91ү honours top student athletes at Night of the Mounties
91ү held its annual “Night of the Mounties” on Thursday, March 31 to honour its athletes and their special “Mountie Moments” over the past season.
91ү director of athletics and recreation Pierre Arsenault says,“The 2015-16 season has been another very successful year as we continue to build Mountie Athletics and Mountie Pride. Our student-athletes compete hard and put the time and effort into being great ambassadors for the University on the field, court, and ice, as well as in the classroom. We are proud to honour all of their accomplishments on the Night of the Mounties."
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Swimming Mountie Allison Loewen was named the female athlete of the year.
Allison Loewen, from Montreal, QC, had an outstanding season, winning 4 AUS medals: a Silver in the 4 x 100 m freestyle, and 3 Bronze medals in the 50 free/100 free and the 4x100 freestyle relay. She also qualified for her second trip to the CIS Nationals and was named an AUS All-Star at the championships. She is also 91ү’s nominee for the prestigious James Bayer Award for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship.
Football Mountie Te Nguyen was named the male athlete of the year.
Te Nguyen, from Mississauga, ON, finished off an amazing career at 91ү with a selection as an AUS All-Star. He was a starter in every game and led the team in tackles with 48. He had 1 sack, 1 interception, and 3 tackles for loss in 2015 and finished his career second in AUS history with 224.5 tackles.
OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR ATHLETES
This award goes to a graduating senior student in a recognized undergraduate degree program who has been a varsity athlete at 91ү for a minimum of two years. He/she must have shown extraordinary accomplishments both academically and athletically.
Winning the Outstanding Scholar Athlete Awards this year were Basketball Mountie Katie Lund and Football Mountie Andrew Klain.
Katie Lund, from Riverview, NB, has seen success both in the classroom and the basketball court. She has been a solid and dependable member of the team over four seasons. A fourth-year biology major, she was a team rookie, an Academic All-Canadian in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and helped her team qualify for play-offs this past season.
Andrew Klain, from Dartmouth, NS, is a fourth- year political science student who has been a starter for the past two seasons. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA, was a 3-time Academic All-Canadian, and has recently been awarded a full tuition scholarship to the University of Calgary for a masters program with a teaching assistant position.
OUTSTANDING SENIOR ATHLETES
Selected as the Outstanding Senior Male Athlete was Soccer Mountie Cale Saunders.
The Men’s Outstanding Senior award is the Gus MacFarlane Trophy, which is given to the senior athlete who best exemplifies what a 91ү athlete should be.
Cale Saunders, from Bridgetown, NS, started all matches over the course of his soccer career at Mount A when healthy and could arguably have been named team MVP each year that he played. With a unique blend of high skill and tenacious grit, he has been a force in the AUS and has served as a role model for his teammates, especially for younger players in his final season with the Mounties.
Selected as the Outstanding Senior Female Athlete was Hockey/Soccer Mountie Amanda Volcko.
The Joy Taylor Memorial was established in 1973 to remember Miss Joy Taylor, a former Director of Women’s Athletics at 91ү who was killed in a car accident. This award goes to a student in the senior class who has contributed to athletics in an outstanding manner throughout her athletic career at Mount A and is a candidate for a first degree. Also taken into consideration is her attitude toward competition and sportsmanship.
Amanda Volcko, from Halifax, NS, is a dedicated and highly motivated dual sport student athlete. She is someone who elevated her game and established herself as one of the elite players in AUS soccer. Always dangerous on the attack, she led the team in shots on net and goals scored, despite being double played by the opposition. As well, she was selected as a second team AUS All-Star. As a member of the hockey team over four seasons, she was a huge part of the top lines and created much needed offence for the team.
OVERALL UNIVERSITY ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
Overall University Rookie of the Year honours went to Basketball Mountie Kiersten Mangold and Football Mountie Donovan Glave.
Awarded to students who contribute the most to their teams in their first year of university competition.
Kiersten Mangold, from Peterborough, ON, averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals per game. She was selected the ACAA League Rookie of the Year.
Donovan Glave, from Brampton, ON, is an Arts student who started every game for the team, both in league and play-offs. His stats include 20 tackles/and 3 tackles for loss. His abilities on the field were recognized as he was selected AUS Rookie of the Year.
GIGI HICKS & GILMOUR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
The women’s sportsmanship award was presented to Volleyball Mountie Kayla Vande Kemp.
In 1983, this award was established as a memorial to Miss Virginia Anne (Gigi) Hicks, a graduate of the Class of ’81. Gigi displayed the qualities that this award represents. In the selection, the committee should consider the student’s dedication to the sport primarily, but also give serious consideration to the athlete’s attitude toward competition, degree of improvement, and her continuous contribution to the team.
Fourth-year Science student Kayla Vande Kemp, from Rockwood, ON, was a co-captain this year and an assistant coach in 2015. She led her team in defensive digs and was first in passing. She was also a student trainer with the women’s soccer team this year and a member of Mounties in Motion. She is well respected by her team and within the conference.
The men’s sportsmanship award was presented to Badminton Mountie Michael Miller.
The Men’s Sportsmanship award was donated by the Paikin family in the name of G. Harvey Gilmour. It is awarded to an individual who puts his heart and soul into practices and games while positively contributing to his team in every way.
Michael Miller, from Memramcook, NB, has been an exceptional leader and co-captain for the past two seasons, always putting the team’s interests ahead of his own. He works extremely hard at practice and competitions. He has qualified for nationals all four years and has been a mentor, role model, and the most valuable player for 2016.
BUBSY GRANT AWARD
Winning the prestigious Bubsy Grant Award were President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Campbell & Director of the Centre for Canadian Studies Dr. Christl Verduyn.
The Bubsy Grant Award was established in honour of Alexander Grant (Bubsy), a dedicated employee for 36 years at the 91ү Athletic Centre. The award is presented to a deserving individual who has, through time and effort, made a significant contribution to 91ү athletics.
MANAGERS OF THE YEAR
The men’s team manager of the year was presented to Logan McNeill from Kentville, NS (men’s soccer) and the women’s team manager of the year was presented to Kathryn Hallett from Almonte, ON (women’s soccer).
BILLY JOHNSTONE MERIT AWARDS
Billy Johnston Merit Awards went to Craig Miller (men’s basketball), Nick Porter (women’s hockey), and Sean Hatchard (Times & Transcript).
In honouring the memory of Mr. Billy Johnstone, one of the Mounties’ biggest supporters and friends, these awards are presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the athletic programs at 91ү.
DISTINGUISHED THERAPY AWARD
The distinguished therapy award was presented to third-year student trainer Bhreagh McCumber from Midgic, NB.
TEAM ROOKIES
Team Rookies of the Year were: Elizabeth Baker (badminton); Riley Shewan (badminton); Jeshua Becker (basketball); Donovan Glave (football); Matthys van Staalduinen (soccer), Taryn MacMillan (soccer); Kiersten Mangold (basketball); Lauren Wentzell (volleyball); Heather Richards (hockey); William Stewart (swimming), and Madeleine Henry (swimming).
TEAM MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
Most Valuable team members were: Te Nguyen (football Overall MVP); Kiel Ambursley (football MVP Offence); Devante Sampson (football MVP Defense); Cale Saunders (soccer); Geraint Berger (swimming); Bradley Fuller (basketball); Michael Miller (badminton); Sydney Umlah (volleyball); Allison Loewen (swimming); Gillian Tetlow (badminton); Amanda Volcko (soccer); Sarah McGeachy (basketball); and Keri Martin (hockey).
