Trent Athletics Announces February Village Inn Student-Athlete of the Month
Trent Athletics is proud to announce the recipients of the Village Inn Student-Athlete of the Month award for February 2026.
This award recognizes the outstanding athletic performances of our student-athletes throughout the month.
The female Student-Athlete of the Month is Lauren Rath (Perth, Ontario) from the women's varsity curling team.
Lauren delivered an outstanding performance with the Excalibur women at the 2026 OUA Curling Championships. Skipping the team for the first time at the provincial championship, Lauren guided Trent to a perfect 4–0 record in round robin play with convincing wins over Ontario Tech, Toronto, Queen's, and Laurentian to secure the top seed heading into the playoff round.
On Championship Sunday, Lauren continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership and shot-making. The Excalibur earned a thrilling 5–3 quarterfinal victory over the Waterloo Warriors to advance to the semifinals, highlighted by a remarkable triple runback on Lauren's final stone in the eighth end to sit four and seal the win. The women battled hard in the semifinal against McMaster but came up just short in a tightly contested 5–4 game. Trent ultimately finished fourth overall after a competitive bronze medal match against Queen's.
Throughout the championship weekend, Lauren showcased her strategic knowledge of the game, calm decision-making, and clutch shot-making under pressure. Her performance earned her recognition as an OUA First Team All-Star.
Lauren is a third-year student in Forensic Science.
The male Student-Athlete of the Month is William Jewell (Acton, Ontario) from the men's varsity curling team.
In his first season with the Excalibur, William continued to demonstrate why he is one of the most promising young skips in the province during the OUA Curling Championships. One of only two rookie skips competing in the 16-team field, William led Trent through a highly competitive round robin that included a strong 8–1 victory over Western and a key 10–7 win over Queen's to secure the program's first playoff berth at the championship in many years.
The Excalibur men advanced to the quarterfinals, where they faced the eventual gold medal-winning Laurier Golden Hawks. Despite a determined effort against a strong opponent, Trent's season came to a close following the playoff match.
Throughout the championship, William impressed competitors and coaches alike with his fearless shot selection, composure under pressure, and advanced strategic decision-making. His leadership played a key role in Trent's success throughout the weekend and the season.
In recognition of his outstanding performance, William was named the OUA Rookie of the Year.
William is a first-year student in Conservation Biology.
The Village Inn is the official sponsor of the Excalibur Student-Athletes-of-the-Month. The Village Inn offers small-town charm and quiet comfort just minutes from Peterborough and Trent University, with 32 rooms, a complimentary continental breakfast, free parking, and bus parking available. Trent students, parents, staff and faculty can enjoy 10% of their stay. Call 1-800-827-5678 to book directly and get the best rate.
