SCOTT YANCHUS MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
2025-26 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Andre Thompson (Football)
First-year defensive lineman Andre Thompson made an immediate impact on the football team as he takes home the Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year Award. The sociology major at the University of Guelph appeared in all of his team's games during the 2025 football season, cementing himself as a starter on the defensive line in the third game of the season. Andre finished his first season with 18 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. For the London native, he had one of the best plays of football season in the Gryphons final regular season against York when he perfectly anticipated the shovel pass and picked it off with one hand for his first career interception as he ran it back 21 yards before being tackled. Andre's fantastic rookie season saw him earn a spot on the OUA All-Rookie Team, making it the 9th consecutive season a Gryphon has earned that distinction.
2024-25 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Casey Harkley (Men’s Wrestling)
Guelph native Casey Harkley on the Gryphons men’s wrestling team, is the 2024-25 Scott Yanchus Men’s Rookie of the Year. The management economics and finance major became just the second U of G student-athlete to be named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year since Jake Jagas is 2009-10. Harkley fresh off winning a bronze medal at the OUA Championships, went on an incredible run at the 2025 Wrestling Canada Lutte U SPORTS Invitational Championships culminating in his first gold medal in the men’s 68kg weight class in his national championship debut. The John F. Ross graduate showcased his dominance in pool play, winning all four of his matches including a decisive 11-0 technical superiority victory over Brock's Gabe Blanchette to qualify for the gold medal match. Casey would earn a pinfall victory in the first two minutes of the match over Alberta’s Issac Le Morgan to come in first place in the men’s 68kg weight class to finish off a marvelous gold medal run at nationals.
2023-24 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Jacob Cabral (Men’s Soccer)
Jacob Cabral, an 18-year-old rookie midfielder on the Gryphons men’s soccer team, is the 2023-24 Scott Yanchus Men’s Rookie of the Year. The arts major from Mississauga became just the second U of G men’s soccer student-athlete to earn a spot on the U SPORTS Men’s Soccer All-Rookie Team, joining Moses Kafeero who was named as a top freshman back in 2019. Cabral was one of the best midfielders in the entire OUA in 2023, appearing in 11 games for the Gryphons, displaying outstanding vision and awareness. In the 38-year history of the University of Guelph’s Scott Yanchus Rookie of the Year Award, this marks the first time it has been won by a member of the Gryphons men’s soccer team.
2022-23 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Dezayne Mingo (Men's Basketball)
Dezayne Mingo in the recipient of the Scott Yanchus Male Rookie of the Year award after a sensational first season as a member of the Gryphons men's basketball team. The arts major was the first Gryphons men's basketball player in 22 years to be named OUA Rookie of the Year. He also became the first-ever Gryphons men's basketball player to be named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team.
The Hamilton native led the Gryphons in total points, assists, and minutes played during the regular season, highlighted by a triple-double versus Nipissing. In his playoff debut, Dezayne stole the show, scoring 21 points in a road playoff win over Lakeahead, marking the program's first playoff win in 11 years.
2021-22 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Devynn Cromwell (Football)
Devynn Cromwell, a rookie defensive back with the Gryphon football team, takes home the Scott Yanchus Award as the University of Guelph’s Male Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
Cromwell, a standout member of the Gryphon secondary, was named a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian at halfback. The 20-year-old psychology major impressed in his first season of on-field action after having joined the Gryphon football program prior to the cancelled 2020 season.
A talented and physical defensive back out of Clarkson Football North academy in Toronto, Cromwell finished the 2021 regular season with 7 pass break ups, earning a spot on the 2021 OUA All-Rookie Team.
2019-20 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Gunnar Eyjolfsson (Men's Track & Field)
In his first season with the Gryphons men’s track and field team, Gunnar Eyjolfsson takes home Male Rookie of the Year honours thanks to a standout 2019-20 campaign.
Gunnar, an arts and science major who hails from Iceland, helped lead the Gryphons men’s team to a fourth straight OUA title with a gold medal performance at the 2020 OUA Track and Field Championships.
Eyjolfsson followed up his OUA gold medal with a U SPORTS silver medal at nationals, earning U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian honours in the men’s heptathlon while contributing to a dominant team title from the Gryphon men, who finished 70 points ahead of the second-place Calgary Dinos in the final team standings.
