Atkinson and Hutchinson Jr. Niagara’s top athletes
A pair of basketball players scooped the top awards as the Niagara College Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 50th edition of its annual athletic awards banquet Friday night.
A total of 121 individual awards were handed out as Niagara celebrated three Ontario Colleges Athletic Association medals, three Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Academic All-Canadians and hosting the 2019 CCAA Women’s Volleyball championship.
Earning female athlete of the year honours was Welland native Bridget Atkinson. The Centennial grad, who played at Brock University and the University of Guelph before arriving at Niagara this season, led the Knights to an 11-9 regular-season record and a bronze medal at the OCAA championships.
The fourth-year protection, security and investigation student led Niagara in all major stat categories and finished in first place in the OCAA in field goals made, steals, assists and free throws made.
Her play at the OCAA championship earned her tournament all-star recognition as she netted 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Atkinson was named the OCAA Defensive Player of the Year, the first time that award has been won by a Niagara athlete, and a West Division First Team All-Star.
Grabbing male athlete of the year honours was Van Hutchinson Jr. from Nassau, Bahamas.
The third-year general arts student had a record-setting season for the Knights. He broke Niagara’s single season records in points, rebounds, assists and steals and career records for assists and steals. He was named the OCAA Player of the Year, a first for the Niagara’s men’s basketball program, an OCAA First Team All-Star and a CCAA All-Canadian. Hutchinson powered his team to its first OCAA medal since 2008-2009 and third in team history.
Winning top female and male leadership awards were fifth-year volleyball player Ben Fillmore and third-year soccer player Kara Latham from Welland.
Top rookie of the year honours went to: volleyball player Madelyn Berg, a police foundations student from St. Catharines; and, soccer player Oti Frigole, a social services student from St. Catharines.
Bringing home the Knight’s Top Scholastic Awards were golfer Chris Hallborg from St. Catharines and volleyball player Anica Haberstock
Hallborg. a first-year professional golf management student had a 95 per cent average and Haberstock, a general arts and science major, notched a 99 per cent average.
Below is the complete list of award winners:
Luciano Berardocco Memorial Award: Nick Brayford, marketing and communications intern.
Ralph Nero Award: Rob Lalama, women’s soccer head coach.
Athlete of Distinction: Hutchinson Jr., Kevin Cooper and Alex Elliot, men’s basketball; Jordi Amores, Jacob Therrien, David Fimiak and Quinton Leone, men’s soccer; Tristan Swinden, men’s volleyball; Kim Shepard, women’s basketball; Lauren Fresca, Amanda Borowski, Kara Latham, Michelle Maecker and Samantha Macsai, women’s soccer.
Fourth Year Recognition Award: Jordon McDonald, men’s basketball; Logan Lammerant, golf, Alexander Latham, Leone and Amores, men’s soccer; Tristan Swinden, men’s volleyball; Jordan Koslowski, women’s volleyball,
OCAA All-Academic Award: David Ahong, Malachi Clark, Melanie Forget, Shannon Rotteveel, Peter Van Den Bos, and Christopher Vonlanthen, cross country; Spencer Gates, Hallborg, Lammerant and Marshall Pemberton, golf; Keveshan Padachey and Jonathan Ravn, men’s basketball; Hannah Baker, Steenika Gilbert and Shepard, women’s basketball; Sophia Al-Kayed, women’s basketball and soccer; Nolan Bradshaw, Matthew Ilao, Patrick Loanidis, Alexander Latham and Anuo Makinwa, men’s soccer; Daniela Aguire, Ashley Bruzzese, and Renee LaFranc, women’s soccer; Nicholas Buckborough, Elijah Bugiardini, Benjamin Filmore, Dominic Scibetta and Robert Zalewski, men’s volleyball; and, Berg, Olivia Burnie, Natasha Desjardins, Tamara Edwards, Haberstock, Koslowski, Veronika Latawiec, Melissa McFadden, and Taylor Montana, women’s volleyball.
CCAA Academic All-Canadians: Al-Kayed, Koslowski and Berg.
CCAA All-Canadians: Amores and Hutchinson Jr.
Team MVP awards: Pemberton, golf; Ahong, cross country; Jayden Milne, men’s volleyball; Lauren Frasca, women’s soccer; Amores, men’s soccer; Hutchinson Jr., men’s basketball; Atkinson, women’s basketball; and, Koslowski, women’s volleyball.
Team Scholastic Awards: Vonlanthen, cross country; Ravn, men’s basketball; Alexander Latham, men’s soccer; Robert Zalewski, men’s volleyball; Baker, women’s basketball; and, Bruzzese, women’s soccer.
Team Leadership Awards: Vonlanthen, cross country; Desjardins, women’s volleyball; Lammerant, golf; Baker, women’s basketball; Leone, men’s soccer; and, Padachey, men’s basketball.
Rookie of the Year Team Awards: Micah Nieuwets, men’s volleyball; Van den Bos, cross country; Rahim Bardi, men’s basketball; Siarra Stephan, women’s basketball; Hallborg, golf; and, Katelyn Mix, women’s soccer.
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