John Rush and Valerie Lamenta take home top honours
The annual athletic banquet was full of accomplishments as student-athletes were recognized for achievements in and out of their sport. Held on March 31st at the W.F. Mitchell centre, the 2016 banquet was one for the memory books.
The question on everyone’s mind before the event was simple: “What will the men’s rugby team wear this year?” For almost a decade, the men’s rugby team have dressed up in costumes as a tradition that celebrates team bonding. This year may have been one of their best ever, as the team proudly marched in, each one of them dressed as Harry Potter, broomstick, scar and all.
“It’s a big part of our tradition,” rugby co-captains Jeremy Wright and Eric Charlestown-Peekski agreed. “We vote three months in advance, we come up with three costumes that everyone likes, and then we vote from there.”
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…the 2016 banquet was one for the memory books.[/pullquote]
Shortly after the beginning of the banquet, Grace Glofcheskie, a member of the golf team who passed away in December in a tragic accident, was remembered by a touching video that summed up her time as a Gryphon. The golf team named their MVP award for the women’s team the Grace Glofcheskie award, which was later presented by her family.
As the team awards were handed out, it became clear the the University of Guelph is chalked full of outstanding student-athletes. In fact, 86 of them were recently honoured for having an 80 per cent average or above by the CIS.
The top honours of the night were presented to the male and female athletes of the year. These two awards are presented to student who have been consistently outstanding in their performances for the school in their respective seasons.
The male athlete of the year award went to graduating football player John Rush. In his fifth year, Rush was awarded the CIS president’s trophy. He is the first Gryphon to receive this award, which is awarded to the top stand-up defensive player of the year. John Rush was also named MVP of the Yates Cup, the Gryphons first OUA win since 1996. Upon graduation, Rush is headed to Manitoba for his first training camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
CIS women’s hockey player of the year Valerie Lamenta took home athlete of the year on the women’s side, capping off what has been a stellar year for the second year goalie from Montreal. Lamenta helped win the OUA title on home ice for the Guelph Gryphons, their first since 1998. Lamenta will be an integral part of the women’s hockey team next season.
A new award was added this year to the already impressive list. The “Gryphie” award was to be given to the most magnificent moment of the year. Throughout the night, nominees were announced in a best-picture Oscar-style fashion. The nominees for the inaugural award were the women’s hockey team’s impressive OUA win, Taylor Boers from men’s basketball three-point buzzer shot for the win against Windsor, women’s cross-country winning a national title on home soil, and the football team’s historical Yates Cup victory.
“And the winner is…” Said co-MC Dana Van Balkom from women’s basketball. “Taylor Boers!!” In his third year, guard Taylor Boers received the first annual Gryphie award. He looked shocked and happy as the entire crowd cheered and chanted him on.
This award marked the end of the enjoyable evening, as many of the athletes left to celebrate with their teammates another wonderful year for the Guelph Gryphons.