Three members of the Brock Badgers women's rugby team were recognized with provincial honours.
Ontario University Athetics (OUA) announced their list of award winners and provincial all-stars in an announcement made on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Abbie Wade headlined the list for the Badgers with a OUA First Team All-Star selection while Laura Brown and Paige DeNeve were named OUA Second Team All-Stars.
"Having these three players recognized as OUA all-stars shows how integral they were to our team over the course of the season," said Head Coach Adrian Brown. "They are all leaders on and off the field and have all worked tirelessly to hone their skills, aiding in a very strong season for the Brock women's rugby program."
Wade, a fourth-year scrum half, earns her second consecutive provincial all-star selection after being named a OUA Second Team All-Star in 2023.
This season, Wade has scored three tries and has won Player of the Match twice. She also named captain of the Badgers for every contest.
The Burlington product has led from the front with precise passing and exceptional kicking, bringing a dynamic boost to the Brock attack.
On defence, she was an even bigger force, using her physicality and experience to command the field.
Earning provincial recognition for the first time, Brown concludes her Badgers career with an OUA Second Team All-Star selection.
Returning to the team after missing the 2023 season due to injury, Brown made an immediate impact, scoring six tries on the season.
As a dynamic prop, the Reaboro, ON native regularly made dominant tackles on the defensive end and offensively, broke tackles and demonstrated strong ball carrying and offloading.
Coming off a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian selection and OUA Player of the Year award, DeNeve had another strong season for the Badgers and was one of the top OUA scoring leaders, finishing with 90 points in eight total games.
Running the Badgers offence, the product of Zephyr, ON showed crisp passing and consistently found space in the backfield with exceptional kicking.
DeNeve also was impactful defensively, making consistent tackles game after game.
The fourth-year Nursing major also was selected as an OUA First-Team All-Star in 2023 when she finished second in the province in scoring with 71 points.
"I am grateful that their skill has been recognized across the top athletes within OUA and U SPORTS," Brown added. "These wonderful young women are deserving of every recognition they receive."
The complete list of 2024 OUA women's rugby award winners and all-stars is as follows:
Player of the Year - Adelaide Holmes, Guelph
Rookie of the Year - Kennedi Stevenson, Queen's
Community Service Award - Raven Shulist, Waterloo
Coach of the Year - Spencer Robinson, York
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Fly Half - Natalie Armatage, Guelph
Scrum Half - Abbie Wade, Brock
Prop - Jordyn Schneppenheim, Queen's
Prop - Tattyannah Jackson, Queen's
Centre - Lara Jorgensen, Guelph
Centre - Maddy Donnelly, Queen's
Back Three - Adelaide Holmes, Guelph
Back Three - Kennedi Stevenson, Queen's
Back Three - Natasha Brooks, Waterloo
Back Row - Kennedy Feasby, Guelph
Back Row - Lizzie Gibson, Queen's
Back Row - Siobhan Sheerin, Queen's
Hooker - Taylor McKnight, Guelph
Second Row - Izzy Page, Queen's
Second Row - Osa Olaye, McMaster
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Fly Half - Paige DeNeve, Brock
Prop - Mary Adewa, Toronto
Prop - Laura Brown, Brock
Centre - Taylor Wood, McMaster
Centre - Tausani Levale, Guelph
Back Three - Taylor Macdonald, Western
Back Three - Abby Byers, Laurier
Back Three - Bailey Froese, Toronto
Back Row - Verena Marsig, McMaster
Back Row - Abby Auger, Guelph
Back Row - Emma Yang, Toronto
Hooker - Jocelyn Whittal, Western
Second Row - Stephanie Svaikauskas, Guelph
Second Row - Maxie Grant, Queen's
