Varsity Blues wrestler Jessica Fitzgerald captured a gold medal and was named the outstanding female wrestler at the 2008-09 OUA championships on Saturday, February 14th in St. Catharines, Ont.

Fitzgerald (Bancroft, Ont.) defeated Ashley Routliffe (Lasalle, Ont.) of the Guelph Gryphons in the women’s 67kg final to finish first and garner OUA first team all-star status. With the win she also earns a trip to the CIS championships, February 27-28 hosted by the University of Calgary.

At the end of the day, the fifth-year veteran and pharmacy major was also named the outstanding female wrestler, awarded annually to the wrestler most worthy in ability and sportsmanship.

“This is an athlete who sets only the highest goals for herself and then does everything she can to attain them,” said head coach Michael Quinsey. “There is no doubt in my mind that Jessica has been the hardest working and most coachable athlete I've ever had the pleasure of working with.”

In men’s action, Shujon Mazumder (Toronto) also earned a trip to the CIS championships, picking up the bronze medal in the 54kg category.

“Shujon is only into his second year of varsity level competion and is improving all the time,” said Quinsey.

Other notable performances include Jennifer Seidel’s (Ajax, Ont.) sixth-place finish in the women’s 63kg, as well as two fifth-place finishes from John Feng (Scarborough, Ont.) and Matt Fruchtman (Toronto) in the 65kg and 90kg categories, respectively.

With only two female wrestlers over seven divisions, the Varsity Blues women’s team placed fifth, ahead of the McMaster Marauders and Queen’s Gaels, while the men’s team picked up a sixth-place team finish.

The host Brock Badgers successfully defended both their men’s and women’s titles. This is the Badger’s 15th consecutive men’s title, while the women have won nine of the past 11 championshpis.

Individual Results

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS

Brock - 83
Lakehead - 74
Guelph - 42
McMaster - 33
Western - 26
Toronto - 10
Queens - 7

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS

Brock - 51
Western - 44
Lakehead - 39
Guelph - 36
Toronto - 11
McMaster - 10
Queens – 6

2009 OUA Wrestling Championship Award Winners

Men's Coach of the Year - Marty Calder - Brock
Women's Coach of the Year - Marty Calder - Brock
Outstanding Male Wrestler - Huy Nugyen - Lakehead
Outstanding Female Wrestler - Jessica Fitzgerald - Toronto
Men's Rookie of the Year - Randy Pfrimmer - Brock
Women's Rookie of the Year - Sam Stewart - Western