It was once again time to celebrate another legendary varsity season on Wednesday night at the Physical Activities Complex, as hundreds of Warriors student-athletes, staff, and VIPs convened for the 63rd annual Athletics Awards Banquet. And, at the end of the night, it was a pair of Warriors hockey stars - one from the pitch, and another from the ice - who came away with the season's biggest honours.
Athletes of the year: Meagan Hobson (Waterloo, ON/), field hockey, and Matt Onuska (Waterloo, ON/), men's hockey
Hobson caps off a season full of honours and accolades by claiming the Marsden trophy as women's athlete of the year. The fourth-year midfielder was a force for the black and gold, tying for the OUA lead in goals with 6, and finishing in a tie for second in points, with 12. Hobson was named an OUA all-star, U Sports tournament MVP, and a first-team All-Canadian, as she captained the Warriors to their first OUA field hockey crown in 20 years.
Onuska's dominant season between the pipes earned him the Totzke trophy as Waterloo men's athlete of the year. The second-year Health Sciences student registered a nation-best .941 save percentage and a miniscule 2.18 goals-against average for the men's hockey Warriors this season, claiming both the OUA and U SPORTS goaltender of the year awards. The first-team OUA all-star and first-team All-Canadian also starred in the classroom, as his 96.6% academic average earned him recognition as a top-4 academic student-athlete at Waterloo.
WUSA Rookies of the year: Kymora Stafford (Toronto, ON/), women's basketball, and Michael Ji (Richmond Hill, ON/), badminton
Stafford exploded on the scene this season with the Warriors hoopsters. The first-year guard started in 14 contests for the Warriors, and she led the team with 10.9 points per game, while adding 6.1 rebounds per contest. Stafford had a career-high 20 points back on February 1st against Laurier, en route to an OUA all-rookie team selection.
Ji helped lead the Warriors to their third consecutive silver medal at the OUA badminton championships in February. The rookie is ranked 2nd domestically, as Ji also earned his first OUA all-star selection this season.
Team of the year: Women's hockey
A year after claiming their first-ever McCaw cup championship, the women's hockey Warriors made more history in 2024-25. Coming off an 18-2-6 regular season and an OUA silver medal in their second-straight McCaw Cup appearance, the Warriors put together a magical run to the national title game and a U SPORTS silver medal at the national championship tournament in Elmira earlier this month.
Imprint coach of the year: Musa Huq (Niagara Falls, ON/), squash
In his first year at the helm of the squash program, Huq led the Warriors to a pair of OUA medals this season: the women's team captured a bronze, while the men's team earned silver at the OUA championship back in February. In addition to having three of his student-athletes named to the OUA all-star team, Huq was crowned as the OUA squash coach of the year.
Shield of excellence awards
Six student-athletes were recipients of the prestigious shield of excellence award, presented to graduating student-athletes that made an indelible mark on Warriors athletics throughout their career.
Jacob Ray (Tecumseh, ON/) was dominant on the mound over the past four seasons for the Warriors baseball team. The lefty amassed an 11-1 record in his time with the black and gold, with an ERA of 3.30 and 89 strikeouts in just 71 innings.
Shannon Warriner (Burlington, ON/) is one of the most decorated curlers in Warriors history. She threw third stones for Waterloo's 2024 OUA Bronze and U SPORTS silver medal-winning squads, while also being named an OUA all-star and the 2025 OUA curling championship MVP.
Josh Eustace (Brantford, ON) finishes his career with Warriors rugby as a three-time OUA all-star, and a national all-star team member. Last fall, Eustace was named the 2024 OUA men's rugby MVP.
Pavle Milic (Toronto, ON/) is a three-time OUA men's tennis all-star who has been a force since he stepped on campus. In 2019, Milic won the OUA rookie of the year award, as well as the WUSA rookie of the year award for Warriors athletics.
Avery Kelly (Calgary, AB/) graduates from the women's volleyball team as one of the all-time greats in program history. The left side totalled 543 career kills over 247 sets, and was named an OUA all-star four times. Kelly also won the 2024 OUA Award of Merit.
Leah Herrfort (Palmerston, ON/) finishes her career as the all-time scoring leader in Warriors women's hockey history, as she registered 42 goals and 59 assists for 101 points in 85 career games. Herrfort was the 2023 OUA MVP, an All-Canadian, and twice represented her country at the FISU games.
The ceremony began with Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Elder Myeengun Henry leading the graduating student-athletes into the PAC with the Eagle Staff, an important element of the Indigenous relationship to Earth and those that have protected it. The Eagle Staff reflects the wisdom, strength, and honour of those that carry it in representing the Nations across Turtle Island.
The evening also included several other awards and honours that celebrated the many student-athletes and other contributors to the larger Warrior athletics and recreation community throughout the 2024-25 season.
Full list of award winners
Marsden Trophy – Megan Hobson (field hockey)
Totzke Trophy – Matt Onuska (Waterloo, ON/) (men's hockey)
WUSA Rookie of the Year – Kymora Stafford (Toronto, ON/) (women's basketball)
WUSA Rookie of the Year – Michael Ji (Richmond Hill, ON/) (Badminton)
Team of the Year – women's hockey
Imprint Coach of the Year – Musa Huq (Niagara Falls, ON/) (squash)
Judy McCrae Warrior Impact Award – Alex Sinik (Calgary, AB/) (women's volleyball), Yemi Oladipo (St. Catharines, ON/) (women's basketball)
J.O. Hemphill Award – David Awosoga (women's volleyball)
Director's Award – Avery Kelly (Calgary, AB/) (women's volleyball), Giselle Ramlal (San Fernando, TT/) (cheerleading), Cecilia Qiu (Port of Spain, TT/) (cheerleading)
Brian Farrance Award – Nyklass Eng, Mikayla Cameron
Warrior Campus Service Award – Dr. John McCuaig
Student manager of the year – Barbara Yachnin
Strength & conditioning coach of the year – Connor Buck-O'Neill
Warrior Shield of Excellence Winners:
