Submitted by Brent Wheeler
Former Bruce Peninsula District School (BPDS) student James Wheeler, who now is in his first year studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Windsor, has become the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross Country Rookie of the year.
After racing three great races this fall, which included a 59th place finish and first Canadian Rookie to cross the finish in the Gold Race in South Bend, Indiana at the University of Notre Dame, James then set his sights on Kingston, Ontario and the OUA championship located at the historic Fort Henry. The OUA championship consists of the top 7 runners from 17 Universities from across Ontario. James finished the 8KM race in a time of 24:58.2 in 30th place and the first Rookie to cross the line making him the Rookie of the Year.
James’ team, the Windsor Lancers, finished 4th overall. James’ sister Grace Wheeler (former BPDS student) in her third year of Mechanical Engineering as a Guelph Gryphon also ran in Kingston helping her team to a fourth place finish as well. Both James and Grace will now be travelling with their teams to Sherbrooke, Quebec to the National USports Championships on November 8, 2025.
