MONO, ON – On Wednesday evening Ontario University Athletics (OUA) presented their Honour Awards and C.H.A.M.P. Awards, with the Brock Badgers receiving two recognitions at the annual event.

The Honour Awards recognize the best performances from individuals and groups on the field, on the sidelines, and behind the scenes each year. Brock Badgers wrestling head coach Marty Calder was named the OUA Honour Awards Men's Team Coach of the Year for the second time in his career following another outstanding season for the Brock wrestling program.

"I accept this honour with great appreciation and accept it on behalf of our entire staff at Brock University," started Calder at the event last night. "Coaches, trainers, sports staff, they all contribute towards us putting together our competitive team's year-after-year. I feel very privileged and fortunate to have spent the majority of my life in high-performance sport, intending to make myself and the athletes that I coach better each and every day."

Despite not having a U SPORTS national championship event over the past two years, the Badgers men's team made a strong return to the event entering the showcase as the No. 1 nationally ranked team in the country. Showing no signs of rust, Calder's crew went on to capture six total medals including two golds, three silvers, and one bronze. Brock finished first overall in the men's standings with a total of 65 points, placing them 14 points clear of McMaster (51) in second, followed by the host Alberta (48) in third. The U SPORTS banner marked the eighth straight and 21st in program history for the Badgers men's wrestling team, more than double any other wrestling program across the country. Calder was named the U SPORTS Men's Team Coach of the Year for the 12^th time at the conclusion of the event.

This all came after the men's team secured its seventh consecutive OUA provincial championship at McMaster University earlier in the season, along with Calder receiving OUA Men's Team Coach of the Year honours for an 11^th time in his career.
The Badgers men captured four provincial gold medals and a total of seven individual medals, en route to their 25th OUA banner in program history.

In total this season the Brock men featured four OUA first team all-stars, two OUA second team all-stars, two U SPORTS first team All-Canadians, and three U SPORTS second team All-Canadians.

Calder additionally serves as coach with the Brock Wrestling Club and the Canadian Men's National Program.

Shifting to the C.H.A.M.P. Awards, these honours yearly recognize achievements in marketing and promotion from across the OUA. This season the Brock Badgers received the C.H.A.M.P. Awards Best G2 Championship after hosting an incredible OUA Quigley Cup Women's Volleyball final at Bob Davis Gymnasium.

"The 2023 Quigley Cup was one of the most exciting OUA championships I have participated in," said Executive Director, Brock Athletics and Recreation Melissa Krist. "To be acknowledged with the Best G2 Championship award is not only an honour for Brock, but a tribute to the incredible achievements of our student-athletes, coaches and staff in the delivery of an exceptional student-athlete experience."

The game itself featured an atmosphere any championship would desire, with the home team Badgers completing a thrilling comeback after trailing by two sets, urged on by over 600 fans in attendance for the jam-packed, sold out, five set event.

But in addition to the on-court action, Brock provided exceptional coverage with two professional photographers capturing the game, a social media team working to provide updates and highlights via Twitter and Instagram, and BrockTV simulcasting for both OUA.TV and CBC with a full pre-game production. Online, the match saw a viewership of over 2,500 fans watching either live or on-demand.

"We are honoured to have Brock University recognized as a first-class host by the OUA," said Manager, Events and Partnerships Erica Wortley, who served as lead for the Quigley Cup this season. "Everyone from game day and facility staff to media supports were on top of their game that day. Our crew played a pivotal role in setting the stage for what would be an unforgettable championship event."

The honour marks the third hosting award for Brock in the history of the C.H.A.M.P. Awards dating back to 2015-16, previously winning Best G1 Championship in 2021-22 (Critelli Cup/Wilson Cup/Queen's Cup) and 2017-18 (Queen's Cup). The Badgers have also previously won C.H.A.M.P. Awards such as Photo of the Year, Best Video Feature, Best Webcast Announcer, Best Social Media Account, Best Fan Support Group, and Best Mascot.

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