From making waves in the pool to vaulting to new heights, the Brock Badgers capped off a record-breaking season at the Varsity Awards Gala.

This year, the Badgers captured a national championship and three provincial titles, with 10 teams competing at national championships and 24 reaching the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships.

The gala, held at the Parkway Conference Centre in St. Catharines on Wednesday, March 26, recognized the outstanding achievements of Brock’s athletes and coaches.

Among the honourees were eight major award winners, three Coach of the Year recipients, 22 All-Canadians and 65 provincial all-stars.

Tatum O’Connor of women’s swimming and Michael Ivanov of men’s track and field were named Female and Male Athletes of the Year.

O’Connor, a fourth-year Kinesiology student, made history by becoming Brock’s first national swimming medallist since 2002, winning bronze in the 50-metre and 100m backstroke. At the OUA Championships, she secured three gold and a silver medal, leading the women’s team to a program-record seven podium finishes. She also set a school and meet record in the 4x50m freestyle relay.

A second-year Business Administration student, Ivanov won Brock’s first national track and field gold with a pole vault jump of 5.12m at the U SPORTS Championships. He also captured his second consecutive OUA gold medal and remained undefeated in Canadian university competition, winning six additional golds. Ivanov is Brock’s first Male Athlete of the Year in track and field since 1979.

Coach of the Year awards went to women’s swimming coach Dave Ling and men’s rowing coaches Tom Kent and Scott Anderson.

Ling guided Brock swimming to a historic season, winning a national medal and a record seven OUA podium finishes. Kent and Anderson led the men’s rowing team to their fourth consecutive OUA title and a second-place finish at the Canadian University Rowing Championships.

The women’s wrestling and men’s rowing teams were named Teams of the Year. Wrestling secured its second consecutive national title and 23rd OUA championship, medaling in every event. Led by OUA Male Rower of the Year Charles Etienne-Tabet, rowing won its 15th OUA banner and finished second nationally.

Madalyn Weinert of the women’s basketball team and Men’s rugby player Brayden McReelis earned the Surgite Awards for academic and athletic excellence.

Wrestling coaches Heather Sweezey and Dave Collie were recognized with the Marilou Iusi Memorial Service Award for their long-standing contributions to Brock Sports.

2024-25 Brock Sports major and team award recipients:

• Female Athlete of the Year: Tatum O’Connor (women’s swimming)
• Male Athlete of the Year: Michael Ivanov (men’s track and field)
• Women’s Team Coach of the Year: Dave Ling (women’s swimming)
• Men’s Team Coach of the Year: Tom Kent and Scott Anderson (men’s rowing)
• Women’s Team of the Year: Women’s wrestling
• Men’s Team of the Year: Men’s rowing
• David Atkinson Surgite Award: Madalyn Weinert (women’s basketball)
• RM Davis Surgite Award: Brayden McReelis (men’s rugby)
• Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award: Emmery Borg
• BSP Student Intern of the Year: Mike MacDonald
• BSP Impact Award: Marisa Freeman
• Marilou Iusi Memorial Service Award: Heather Sweezey and Dave Collie