ST. CATHARINES, Ont. (October 28, 2017) - The medals and awards piled up for the Queen's women's and men's rowing teams as Louise Munro and Alexander Bernst were named female and male athletes of the year.

Louise Munro was named the OUA female athlete of the year at the OUA Championship after picking up gold in the women's single. She finished the race in a time of 7:55.68 and cleared the finish line 10.06 ahead of second place.

Cassidy Deane and Paige Adams took the OUA gold in the women's pair, Greta Chase finished with a bronze medal performance in the lightweight women's single.

On the men's side Alexander Bernst was named the OUA athlete of the year along with Taylor Ashwood from the Brock Badgers. Bernst and Nick Grubic finished the men's double with an OUA gold then followed up with yet another gold medal in the lightweight men's double.

Gavin Stone went for gold in the men's heavyweight single clearing the finish line with a 17.53 second lead over second place.

Michael Bryenton, Ian Morrison - JV Men's Double - Gold
Cassidy Deane, Paige Adams - Women's Pair - Gold
Elliot Hall, Rob Cadman - Men's Pair - 4th
Greta Chase - Lightweight Women's Single - Bronze
Evan Notley - Lightweight Men's Single - 4th
Nicolas Grubic, Alexander Bernst - Men's Double - Gold
Greta Chase, Jane Carlton - Lightweight Women's Double - 4th
Nicolas Grubic, Alexander Bernst - Lightweight Men's Double - Gold
Louise Munro - Women's Single - Gold
Gavin Stone - Men's Single - Gold
Michael Wightman, Mitchell Valic, Scott Coombs, Daniel Stret, Ryan Jones - Lightweight Men's Four - 4th
Daniel Stret, Mitchell Valic - Lightweight Men's Pair - 5th

Starting off OUA's Friday morning were Michael Bryenton and Ian Morrison representing the Gaels in the OUA Development regatta. After a handily won heat, the pair would continue on to place Gold, being awarded the first of many medals for the weekend.

That afternoon would see the rest of Queen's Rowing competing in heats to secure placements for finals Saturday. Greta Chase would be the first down the course in the Lightweight Women's Single, placing second in her heat she would be seated 5th overall. Evan Notley would have a similar heat in the Lightweight Men's Single, also finishing second and ranking 5th.

Greta Chase would pair up with Jane Carlton for her second race of the day in the Lightweight Women's Double, ending up ranking 5th overall, they would also move on to Friday's A Final.

Alexander Bernst and Nicolas Grubic would dominate both the Heavyweight and Lightweight Men's Double heats, after an incredible performance they would be ranked first overall in both categories. Also representing the Lightweight Men, Michael Wightman, Mitchell Valic, Scott Coombs, Daniel Stret, and Ryan Jones would finish second, ranking 4th.

Louise Munro and Gavin Stone respectively racing the Heavyweight Women's and Men's Singles. Both would finish off the day ranked first overall.

Moving on to Saturday morning's finals, the Gaels would see gold early in the morning. Cassidy Deane and Paige Adams would have an incredible race, winning the first event of the day in the Heavyweight Women's Pair. Robert Cadman and Elliot Hall would follow in the next event, finishing 4th in the Heavyweight Men's Pair.

Building off of yesterdays' performance, Greta Chase would compete remarkably, and with an incredible finish would win bronze in the Lightweight Women's Single. Evan Notley would nearly mirror this performance in the Lightweight Men's Single, edged out of third he would finish a close 4th in the final.

Alexander Bernst and Nicolas Grubic would again dominate in their execution, handily winning gold in finals for both Heavyweight and Lightweight Men's Doubles. Greta Chase and Jane Carlton would also race their final in the Lightweight Women's Double, finishing 4th.

Louise Munro would add another medal to the day's total, winning gold in the Heavyweight Women's Single, she would put a healthy 11 seconds between herself and second place. Gavin Stone would also win gold in a well raced final for the Heavyweight Men's Single, putting the day's medal count at 6.

Finishing off the day would again be the Lightweight Men's 4 of Michael Wightman, Mitchell Valic, Scott Coombs, Daniel Stret, and Ryan Jones. After a hard fought final they would finish 4th overall. Mitchell and Daniel would pair up again for the final race of the day in the Lightweight Men's Pair, ultimately finishing 5th.

The afternoon's medal ceremony would not only see multiple golds presented to Queen's Rowing, but also the respective awarding of Women's and Men's Athlete of the Year to Louise Munro and Alexander Bernst. Concluding the weekend would see the presentation of the OUA Banners, despite competing in only 11 out of the possible 20 events, Queen's would finish 5th overall in points on the women's side and 3rd overall on the men's.

The Rowing Team will take the next few days to build off of the performances from the weekend, with their eyes now set on the Canadian University Rowing Championships taking place next weekend.