WATERLOO, Ont. - Golden Hawks Kaitlyn Long and Taye Donald are the Laurier Athletes of the Week, presented by The Hawk Shop, for the week ending January 26, 2025.

Long, a fourth-year law & society major from Cambridge, Ont., played a key role in securing two bronze medals at the ICU University World Cup Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida.

As a shoulder stand base, Long provided the foundation for the pyramids, supporting up to three athletes above her—a true testament to her strength and technical mastery.

She continued to prove herself as a vital force on the Golden Hawks cheer team, competing on both the Premier and Game Day rosters.

Known for her consistency, skill, and uplifting presence, Long is a teammate who always delivers while inspiring her team with her unwavering work ethic and determination.

It was a memorable weekend for Laurier men's basketball guard Taye Donald for a multitude of reasons.

The fourth-year arts major from St. Thomas, Ont. paced the Golden Hawks offensively against Toronto and Waterloo, averaging 22 points, 6.5 rebounds and three assists.

Needing just 22 points to reach 1,000 career points, Donald hit that tally on the nose on Friday night in a Battle of Waterloo victory over the Warriors.

He finished the game in style, recording his first double-double of the season with 10 boards while connecting on five shots made from beyond the arc making up for 15 of his game-high points total.

This is the first Laurier Athlete of the Week award for Long and the fifth (second this season) for Donald.