HAMILTON, Ont. - After securing their second straight undefeated regular season with the best offense and one of the top defenses, the Golden Hawks were rewarded with 14 players named first and second team OUA football all-stars. The cohort matches the program high named in 2005 and 1999.
The Golden Hawks set a new program benchmark in total points scored in the regular season with 355 and 28 total touchdown passes, along with sitting first in the OUA in total yards per game (509.4), total offense (4,022), and the best in the red zone. Fittingly, Laurier's top offensive weapons headline the first team all-stars.
Cal Wither led the OUA in completion rate (72.7%), pass efficiency (190.7), and passing touchdowns (26). His touchdown total made a new program record and marked the second straight season the Golden Hawks led that category.
Wither also had 2,472 passing yards and averaged 309 per game, earning his first All-Star award.
To his side was his number one target in Ethan Jordan, who received his fourth first-team recognition. He led the OUA in receiving yards (1,066), receiving touchdowns (10), receiving yards per game (133.3), and was second in total receptions (68).
Jordan broke a trio of Golden Hawks records this season, including setting a new record in career receiving yards (3,458), career touchdowns (30), and career receptions (239).
Fullback Sebastian Parsalidis was named to the first-team for the second straight year, and has three All-Star awards to his name.
Before the season even started, manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds acknowledged that Parsalidis's abilities were second to none, saying, "Anyone that had a chance to watch Sebastian's highlight film realizes that he's a very talented player. He's not going to have 20 catches or 20 carries, but in terms of his versatility and his importance for our offence, you could argue it's right up there with anyone else."
Third-year centre Kodi Blackshaw and fifth-year offensive guard Josh Rietveld were recognized for their roles in the success of the Golden Hawks. Their efforts allowed the offense to post 30 or more points in all eight regular season games, and they cleared paths for the rushing front that totalled 1,533-yards and 13 touchdowns.
Blackshaw received his first career all-star award, while Rietveld earned his second in as many years.
On the defensive side, four Golden Hawks were given first-team honours. First up was second-year defensive end Matteo Laquintana. Last season, Laquintana was named to the OUA all-rookie team and won Laurier football's Rookie of the Year award.
This year, Laquintana was third in the OUA in sacks (6.0) and was integral to stopping opposing rushing attacks as the team went on to have the least amount of rushing yards allowed per game (117.0).
Linebacker Jessie Wilkins earned his first career all-star award. He had a career and team high 40.5 total tackles, was ranked in the top 15 in solo, assisted, and total tackles in the OUA, and ranked first in fumble recoveries with four.
The 2024 Uteck Bowl Nike Defensive Player of the Game, Johari Hastings, received his third All-Star recognition and second first-team award. He led the team and OUA in pass breakups (7) and was third on the team in total tackles (27.5).
Cornerback Maliek Cote put up another impressive year in the purple and gold. He had three pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles, and had the second-most tackles on the team with 40.0. This was Cote's first career All-Star award.
Special teams captain and rush/cover Jesulayomi Ojutalayo earned his first career All-Star selection. He had 12 tackles on special teams and played a major role in blocking and preventing lengthy returns.
Rounding out the first-team selections was returner Tayshaun Jackson. Teams tried to avoid him this year, but he still had five kick returns for 136-yards and 10 punt returns for 279-yards that put him fourth in the OUA, and he had one punt return touchdown. This was Jackson's second All-Star award.
Jackson also headlined the four Golden Hawks named to the second-team, this time as a running back. Jackson was third in total rushing yards (724) and per game yards (90.5), fifth in rushing touchdowns (5), and second in all-purpose yards (1,292).
Wither's second favourite target, receiver Ryan Hughes, was named to the second-team and earned his first career All-Star selection. He had a career high in yards (529) and touchdowns (9), and sat second-most on the team in both categories while his touchdown total put him second in the conference.
