WATERLOO – Monday evening Wilfrid Laurier University's Athletic Department hosted its annual banquet recognizing the achievements of its coaches, players and staff at the Wilfrid Laurier Athletic Complex. 22 Rookies and 22 MVPs were recognized for their performance on their respective teams. The department also awarded fifteen major awards to acknowledge major contributors and outstanding athletes at Laurier. The major award winners are as follows:
The President's Award is awarded to the school's most outstanding male and female athletic performances over the past year. This year's recipients are Anthony Maggiacomo and Lauren Barch. Barch, a third year forward and psychology major, was named the OUA's most valuable player in women's hockey as well as a first-team OUA all-star and second team CIS all-Canadian. Barch led the team in points with 31, including a team-high 15 goals in the regular season. The women's hockey team finished the year with their fifth consecutive OUA banner and a silver CIS medal. Maggiacomo wins the male award this season for his performance as part of the football team. The fifth year kinesiology and physical education student was named Ontario's top stand-up defensive player as well as a first-team OUA all-star and second team CIS all-Canadian. He led the team in tackles this season, setting a new regular season record of 60.5 (49 solo, 23 assisted).
Luke Fusco Academic Athletic Achievement Award honours the male and female athlete who best combines academic and athletic achievement. This year's recipients are Chris Mamo and Vanessa Bennett. In his third year of the sociology program, Mamo was able to balance both academics, his commitments to the football team and being an athletic-academic support peer mentor while maintaining a 11.15 GPA (out of 12). In her third year, Bennett, a defenseman from the women's hockey team maintained a GPA of 10.0 in the Biochemistry program while capturing an OUA championship and a CIS silver medal.
The Rich Newbrough Rookie of the Year Award is for the most outstanding athletic performance from a male and female rookie over the past year. There is a tie for this year's male recipient, Kale Harrison from the basketball team and Craig Voakes from the hockey program as both were named CIS rookie of the year in their respective sports. On the women's side Alyssa Lagonia took home the honours as well as being named both her sports rookie of the year and MVP. Lagonia was named a first-team OUA all-star leading the team this season with six goals to a provincial bronze medal finish. Harrison, a business major, was named to the OUA second all-star team as well as the all-rookie team on top of being named both the provincial and national rookie of the year. He averaged over 17 points per game this season as well as 30 minutes per game. Voakes, a geography major, led the nation in scoring with 23 goals in 26 games. He was named to both rookie of the year provincial and national honours as well as the CIS all-rookie team for his performance this season.
Earle C. Shelley Unsung Hero Award goes to a person within the Wilfrid Laurier Community who unselfishly gives much time and effort into the overall success of the athletics program. This year's recipient is Roly Webster. The veteran of the Athletic department, left to join Alumni Relations after 13 years of dedicated service. In his time in Athletics he worked in various roles including operating the stadium, coordinator of marketing & sponsorship, development officer and facility coordinator. Through that time he mentored many students and helped the department through a period of immense growth.
Tuffy Knight Award pays recognition to a person not affiliated with the university, for their untiring efforts over an extended period of time. This year's recipient is football alumnus Peter Izzio. The current president of the 5th quarter club, the football alumni fundraising body has worked tirelessly both in a personal and professional context to advance the program through donor related projects as well as the Friends of Football Dinner and Reception to which he is a member of the organizing committee.
Dean E. Brandon Award is awarded to the female contributing most to Athletics. This year's recipient is Frances Minnema. The fourth year student was the president of the Women's Athletic Association. In that role she has promoted varsity athletics as well as active-healthy lifestyles with their life-fit days. A finalist for the Outstanding Women of Laurier award, Minnema is quite involved in the recreation program as an intramural coordinator and former referee-in-chief.
Bill Haggstrom Trophy is awarded to the male contributing most to Athletics. This year's award winner is Steve Williams. The fourth year kinesiology athlete has played in two sports through his career at Laurier including rugby and football. Most recently this year he became president of the Lettermen's Club helping to raise over $7,500 for breast cancer research as well as promoting active and healthy living in the Kitchener-Waterloo region with events run by male varsity athletes.
Glenn Carroll Team of the Year Award is presented to the team of the year. This season the award goes to two teams since they compete together and have shared successes this season. The winners are the Men's & Women's Curling Teams. Their outstanding regular season records led them to the provincial bonspiels where both teams were successful in claiming provincial gold. Following the double-banner performance, both teams claimed the inaugural CIS Championships in Guelph earning the right to represent Canada at the 2009 FISU Games in China.
The Marty Wamsley Junior Trainer of the Year Award is given to the student trainer whose performance of duties is deemed most valuable to Wilfrid Laurier Athletics. This year's recipient is Heather Tugnett. Tugnett is a fourth year kinesiology student who has worked with the Golden Hawk football team for the past three seasons.
Golden Hawk Awards of Excellence pay recognition to the student leaders who help to make lasting contributions to the varsity athletics program. There are three awards; Team Manager, Sports Information Assistant and Event Staff. The recipient of the Team Manager award is Carolyn Shier of the women's hockey program. Shier has been a key member of the program helping with the logistical and planning tasks for the championship team. The Sports Information assistant recipient is Jess Bouchard. Bouchard has played an integral role in the promotion of Golden Hawk athletics – writing releases and producing major publications including the calendar, media guides and programs. Finally the Event Staff recipient is Andrea Elliott. Elliott was the coordinator for the basketball event staff this past season while also playing a critical role in the operations of other sports.
The following are this season's Rookie's of the Year and Most Valuable Players:
Rookie's of the Year:
Men's Baseball – Gary Money
Men's Basketball – Kale Harrison
Women's Basketball – Amanda McDonald
Cheerleading – Michelle Cirone
Men's Cross Country – Jordan Fox
Women's Cross Country – Britt Hern
Men's Curling – Matt Mapletoft
Women's Curling – Brittany Seinger
Women's Figure Skating – Jackie Langdon
Men's Football – Sam Aird
Men's Golf - Matt Farronato
Men's Hockey – Craig Voakes
Women's Hockey – Katherine Shirriff
Women's Field Lacrosse –Jayme Beard
Men's Rugby – Tyler Santos
Women's Rugby – Miranda Matthews
Men's Soccer – Ryan Avola
Women's Soccer – Alyssa Lagonia
Men's Swimming – Nathan Frick
Women's Swimming – Amy Hucal
Men's Volleyball – Cam Wheelan
Women's Volleyball – Megan Gilmore
Most Valuable Players:
Men's Baseball – Scott Mahn
Men's Basketball – Trevor Csima
Women's Basketball – Renata Adamczyk
Cheerleading – Lauren Ball
Men's Cross Country – Dave Gostick
Women's Cross Country – Britt Hern
Men's Curling – Mike Anderson
Women's Curling – Hollie Nicol
Women's Figure Skating – Katelyn Jolivel
Men's Football – Anthony Maggiacomo
Men's Golf – Steve Tsandelis
Men's Hockey – Matt Grennier
Women's Hockey – Lauren Barch
Women's Field Lacrosse – Kirsten Gerrie
Men's Rugby – Jacob McNamara
Women's Rugby – Laura Sullivan
Men's Soccer – Alex Doma
Women's Soccer – Alyssa Lagonia
Men's Swimming – David Hughes
Women's Swimming – Whitney Rich
Men's Volleyball – Peter Wigger
Women's Volleyball – Melissa St. Amant
