Male Athlete of the Week

Osie Ukwuoma – Football

After being drafted 40th overall in the CFL entry draft in April by the Edmonton Eskimos and accepted to their practice roster, defensive end Osie Ukwuoma returned to Queen’s for a fifth year of football.

His final year with the Queen’s team has been the Gaels’ most successful campaign. They will compete in the Yates Cup tomorrow for the first time in seven years.

Ukwuoma said the team has bonded during his time with the Gaels.

“We’ve become more cohesive as a team. We trust each other more.”

Ukwuoma was selected as a first-team OUA All-Star for the third season in a row. He received the OUA defensive player of the week nod for his play in the semi-final game against McMaster last Saturday.

He said his progression as a football player has been a mental development.

“I can see things that I didn’t see when I was younger,” he said. “The way I look at the game I can see plays before they happen. When you’re a freshman or sophomore things happen and you just try to hang on. When you get older, you’re imposing your own will on the play.”

A Gaels loss in tomorrow’s game will make it his last in a Tricolour uniform.

Ukwuoma said one of the most beneficial aspects of his football experience is the sense of community atmosphere.

“It’s a sense of family. With the team there’s a lot of guys from different backgrounds but they come together in a common goal,” he said. “We get a lot of support from the Kingston community. When you’re out at the grocery store or running errands at the bank, people see the football jacket they’ll say ‘congratulations’ or ‘good luck’.”

Ukwuoma said if he didn’t have football, he’d probably be on the track team.

“I used to throw the discus and shot-put. I wasn’t bad either.”

-Jake Edmiston

What’s your favourite team in any sport?

Los Angeles Lakers.

Who’s your favourite superhero?

Batman.

What’s your favourite bar or club?

Stages.

What’s on your iPod right now?

The Blueprint III by Jay-Z.

Mullets or Mohawks?

Mohawks. You know what? My favourite superhero is The Flash.

Any hidden talents?

I can juggle.

Who would you trade lives with for a day?

Barack Obama.

Childhood dream job?

Architect.

What would you choose for your last meal?

Hamburger.

Where would you go if you had a free plane ticket?

Tokyo.

What would you rather be doing instead of this interview?

Not much.

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