Guelph Gryphons capture first OUA women’s curling title in 46 years

For the first time in 46 years, the Guelph Gryphons are Ontario champions in women's curling. (@gryphonsguelph/Instagram)

The University of Guelph Gryphons are Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions in women’s curling for the first time in nearly five decades.

The Gryphons defeated the defending champion McMaster Marauders 6-4 in the gold medal draw at the 2026 OUA Curling Championships, held over the weekend at the Welland Curling Club.

The title is the program’s third conference championship, following previous wins in 1978 and 1980.

The championship rink featured Katrina Frlan as skip, Erika Wainwright as vice, Aila Thompson at second, Kelsea Marcolini at lead and Liana Flanagan as fifth.

With the victory, the Gryphons punched their ticket to nationals, with the 2026 U SPORTS Curling Championships scheduled for Feb. 17-21 in Regina, Sask.

Head coach Morgan Lavell credited the team’s chemistry and growing experience for the breakthrough result.

“It comes down to all the experience that a lot of these players have individually and then just how well they get along and how much they play for each other,” Lavell said in a media release. “This group is young, they’re building and they already have so much experience. It was awesome to see how it turned into this gold medal performance this weekend.”

Guelph opened the final with the hammer and took an early 2-0 lead after the first end. McMaster responded by tying the game in the third end and pulling ahead 4-2 in the sixth. The Gryphons answered with a four-point seventh end to move in front 6-4, prompting McMaster to concede.

Frlan was named both OUA most valuable player and OUA rookie of the year. Teammate Thompson earned OUA First Team All-Star honours.

The Gryphons finished pool play with a 3-1 record before defeating the TMU Bold in the quarterfinals and the Queen’s Gaels in the semifinals en route to the championship win.

On the men’s side, the Gryphons also went 3-1 in pool play but were eliminated in the quarterfinals, falling 9-3 to the York Lions.

The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks claimed the OUA men’s curling title.