OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College student-athletes Sarah Clayton (rugby) and Owen Mailhot (golf) have been named finalists for the OCAA Rookie of the Year awards following outstanding debut seasons in the green and gold.
Clayton is one of three nominees for the OCAA Female Rookie of the Year, while Mailhot has been selected as a finalist for the OCAA Male Rookie of the Year, highlighting a pair of impactful first-year performances across two programs.
A native of Whitby and a graduate of Henry Street High School, Clayton put together a dominant season in women's rugby sevens. She finished seventh in the OCAA with 79 total points and ranked fifth in tries with 15, playing a key role in Durham's undefeated run to a provincial gold medal.
Her efforts earned her OCAA Women's Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year honours, along with recognition as a league all-star, a member of the all-rookie team, and a championship all-star. Clayton's ability to consistently produce offensively while contributing to a championship-calibre lineup made her one of the most dynamic rookies in the province.
Clayton is joined in the women's category by Humber's Rachel Chan (badminton) and Niagara's Savannah Speck (soccer).
On the men's side, Mailhot delivered a strong and steady campaign for the Lords on the course. The Whitby native and Donald A. Wilson Secondary School graduate capped his season with a fourth-place finish at the OCAA Golf Championships, competing in a field of 34 golfers and finishing just two strokes shy of the podium.
His performance helped Durham secure a berth at the 2025 CCAA Golf National Championships in Alberta, marking a significant achievement for the program.
Mailhot's standout rookie season also saw him named to the OCAA All-Ontario Team and earn OCAA Men's Golf Top Rookie honours. He was further recognized at the institutional level as Durham's "David Stewart" Male Freshman Athlete of the Year and "Gerry Pettit" Golf MVP, while also achieving CCAA Academic All-Canadian status.
Mailhot joins Niagara's Joseph Buckley (basketball) and Humber's Enzo Endres (volleyball) as finalists for the men's award.
With both Clayton and Mailhot earning provincial recognition, the future continues to look bright for Durham College athletics as the next generation of Lords makes its mark.
The OCAA will announce the Female Rookie of the Year Award winner on Tuesday, April 21, and the Male Rookie of the Year Award winner on Wednesday, April 22.
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