Message from Director of Sports & Recreation, Christine Stapleton

By Christine Stapleton

christine message

Athletic Director Christine Stapleton with Matt Indome, Mustangs T&F, winner of the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy and Dennis Hinschberger, WMAA President-elect

2023-24 was another banner year for the Mustangs. Our teams took home nine provincial, and two national championship titles this year!

  • The Mustangs Ringette team won the University Challenge Cup again in December 2023 as back-to-back national champions from Ontario. Mustangs Ringette also took home the provincial championship for the second year in a row

  • Women’s lacrosse won the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Provincial Championship.

  • Men’s lacrosse won their national championship

  • Women’s cross-country won their OUA championship

  • Mustangs Football won the Yates Cup for the third year in a row and the 35th time in history

  • For the first time in Mustangs history, men’s and women’s track & field both won their OUA championship titles

  • Women’s fencing won their OUA championship

  • Figure skating won their OUA championship

  • Men’s squash continued their unprecedented streak with their 40th consecutive OUA title

Our student-athletes consistently give back to their community, on campus and in London.  They have helped to make Western one of the most athletically dominant schools in the nation and are an integral part of the academic success of our institution. But I am especially proud of how they are such strong supporters of our community. Many of them make the time, in their already busy schedules, to volunteer with the Mustangs Athletes Students Council, Mustangs Care, community groups, charities and local youth sports teams.

We recently celebrated many amazing accomplishments of our student-athletes this past season at the 83rd Western Mustangs Athletic Awards Celebration, held on campus at Alumni Hall.

2024 recipients:

  • Ella Doornaert, Mustangs Wrestling is recipient of the G. Howard Ferguson Award. The award was established at Western in 1932 and is presented to a senior student in any faculty of the university who has attained the highest achievement during a university career encompassing athletics, scholarship and university life.

  • Female Athlete of the Year is Shona Branton, Mustangs Swimming, and the Male Athlete of the Year is Treye Trotman, Mustangs Wrestling. Athlete of the Year awards are presented annually to a male and female student-athlete who have achieved outstanding success representing Western at the provincial or national level in the season.

  • The winner of this year's F.W.P. Jones Trophy is Blythe Hilpert, Mustangs Softball. The trophy is awarded to a female student-athlete who made the most outstanding contribution to intercollegiate athletics during their career.

  • This year's Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy recipient is Matt Indome – Mustangs Track & Field. The Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy is awarded to the male student athlete who made the most outstanding contribution to intercollegiate athletics during their career.

Purple Blankets were also presented to top athletes across many different sports. Read more here.

Congratulations to all our incredible student-athletes!

We have some of the best coaches in the country here at Western. We had six teams and seven coaches receive coach of the year recognitions this past year.

  • Guy Schultz was named OUA Coach of the Year for women’s cross country
  • Garrett Loubert was named OUA Coach of the Year for women’s lacrosse
  • Western swept the OUA track & field coaching awards. Vickie Croley was named both the Bob Vigars (men’s) and Sue Wise (women’s) Coach of the Year
  • Track & field assistant coaches Taylor Ehrhardt and Caroline Ehrhardt, were named OUA Assistant Coaches of the Year
  • Taylor Ehrhardt was also named the U SPORTS track & field Male Assistant Coach of the Year
  • Chris Hanebury was named OUA Coach of the Year for men’s squash
  • Tom Panabaker was named OUA Coach of the Year for women’s squash

Speaking of coaches, one of our own was recently named to receive an honorary degree at the June 14, 3:00pm Convocation. Bob Vigars is the longest-serving head coach in Western Mustangs history, spending 46 years coaching men’s and women’s cross country and achieving incredible success with the team.

Bob has stayed involved with our program in many ways, including as Meet Director when the Mustangs hosted the very successful U SPORTS National Cross-Country championship in 2023. Bob is passionate about the Mustangs and so deserving of this recognition. Congratulations Bob! Read more here.

Support your sport

Soon you will see the kickoff to our annual athletics fundraising campaign. It’s a time of year where I’m reminded of just how important our alumni and donors are in helping create a supportive community for all student-athletes.

This year, our highest priority needs include specialized equipment, nutritious food, travel expenses and student awards. We want student-athletes to feel valued for their hard work, and you play a key role in making that possible!

Please visit our website to help the Mustangs excel in their sport and their studies.

I am very grateful to the Mustangs community for the numerous ways that you support our success and help us build lifelong connections in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Thank you so much!

Wishing you a summer filled with sun, fun and relaxing moments.