All major award winners and success stories from 2014-15
On March 26, the Guelph Gryphons held the annual Athletic Banquet for all varsity athletes for the University of Guelph to celebrate the 2014-15 season. We take a look at who took home the hardware, highlighting the overall growing success of Gryphon Athletics.
Male Athlete of the Year: Ross Proudfoot
For just the fourth time in the history of the University of Guelph, the Male Athlete of the Year award was given to a back-to-back winner. Ross Proudfoot earned his second straight recognition for the award. A native of Sudbury, Ontario, Proudfoot concluded his final year as a Gryphon with a truly historic season, going undefeated in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) competition through 2014-15. Proudfoot was also named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and CIS MVP in Cross Country, while being a core member of the ninth consecutive championship for the team. Moreover, Proudfoot, also winning two gold medals at nationals, came within just one-one hundredth of a second of shattering the all-time record in the 3000-metre race.
Female Athlete of the Year: Carlse Thompson
Also a fifth year, Carlse Thompson took home the female honours for Athlete of the Year, following a season that saw the cross country athlete recognized nationally as the CIS MVP, while the Gryphons captured their 10th consecutive championship.
Male Rookie of the Year: Andrew D’Agostini
First-year Gryphons hockey goaltender, Andrew D’Agostini, was honoured with the Scott Yanchus Award following an incredibly memorable year for the OUA Champions. D’Agostini was significant in the Gryphons postseason run en route to capturing the provincial title after winning just three games through the first 16 in the first half of the 2014-15 regular season. It would be the first OUA Championship for the Gryphons men’s hockey program since 1997. The Gryphons went on to finish third overall at the CIS Championships in Halifax, where D’Agostini was recognized as the top netminder at the University Cup tournament.
Female Rookie of the Year: Bridget Atkinson
Women’s basketball point guard Bridget Atkinson captured the female honours in the Rookie of the Year category, and rightfully so. Atkinson was named the CIS Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Gryphons women’s basketball player to ever receive the award. A native of Welland, Ontario, Atkinson certainly made history in her first year as a Gryphon.
President’s Trophy: Kelsey Gsell (Wrestling and Rugby)
The President’s Trophy, awarded to the student-athlete who best demonstrates excellence in both their athletic and academic careers, went to Kelsey Gsell for the third year in a row. An influential member of both the wrestling and rugby squads, Gsell became just the second female in school history to earn the recognition three years in a row. A native of Saskatoon, Gsell earned the award over this past season as a Masters student in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, while compiling a 91.4 per cent average, in addition to playing two sports.
President’s Trophy: Drew Anderson (Cross country and Track & Field)
Cross country and track & field athlete, Drew Anderson, took home the President’s Trophy for all male athletes, excelling both athletically and academically. A native of Guelph, Anderson is a fourth-year student pursing his studies in biomedical engineering at the University of Guelph.
W.F. Mitchell Sportsman of the Year: Rob Farquharson
A fifth-year senior on the Guelph Gryphons football team, runningback Rob Farquharson earned Male Sportsman of the Year to conclude his athletic career with the Gryphons.
W.F. Mitchell Sportswoman of the Year: Katie Mora
Also a fifth-year closing out their athletic career with honours, Guelph Gryphons women’s hockey captain Katie Mora earned the Sportswoman of the Year honours. Mora, a native of Guelph, Ontario, posted 12 goals and 17
assists for 29 points through the 2014-15 campaign and postseason, where the Gryphons would go on to conclude the year finishing fifth in the country.
Other major award winners, including all varsity sports Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Most Improved Player (MIP) are as follows:
Men’s Lacrosse MVP: Curtis Knight
Women’s Lacrosse MVP: Katelynn Brzezinski
Men’s Swimming MIP: Brett Martin
Men’s Swimming MVP: Evan Van Moerkerke
Women’s Swimming MIP: Julia Veidt
Women’s Swimming MVP: Emily Anzal
Men’s Soccer MIP: Estevan Carles
Men’s Soccer MVP: Jared Agymang
Women’s Soccer MIP: Elizabeth Brennemen
Women’s Soccer MVP: Courtney Whiteside
Men’s Cross Country MVP: Ross Proudfoot
Women’s Cross Country MVP: Carise Thompson
Men’s Track & Field MVP: Ross Proudfoot
Women’s Track & Field MVP: Sarah Dougherty
Men’s Nordic Skiing MVP: Ryley Hilker
Women’s Nordic Skiing MVP: Catherine Mallinger
Figure Skating MVP: Francis Adamo
Baseball MVP: Peter Ricciardi
Men’s Volleyball MIP: Kendrick Kerr
Men’s Volleyball MVP: Marc Wilson
Women’s Volleyball MIP: Jennifer Johnstone
Women’s Volleyball MVP: Maddie Dedecker
Men’s Rugby MVP: Eric Howard
Women’s Rugby MVP: Brittany Priddle
Football MVP: Jazz Lindsey
Men’s Basketball MIP: Jack Tanner
Men’s Basketball MVP: Adam Kemp
Women’s Basketball MIP: Barbara Inrig-Pieterse
Women’s Basketball MVP: Kate MacTavish
Men’s Hockey MVP: Nick Huard
Women’s Hockey MVP: Katie Mora
Men’s Wrestling MIP: Elvir Uzunovic
Men’s Wrestling MVP: Dan Humphrey
Women’s Wrestling MIP: Natassya Lu
Women’s Wrestling MVP: Alison Carrow
Men’s Rowing MVP: Matthew Larter
Women’s Rowing MVP: Olivia Shotyk
Field Hockey MIP: Daniela Jelec
Field Hockey MVP: Laura Straus