Player of the Year and OUA First Team All-Star.
At the 2023-24 Brock Badgers Awards Gala on March 27, the fifth-year setter was recognized as the Brock Badgers Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first women’s volleyball player to receive the award since Tanya Stephens accomplished the feat in 1992-93.
Rohr led the OUA and U SPORTS with 10.96 assists per set during the regular season while her 643 total assists were second in the province. She also set a new program record, finishing her Brock career with 2,677 assists.
“Being named the OUA Female Athlete of the Year is an incredible honour. It recognizes the countless hours of training dedicated over the years and the passion I have for the sport,” said Rohr. “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything without my amazing teammates, coaches, support staff, family and friends. They’ve made me into the player I am today, and I am forever grateful for them.”
Along with Rohr’s accomplishment, the Brock Badgers also celebrated receiving a C.H.A.M.P. Award on Wednesday night, receiving a hosting award for the third consecutive year.
The Badgers hosted the 2024 OUA Swimming Championships from Feb. 16-18 at the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre which featured around 400 athletes across 10 OUA teams. The three-day competition had over 20 volunteers and 50 officials who helped make the provincial event a success.
“Being recognized as a top OUA host for three years is a great honour, showcasing our dedication,” said Erica Wortley, Manager of Events and Partnerships for Brock Sports. “From facility staff to our events team, officials and volunteers, everyone’s hard work made the championship event unforgettable for the student-athletes.”
Accepting the award on behalf of the Badgers were Theo Wan (Sports Information Coordinator), Erica Wortley (Manager, Events and Partnerships) and Rick Tisi (Content Marketing Creator)
Brock provided exceptional coverage of the event from the start, providing a championship website landing page and online/printed program to keep all participants and families informed. Live results were accessible throughout the weekend while every race was live streamed to OUA.tv and CBC with a multi-camera setup.
The photography team consisted of Jayson Childs and Joe Rosseau who captured incredible moments on the water throughout the weekend. The Brock Badgers social media channels celebrated the best photos in daily recap posts, shining a spotlight on swimmers from across the OUA. Badgers videographer Josh Hales produced a 1-minute recap video for social media, catching the numerous sights and sounds from the provincial meet.
In the previous two seasons, Brock received C.H.A.M.P. Awards for their hosting efforts at the 2023 Quigley Cup and the 2022 Critelli Cup, Wilson Cup and Queen’s Cup.