History 12/23/2021 11:43:00 AM Muad Issa, Sport Information Officer

MARAUDERS INDUCT KOCH, PEARO, WELLINGS, 2011 FOOTBALL TEAM INTO CLASS OF 2021

The Department of Athletics & Recreation announced this week, the induction of three individuals and for the eighth time, a team, into the McMaster Sports Hall of Fame for the Class of 2021.

The year's class features a trio of former athletes with numerous accolades to their names; Kyle Koch (football), Jessica Pearo (women's cross country and track & field), and Jason Wellings (men's golf).

Also entering this year's induction class, 10 years after they hoisted the programs first-ever Vanier Cup, is the 2011-12 McMaster Marauders football team.

"Our student-athletes are the embodiment of pride and excellence here at McMaster," said Director, Athletics & Recreation, Shawn Burt. "Recognizing our Hall of Fame inductees is the ultimate celebration of excellence and pride for our department, and the university."

The 2021 induction ceremony has been pushed to a later date in 2022, in conjunction with the 2020 induction class as a joint ceremony.

Kyle Koch ('08) – Football

Starting his career with the Marauders as a Yates Cup champion and ending it as a CIS first-team all-Canadian, Kyle Koch has seen his fair share of success, both individual and as part of a team. Competing for four seasons for the Marauders football team as an offensive lineman, Koch helped the Marauders capture the 2003 Yates Cup, and followed that performance up a year later with an OUA silver medal finish, falling short in the championship game.

"From the time he first came to campus, Kyle was committed to succeed as an athlete, and a student," said former Head Coach, Marcello Campanaro.

"Over the course of his playing career he progressed and excelled as an outstanding offensive lineman and was easily one of the best in the country by the end of his career at McMaster."

Koch was the recipient of the OUA Lineman of the Year award, a three-time OUA all-star (twice a member of the first-team), and a two-time CIS first-team all-Canadian.

Upon graduation, Koch signed as an undrafted free-agent with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2007 and went on to enjoy a seven-year career in the CFL, including a four-year starting stint with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Jessica Pearo ('11) – Women's cross country and track & field

Arguably one of the most decorated individual athletes in McMaster Marauders history, Pearo completed a four-year career with the Marauders women's cross country and track & field teams that has yet to be replicated. A two-time CIS first-team all-Canadian and three-time OUA first-team all-star, Pearo capped off her career as both the CIS and OUA cross country champion in 2010.

"She was exactly what you would want in a captain and a leader," said former Head Coach, Rory Sneyd, "setting high goals for both individual and team success."

Propelling her team to medal performances for three straight seasons, Pearo helped the women's team capture a CIS silver medal (10'), a CIS bronze medal (09'), two OUA silver medals (09' - 10'), and an OUA bronze medal (08'). For her efforts, she was named McMaster Female Athlete of the Year on two occasions (09'-10' & 10'-11').

"Hard-working, open, honest, humble, enthusiastic, caring, and thoughtful – Jess had a knack for bringing out the best in herself and others. Her profound influence on our program is immeasurable and she was one of the key players in taking the team to another level."

A champion in the classroom and in the community, Pearo was also an academic all-Canadian, and was named the 2009 OUA Female Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner. On the international stage, she represented McMaster and Team Canada at the 2010 FISU World University Cross-Country Championships placing 17^th overall.

Jason Wellings ('10) – Men's Golf

Spending five seasons with the McMaster men's golf team, Wellings enjoyed an accolade filled career with the Marauders that started with an OUA second-team all-star selection as he helped the team capture an OUA banner in his first season with the squad. A year later, he would go on to capture the OUA individual championship, as the men's golf team earned an OUA Silver medal.

"The biggest thing about Jason's leadership was the way he care about his teammates," said former Head Coach, Scott Koblyk. "Through his career, he developed and displayed a remarkable interest in everyone on the team. The best player on the team, possibly the best player in the country, cared more about his teammates' scores than his own."

Wellings would go on to help his team earn two more OUA medals, a team silver in 2007 and a team bronze in 2008. Individually, Wellings went on to make the OUA second-team all-star list on two more occasions. Beyond OUA competition, Wellings represented McMaster and Canada at the US Amateur Championship in 2005, and was a member of Team Canada at the FISU Golf Championships in 2006.

2011-12 Football Team

10 years since they hoisted the first Vanier Cup in program history, the 2011-12 McMaster Marauders football team sees their name etched in history as a team induction into the Hall of Fame.

A season that went 11-1 for one of the greatest sides to ever hit the gridiron, the Marauders only loss in 2011 came at the hands of the Western Mustangs in week 2, 21-48. From there, the Maroon went on a seven-game winning streak leading to a Yates Cup victory over the Mustangs, 41-19, in London, Ont. – Kyle Quinaln was awarded the Dalt White Trophy as the Yates Cup MVP.

After falling by a pair of touchdowns to the Acadia Axemen in the first quarter of the Uteck Bowl a week later, the Marauders pulled off an impressive come-from-behind victory, 45-21. It took three touchdown passes and a scoring run from Quinlan to book their first trip to the Vanier Cup since 1967, snapping their four-straight bowl game losses.

What has now been dubbed, the Best Game Ever, the Marauders went head-to-head against the Laval Rouge et Or in the 47^th Vanier Cup at BC Place in Vancouver. The Rouge et Or came into the championship game with a perfect 6-0 record in all Vanier Cup games, and it would take two overtimes for the Marauders to change that.

The Marauders burst out to a 23-0 lead heading into halftime but suffered a scoreless third quarter as Laval put up 17 points in the frame. A back-and-forth ensued, and ultimately it would take a Tyler Crapigna field goal from 20-yards out to seal the victory for the Marauders, 41-38.

Quinlan was named championship game MVP, completing 36-of-55 passes for 482 yards, and two touchdowns, while also adding 106 rushing yards on 14 carries. Defensively, first-year linebacker at the time, Aram Eisho, stole the show after leading all players on the field with 11.5 tackles, in addition to forcing a fumble.

During the season, the Marauders had two first-team all-Canadians (Michael DiCroce & Crapigna), and three second-team all-Canadians (Quinlan, Matthew Sewell, and Jason Medeiros).

DiCroce was named the OUA's Most Valuable Player that season, while Ryan Chmielewski was awarded the Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player ward. The team also boasted 11 OUA all-stars; seven first-team all-stars and four second-team all-stars

Nine members of the roster went on to get drafted to the CFL; Ben D'Aguilar, Michael Daly, DiCroce, Spencer Moore, Sewell, Crapigna, Eisho, Kevin Malcolm, and Nick Shorthill.

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