Wrapping up the class was fourth-year offensive tackle Spencer Walsh and fifth-year defensive tackle Marcus Tenney. The veterans were anchors for their respective lines and both earned their first career All-Star awards.
The Golden Hawks plan to add more hardware to the shelf this weekend as they look to win their second straight Yates Cup when they clash with the #6 Queen's Gaels on Saturday, November 8 at 1pm at Knight-Newbrough Field.
The 2025 OUA All-Star teams are as follows:
FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS:
Quarterback – Cal Wither, Laurier
Running Back – Ethan Dolby, Western
Running Back – Jared Chisari, Queen's
Receiver – Ethan Jordan, Laurier
Receiver – Chris Joseph, Toronto
Receiver – Nathan Falconi, Queen's
Receiver – Tristan Ready, Carleton
Fullback/Tight End/H-Back – Sebastian Parsalidis, Laurier
Centre – Kodi Blackshaw, Laurier
Offensive Tackle – Erik Anderson, Western
Offensive Tackle – Niklas Henning, Queen's
Offensive Guard – Josh Rietveld, Laurier
Offensive Guard – Keegan O'Neil, Western
Defensive Tackle – Max von Muehldorfer, Western
Defensive Tackle – Braxton Johnson, Windsor
Defensive End – Ahmad Taylor, Windsor
Defensive End – Matteo Laquintana, Laurier
Linebacker – Jessie Wilkins, Laurier
Linebacker – Jaxxon Brashear, Ottawa
Linebacker – Michael Omoseni, Waterloo
Free Safety – John Corscadden, Queen's
Halfback – Johari Hastings, Laurier
Halfback – Ashton Miller-Melancon, Queen's
Cornerback – Maliek Cote, Laurier
Cornerback – Istvan Assibo-Dadzie, Windsor
Punter – Michael Horvat, McMaster
Kicker – Brady Lidster, Windsor
Returner – Tayshaun Jackson, Laurier
Rush/Cover – Jesulayomi Ojutalayo, Laurier
SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS:
Quarterback – Alex Vreeken, Queen's
Running Back – Weabge Mombo, Windsor
Running Back – Tayshaun Jackson, Laurier
Receiver – Ryan Hughes, Laurier
Receiver – Seth Robertson, Western
Receiver – Noah Avery, Ottawa
Receiver – Jake Oseen, Toronto
Fullback/Tight End/H-Back – Mateo Tuioti, Queen's
Centre – Philippe Cote, Western
Offensive Tackle – Spencer Walsh, Laurier
Offensive Tackle – Reed Cloutier, Western
Offensive Guard – Mitchel Schechinger, Guelph
Offensive Guard – Brett Miller, Windsor
Defensive Tackle – Marcus Tenney, Laurier
Defensive Tackle – Riley Hildebrandt, Ottawa
Defensive End – Oliver Jackson, Queen's
Defensive End – Christian Chukwuali II, McMaster
Linebacker – Xavier Malone, Carleton
Linebacker – Jevaun Jacobsen, Guelph
Linebacker – Justin Pace, Queen's
Free Safety – Harrison Daley, Windsor
Halfback – Patrick Cumberbatch, Ottawa
Halfback – Ethan John, Windsor
Cornerback – Jared Siewe, Queen's
Cornerback – Denny Ferdinand, Ottawa
Punter – Nathan Walker, Waterloo
Kicker – Michael Horvat, McMaster
Returner – Denny Ferdinand, Ottawa
Rush/Cover – DJ Ryan, Queen's
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM:
Defensive Back – Jackson MacKay, Western
Defensive Lineman – Andre Thompson, Guelph
Offensive Guard – Brett Miller, Windsor
Defensive End – Christian Chukwuali II, McMaster
Kicker/Punter – Evan Astolfo, Waterloo
Receiver – Emyl Gregoire, Ottawa
Fullback – Arthur Bedard, Carleton
Defensive Back – Jack Roberts, York
Defensive Lineman – Carter Martin, Queen's
Halfback – Jack Donohue, Toronto
