Demyanenko, L. Stafford named Investors Group OUA Athletes of the Week
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Investors Group Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending March 6, 2017.
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Investors Group Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending March 13, 2017.
MALE: Danny Demyanenko (Toronto, Ont.) – 5th yr – McMaster Marauders – Volleyball
After leading his team to their fifth consecutive OUA men’s volleyball championship, McMaster Marauders middle Danny Demyanenko (Toronto, Ont.) has been named the Investors Group OUA Male Athlete of the Week.
In Friday’s semifinal against Ryerson, Demyanenko, a fifth-year justice, political philosophy and law major, converted 11-of-14 attempts without an error (78.6 per cent) while adding a block and a half for 12.5 points and was named the Mikasa Player of the Match.
The Toronto, Ont. native wasn’t done there as in Saturday’s gold medal match, Demyanenko made good on six of seven attacks versus one error (71 per cent), while adding four and a half blocks for a game high of 10.5 points.
Earlier this week, Demyanenko was named the West Division Player of the Year for the second time in his career.
Demyanenko and the Marauders will now head to Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton for the U SPORTS championship where they’ll face the Laval Rouge et Or on Thursday afternoon.
FEMALE: Lucia Stafford (Toronto, Ont.) – 1st yr. – Toronto Varsity Blues – Track
University of Toronto distance specialist Lucia Stafford (Toronto, Ont.) has been named the Investors Group OUA Female Athlete of the Week after leading the Varsity Blues to their third consecutive national title this past weekend in Edmonton.
Stafford, a first-year engineering major, earned three gold medals and one silver medal over the course of the three-day meet on her way to being named the U SPORTS Outstanding Athlete of the Meet.
The Toronto, Ont. native won gold in the women’s 1000m, crossing the finish line in a time of 2:47.70. Along with teammates Madeleine Kelly, Gillian Ceyhan and Avery Garrett-Patterson, Stafford also anchored the Blues gold medal winning 4x800 relay team. Stafford picked up her third gold medal of the championship as the women’s 4x400 relay team won their race in a time of 3:45.03.
In addition, Stafford also earned a silver medal in the women’s 1500m, finishing behind her sister and 2016 Olympian, Gabriela Stafford.
This is the second Investors Group OUA Athlete of the Week honour for Stafford in 2016-17 after she previously was recognized back on Sept. 26, 2016.
