The Journal’s top player picks from every Queen’s Varsity team.
Ollie Engen, Kin ’28, of Men’s Basketball takes home his second straight player of the year after another stellar season for the Gaels. Logging the most minutes for Queen’s with 631 minutes of the floor, Engen amassed 430 points, good for fourth in the OUA. Engen was named an OUA First Team All Star having been named to the OUA All-Rookie Team a season ago.
Kiyara Letlow, MSc ’25, led the Women’s Basketball team to a near perfect season just dropping one game in the regular season. Letlow finished her final season averaging 15.8 points and 12.3 rebound. She set the USports record for rebounds in a career with 1,411, and was named a USports Second Team All Canadian for her tremendous season.
Men’s Cross Country and Distance Track: Jude Wheeler-Dee, ArtSci ’26, of Men’s Cross Country and Distance track is nothing short of impressive. In his fifth and final season running for the Gaels, he added to his storied career with an OUA Championship gold in Cross Country, a USports team gold in Cross Country, and two gold in Distance Track’s 1500m and 3000m. To top the season off a FISU appearance in Italy, representing both Queen’s and Canada.
Woman’s Cross Country and Distance Track: Elizabeth Vroom, Sci ’27, shined for the growingly dangerous Gaels Women’s Cross Country team, being a key contributor of their OUA championship. Vroom in the OUA distance track Championship captured a silver in the 1500m, and a bronze in the 4x800m event, that helped her to be named a Student Athlete of the Week in February.
Jared Chisari, MSc ’26, earns this years nod as Men’s Football’s player of the year after an outstanding season for the fifth year running back. Chisari in all OUA statistical rushing categories ranked in the top four, including first in yards per rush with 10.1. He was recognized as an OUA First Team All Star and a USports Second Team All Canadian.
Tanner Wickware, MIR ’26, the Men’s Hockey starting goaltender was the primary reason the Gaels were able to go on their magical run to the USports Championship. Wickware started every game from Nov. 16 on including the playoffs where he led the entire OUA with a .944 save percentage and 271 saves.
Sophie Hudson, Sci ’26, the Captain of the Women’s hockey team, led her team to be the top team in the OUA East this past season. The fifth year forward led the OUA in points with her teammate Mikayla Cranney ArtSci ’28. Hudson after the season was named a U Sports First Team All-Canadian to round out her USports career.
Marcus D’Acre, ArtSci ’26, was named the Men’s Rugby Player of the Year for the second straight year. D’Acre was honoured for his performance during the season being named the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship Player of the Year.
Jiggy Schonfeld, Kin ’28, of Women’s Rugby earns the Player of the Year recognition after an outstanding season by her and her team led to a USports National Championship. Schonfeld, a Back Row third year, was named a U Sports All Canadian and will look to defend the National Championships next year.
Jacob Ball, ArtSci ’28, shined in his first year as a Gael and takes home our Player Of The Year for Men’s Soccer. Ball was tied for second in the OUA in goals with nine and was recognised as an OUA All Star.
Mattson Strickler, ConEd ’26, is the Women’s Soccer Player of the Year for the second straight year at —The Journal in her final season as a Gael. Strickler amassed 12 points in just nine games. For her efforts, she was named a East Division Second Team All Star.
Nikola Mitrovic, ArtSci ’26, takes home the Player of the Year for the OUA Champion Men’s Volleyball team. Mitrovic was a key contributor of the Gaels offence, particularly in the playoffs where he averaged 4.67 kills per set. He was recognized for his breakout season with being named an OUA Second Team All Star.
Claire Carter, Comm ’28, is Women’s Volleyball’s high-flying outside is this years Player of the Year. Carter, a consistent contributor in all three phases of the game including her explosive serve, that allowed her to finish second in the OUA in service aces. The good news for Gaels fans is that she’ll be a force at the AR
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Jude Wheeler-Dee, staff picks, The Journal, varsity teams
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