2018-19 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Matthew MacNeill (Men's Track & Field)
19-year-old hurdler and long-jumper Matthew MacNeill takes home Scott Yanchus Rookie of the Year honours after a standout 2018-19 season. On Thursday, March 7 in Winnipeg, MacNeill was recognized at the national level as he became the fifth Gryphon ever to be named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year in track and field. The Commerce student from London, Ontario burst onto the scene this season, earning a silver medal in the hurdles at the OUA Championships before going on to reach the podium at nationals with a bronze in the men’s long jump.
2017-18 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Todd Winder (Men's Hockey)
The Guelph Gryphons hockey team led the OUA in goals thanks in part to a memorable debut season from Todd Winder. The Uxbridge, ON native and former Newmarket Hurricanes’ player made the transition to OUA hockey look easy by establishing team highs in goals with 18 and points with 34 in 27 games played. Todd raised his game to another level in the postseason, scoring 6 goals and adding four assists in five games. The skilled Gryphon capped a memorable first year with OUA West Rookie of the Year honours.
2016-17 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Keysean Powell (Track & Field)
Keysean Powell was named the 2016-17 recipient of the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year for Men's Track & Field. He became the third Gryphon ever to take home the award, joining Yves Sikubwabo (2012-13) and Jason Diston (2009-10). Powell, a dual sport athlete at the University of Guelph who also plays receiver on the Gryphon football team, burst onto the scene in 2016-17 with a pair of silver medals at the OUA Championships in the long jump (7.26m) and 60m (6.81) events. The Economics major finished just .01 second behind his Gryphon teammate Kyle Thompson for the gold in the men's 60m at the OUA Championships.
2015-16 Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year: Benjamin Workman (Cross Country)
For an 11th straight year, the Gryphons men’s cross country team won the OUA title, but they couldn’t have done it without the help of this rookie. Workman was the fourth gryphon to cross the line at the OUA's – helping the Gryphons escape with the narrowest of victories in the team standings where they edged the Windsor Lancers by one point. Workman was the first rookie in the competition to cross the finish line at the oua championships coming in at 12th overall. During the process, he earned the title of OUA Rookie of the Year.
Return to Awards Archive
List of winners of the Scott Yanchus Men's Rookie of the Year Award:
YEAR |
WINNER SPORT |
| 1986-87 |
Ray Darling BB |
| 1987-88 |
Mike Gillies HOC |
| 1988-89 |
Tim Mau BB |
| 1989-90 |
Jeff Sumner SWIM |
| 1990-91 |
Dan Haylow HOC |
| 1991-92 |
Rich Wesolowski BB |
| 1992-93 |
George Dourian HOC |
| 1993-94 |
Todd Wetzel HOC |
| 1994-95 |
Collin Jones BB |
| 1995-96 |
Toby Limebeer SWIM |
| 1996-97 |
Sean Sepulis SWIM |
| 1997-98 |
Mike Ayanbadegjo BB |
| 1998-99 |
Jason Jackman HOC |
| 1999-2000 |
Tom Wright VB |
| 2000-2001 |
Nadan Kapetanovic BB |
| 2001-2002 |
Bryan McMillan SWIM |
| 2002-2003 |
Chris Simek VB |
| 2003-2004 |
Andre-Paul Baillargeon-Smith XC/SWIM |
| 2004-2005 |
Patrick Szpak T&F |
| 2005-2006 |
Scott van Doormall SWIM |
| 2006-2007 |
Nick FitzGibbon FB |
| 2007-2008 |
Alan Moffat WRSTL |
| 2008-2009 |
Rob Jackson XC/T&F |
| 2009-2010 |
Jake Jagas WRSTL |
| 2010-2011 |
Ross Proudfoot XC/TF |
| 2011-2012 |
Aaron Hendrikx XC |
| 2012-2013 |
Yves Sikubwabo XC, TRACK |
| 2013-14 |
Tristane Woodfine, XC, TRACK |
| 2014-15 |
Andrew D'Agostini MHKY |
| 2015-16 |
Benjamin Workman XC |
| 2016-17 |
Keysean Powell (Track & Field) |
| 2017-18 |
Todd Winder (MHKY) |
| 2018-19 |
Matthew MacNeill (T&F) |
| 2019-20 |
Gunnar Eyjolfsson (T&F) |
| 2021-22 |
Devynn Cromwell (FB) |
| 2022-23 |
Dezayne Mingo (MBB) |
| 2023-24 |
Jacob Cabral (MSCR) |
| 2024-25 |
Casey Harkley (WRSTL) |
| 2025-26 |
Andre Thompson (FB) |
