The Golden Hawk tradition continues with the Induction Ceremony into the Wilfrid Laurier department of Athletics and Recreation Hall of Fame to take place on Homecoming Weekend 2007. Five athletes, the outgoing president of the university and the 1987 Yates Cup Championship team will make up the group to be inducted on September 21st in the Senate and Board Chamber at Wilfrid Laurier.
The evening will be hosted by long time friend of the Golden Hawk program, Mike Hogan. Hogan, of the Fan 590 has been the voice of the Golden Hawk Football season through the last four seasons before returning to calling the CFL's Toronto Argonauts this year.
This year's athlete inductees include Wojciech Cwik and Kenny Nutt (Men's Soccer), Bill Madden and Kojo Millington (Football), and Paula Watson (Women's Volleyball). Dr. Robert Rosehart will be inducted as a builder and the 1987 men's football team will be added to the other 11 teams already in the hall of fame. Let's take a look at this year's inductees and their accomplishments in the purple-and-gold.
Wojciech Cwik was an integral part of the dominance of the Men's Soccer team at the start the new millennium. Wojciech helped to control the middle of the field and was a key factor in back to back CIAU championships in 2000 and 2001. Wojciech's play earned him several individual awards though his three year tenure at Laurier. Included in these awards are a CIAU First Team All-Canadian selection, a Second Team All-Canadian selection as well as back to back OUA First Team All-Star awards. Here at Laurier Wojciech was recognized as his teams MVP on one occasion and took home the President's Award as the university's top male athlete in 2001/2002. Currently Wojciech continues to have an impact on the soccer program at Laurier as he serves as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's soccer teams.
Bill Madden was a key member of the Golden Hawks from 1986-1990. Playing as a defensive end Bill's career here at Laurier was very impressive amassing several individual awards for his exceptional defensive ability. Highlighting Bill's career was a 1st Team All-Canadian selection in 1989. Bill was also recognized twice as an OUAA All-Star. It was no coincidence that all the teams Bill played on at Laurier were quite successful led by the 1987 squad which captured the coveted Yates Cup. Bill was a quiet leader who led by example and was also a very durable player having never missed a game due to injury in his storied career as a Golden Hawk. A testament to Bill's leadership came in 1989 where he was named team captain by Coach Rich Newbrough and his coaching staff. That same year Bill was also named Laurier's Outstanding Linesman.
Kojo Millington's career as a Golden Hawk was nothing short of extraordinary. Over his five years here at Laurier Kojo shaped himself into one of the best lineman in the history of the program. He received plenty of recognition for his dominating play including a First Team All-Canadian selection in 1999, a Second Team All-Canadian selection in 2000, OUA First Team All-Star in both '99 and '00 and in 1999 was also named OUA Top Linesman. In his last two seasons at Laurier, Kojo served as a team captain and was also voted by his team the Most Valuable Player in 1999. Kojo was the first Golden Hawk in history to represent Laurier in the East-West Shrine Bowl where he competed against the top football prospects in North America. His quick and powerful ability as well as his dedication to the game made Kojo a force to be reckoned with every time he entered onto the field. Kojo was a fourth round selection of the Toronto Argonauts in the 2000 CFL draft.
Kenny Nutt came to the Golden Hawks in 1998 where his overwhelming skill and determination made an immediate impact on the field. By Kenny's third year at Laurier he was widely received as the top player in the country. Kenny's creativity on the pitch caught the attention of everyone who watched him play and this led to one of the most decorated careers in the history of Laurier Athletics. Over his five year playing career here at Laurier, Kenny was twice named CIAU MVP to go along with two First Team All-Canadian awards, a Second Team All-Canadian award, a three time OUA First Team All-Star, a team MVP, and he also received Laurier's prestigious President's Award as the school's male athlete of the year. Even with many awards to his credit, Kenny's contribution to the Men's Soccer program was no more evident then in the 2000 and 2001 seasons where he helped his team to back to back CIAU Championships. In 2000 Kenny was also recognized as the CIAU championship MVP for his stellar performance at the championship tournament.
Paula Watson came to Wilfrid Laurier in 1998 and became an impact player on the Women's Volleyball team right from the start. Paula was a large factor in the growth and success in the women's program. The success of the program reached an all-time high during the 2001/2002 season where Paula and her teammates compiled an unprecedented 18-0 record during the regular season. Team success does not come without individual talent and Paula possessed just that. Her terrific play on the court did not go unnoticed during her stay as a Golden Hawk. In each of her four years she was recognized as an OUA All-Star, including a First Team All-Star award in 2000/2001. In her final year at Laurier, Paula also received the prestigious OUA Award of Merit which is presented to the women who best demonstrates an outstanding dedication and commitment to OUA volleyball.
Dr. Robert Rosehart arrived at Laurier in 1997 becoming the school's seventh president. Ten years later 'Dr. Bob' leaves Laurier as one of the single greatest contributors in the history of Laurier Athletics and Recreation. His vision and leadership has helped Laurier soar to new heights and with the infrastructure he has put in place, the future looks very bright. Dr. Rosehart understood the importance of athletics and the pride it brings to a university community. He also realized that in order to be the best, the proper facilities must be in place. It was this type of thinking that made him a champion of athletic facility renewal especially in regards to gender equity and women's opportunities in sport and recreation. Over his tenure he was instrumental in completing many projects including the Athletic Complex renovation, the Athletic Complex Fitness Center, the building of Alumni Field, and the University Stadium renewal. Under Dr. Rosehart's illustrious career at Laurier, Golden Hawk teams have compiled eighteen OUA titles and four National Championships.
The 1987 edition of Golden Hawks Football has emerged as one of the greatest all-around football teams in the history of the program. In coach Rich Newbrough's third year as head coach of the program he put together a perfect mix of talent, power and grit. This team was absolutely explosive on the offensive side of the ball, led by quarterback Rod Philp, who had a terrific supporting cast with All-Canadian receiver and league MVP Ken Evraire and receiver Joe Nastasiuk and Yates Cup MVP Luc Gerritsen. On the defensive side of the ball this team was ferocious and quick and forced the opposition into turnover after turnover. The defense was led by All-Canadian lineman Veron Stiliadis and linebacker Jon Graffi.
After a 6-1 record in the regular season the Golden Hawks cruised to an OUAA Championship with consecutive victories over Windsor (32-13) and Guelph (28-15) to claim the Yates Cup. They then traveled to Vancouver to play the University of British Columbia (UBC) in the Western Bowl for a chance to play in the national championship game. The game saw seven different lead changes with UBC scoring the final touchdown of the game with just over one minute to play to seal the victory. The final score ended 33-31 in favour of UBC.
The legacy of this team lives on in Golden Hawk history as one of the best to take the field. It produced 14 different OUAA All-Stars that year and three players were All-Canadian selections. Years later the team has had nine different players inducted into the Golden Hawk Hall of Fame. Since the inaugural induction in 1986, a total of 109 student-athletes, 15 builders and 12 teams have entered the Golden Hawk Hall of Fame.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony are available online at www.laurierathletics.com/halloffame
