HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce the 2010 football all-stars.
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks earned nine OUA all-star awards.
Dillon Heap of Waterloo, Ont.,
Giancarlo Rapanaro of Niagara Falls, Ont. and
Mitch Nicholson (Grand Haven, Mi.) were named to the first team.
Michael Knill of Rochester Hills Mi.,
Dillon Heap,
Shamawd Chambers of Markham, Ont.,
Stephen Cormack of Waterloo, Ont. ,
Mitchell Bosch of Langley B.C. and
Samuel Aird of Ancaster, Ont. were all named to the second team.
"I'm really happy for these kids," said manager of football operations and head coach
Gary Jeffries. "They worked hard all season and had to overcome a lot of adversity. They really deserve these awards."
Dillon Heap picked up two awards, the first team for kick return and the second team for inside receiver. This season he had 34 punt returns for 350 yards and one touchdown against Windsor. He also picked up 139 yards on seven kickoff returns. On offence he led the Hawks with 41 receptions for 466 yards and five majors. He was second on the Golden Hawks in scoring with 36 points. These are Heap's third and fourth all-star awards.
Fifth year linebacker
Giancarlo Rapanaro, a Winnipeg Blue Bombers draft pick, was one of Laurier's leaders on the field this season. The kinesiology major had 28.5 tackles this season, 24 solo and nine assisted. He also had two interceptions for 90 yards, a fumble recovery for a major, three knockdowns and two sacks. This is his third first team all-star award.
Mitch Nicholson played free safety for the Golden Hawks this season and excelled. The 6-3 kinesiology major picked up 17 tackles, 14 solo, six assisted. He had one knockdown and was tied for the team lead in interceptions with three.
Offensive Tackle
Michael Knill was the team leader on the offensive line this season. In his second year of the MBA program, the 6-6 lineman was the key in protecting the quarterback as well as leading the run. He played in seven games this season for the purple and gold. This is first OUA all-star award
Wide Receiver
Shamawd Chambers picked up the second all-star award of his three year career at Laurier. This season the arts major posted 366 yards on 27 receptions and two touchdowns.
Defensive tackle
Stephen Cormack was the Golden Hawks heart and soul this season. The fifth year history major led the team in sacks with 4.5 and picked up 8.5 tackles with eight solo and one assisted. This is the second all-star award of his career.
Mitchell Bosch, a third year linebacker, is one of the keys to the purple and gold's defence. This season he led the Hawks in tackles with 46, 35 solo, 22 assisted. He also had two sacks, three knockdowns, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. The third year player essentially picked up stats in every defensive category. This is his first all-star award.
Fourth year linebacker
Samuel Aird earned his first provincial award by being named to the second all-star team for rush/cover teams. Playing primarily on special teams, this 6-1 english major picked up 25.5 tackles with 21 being solo and nine assisted. This is his first all-star award.
Laurier finished the regular season 4-4 and advanced to the OUA quarter-final. There they met the Guelph Gryphons and won 42-10. Then in the OUA semifinal Laurier took on the Ottawa Gee-Gees and lost 32-31.
