HAMILTON, Ont. – Western Mustangs quarterback Will Finch, who rewrote the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) record book in his sophomore season, has been named the 2013 OUA Most Valuable Player. He will be the OUA nominee for the Canadian University Sport (CIS) Hec Crighton Trophy.
Along with Finch, Mustangs linebacker Pawel Kruba took home the President’s Trophy as the OUA Stand-up Defensive Player of the Year while head coach Greg Marshall was named Coach of the Year and defensive coordinator Paul Gleason earned Volunteer Coach of the Year honours.
Finch established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in CIS football, helping the Mustangs to its first 8-0 season since 1998, and setting a new OUA team-scoring record in the process with 458 points.
The Burlington, Ont., native had one of the greatest statistical seasons in history, setting new OUA milestones for passing yards with 3,047 and completion percentage, hitting 69.7 percent of his passes. He tossed 21 touchdowns on the year and added five more on the ground. His 3,047 passing yards eclipsed that of Mustang QB legend Michael Faulds and stood as a CIS record for a week before being dropped to No. 2 on the all-time list.
Finch was twice named OUA offensive player of the week (Sept. 8 and Oct. 20) for his efforts against the McMaster Marauders and York Lions. He was selected as the OUA male athlete of the week on both occasions.
Kruba, a Windsor, Ont., native, is the heart of the Mustangs defense, helping the team finish in the Top 10 in both points allowed per game (18.5) and rushing yards allowed per game (109.9).
This year marked another fantastic season for the senior as Kruba placed second on the team with 38 tackles, averaging 4.8 per game. He also tied for the team lead with three interceptions, helping the Mustangs to a CIS second-best 28 turnovers.
An OUA second team all-star in 2012, Kruba only improved in 2013 and was honoured during the season as both the OUA and CIS Defensive Player of the Week after racking up nine tackles and two interceptions in Western’s 58-15 win over McMaster.
Kruba is the sixth Mustang to take home the President’s Award and is also a first team all-star.
Marshall, in his seventh season with the team, guided the Mustangs to their best season since 1998. The award marks Marshall’s fourth nod as the OUA Coach of the Year, previously winning the award in 2010 with Western and in 1999 and 2000 while at the helm of the McMaster Marauders. He also captured the CIS coach of the year award back in 2000, and was named the CFL Coach of the Year in 2004 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Coaching awards aren’t the only trophies on Marshall’s mantle as he won the 1980 Hec Crighton Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding player as a running back for the Mustangs. He then went on to the CFL, winning a Grey Cup in 1982 with the Edmonton Eskimos.
A native of Guelph, Ont., Marshall has coached all three of his sons at Western, with both Brian and Tom currently suiting up for the Mustangs while Donnie finished his university career last season.
Gleason, an outstanding high school coach in the London area, joined the Mustangs coaching staff in 1997, signing on as the special teams coordinator. Taking the reigns as the defensive coordinator in 2000, Gleason has guided the Mustangs defense for over a decade, helping the team reach the Yates Cup final six times in that span.
Alongside the team success he’s coached seven student-athletes who have gone on to play in the CFL and one in the NFL all in the past five years.
All the major award winners for 2013 were honoured on Thursday at a press conference in Hamilton in conjunction with the Yates Cup conference.
2013 OUA FOOTBALL MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Most Valuable Player – Will Finch (Western)
President’s Trophy (Stand-up Defensive Player) – Pawel Kruba (Western)
J.P. Metras Trophy (Lineman of the Year) – Ettore Lattanzio (Ottawa)
Norm Marshall Trophy (Rookie of the Year) – Daniel Vandervoort (McMaster)
Russ Jackson Nominee – Aaron Gazendam (Queen’s)
Dave ‘Tuffy’ Knight Award (Coach of the Year) – Greg Marshall (Western)
Volunteer Coach of the Year – Paul Gleason (Western)
Officials Award of Merit – Kevin Mickelboro