04/06/2009 10:30 AM - TORONTO, Ont. - Ryerson Sports and Recreation hosted its 61st Annual Interuniversity Sports Awards Celebration on March 25 at the Kerr Hall Gymnasium. Dignitaries from the University joined coaches, therapists and more than 190 student-athletes in celebrating the 2008-09 season at Ryerson University. A summary of award winners is listed below.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (H. H. Kerr Trophy)
Andrea Raso, Soccer
A second-year business management student with the women's soccer team, Raso made history at Ryerson this year. In addition to being Ryerson athlete of the week and a first team OUA all-star, Raso was selected a second team CIS all-Canadian, the first soccer player and first female athlete in Ryerson history to be named to an all-Canadian team.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (The Ryersonian Trophy)
Boris Bakovic, Basketball
A third-year forward with the men's basketball team, Bakovic was named a first team OUA all-star for the first time in his career. He finished first in both CIS and OUA scoring with 27.3 points per game. Bakovic was also seventh in the CIS and second in OUA rebounding with 9.5 boards per game. He was also among the conference leaders in field goal percentage, free-throw percentage and steals.
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Ryerson Student's Union Trophy)
Leah Saar, Volleyball
Saar had a terrific first season with the Rams. She finished the year as the team leader in both points with 191 and kills with 171. She was also tied for fifth place in the OUA with 2.95 kills per game. Saar was selected to both the OUA East second all-star team and the OUA East all-rookie team.
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Eyeopener Trophy)
Vince D'Elia, Soccer
A business management student, D'Elia made an immediate impact with the men's soccer team this year and stood out as one of the top players in the OUA. D'Elia was tied for the team lead in goals despite missing a few games with an injury. He was selected a second team OUA all-star, while helping lead the men's soccer team to its first ever playoff victory.
FEMALE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO INTERUNIVERSITY SPORTS (G. L. Dobson Trophy)
Suzanne Briggs, Soccer
In her fourth season with the women's soccer team, Briggs will be graduating from the geographical analysis program. She has played in almost every minute of every game. She has been an academic all-Canadian for all of her years at Ryerson. In 2007, Briggs was the Women of Influence award winner and has been the team MVP. She has been the team captain for three years and was the recipient of the OUA East community service award this year.
MALE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO INTERUNIVERSITY SPORTS (D. H. Craighead Trophy)
Kevin Krasnowski, Hockey
Krasnowski has been in a captain's role for the past three years on the men's hockey team. He was selected as the team MVP for all four years with the team and has been among the team's top scorers during that time. He has an excellent GPA and is applying to Ryerson's masters of radio and television arts.
FEMALE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY LIFE
Natalie Russell, Soccer
Russell is graduating from journalism this year and has been an amazing role model and contributor to Campus Life at Ryerson as well as many volunteer initiatives off campus as well. She helped develop fundraising and sponsorship initiatives for the women's soccer team. Her volunteer work includes working with Ryerson's food bank, inner city kids, as well as The Redwood Centre for abused mothers and children. For the past two summers she has volunteered in Africa and organized a collection of used soccer equipment to be shipped back to the group after her return.
MALE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY LIFE
Kevin Krasnowski, Hockey
A four-year member of the men's hockey team, Krasnowski is graduating from the radio and television arts program this year. Krasnowski has been an intramural ice hockey referee for all of his years at Ryerson. He has worked as an RTA frosh leader. This summer he produced eight web commercials for the RAC and also co-produced 12 Ryerson recruiting videos.
CLAUDE LAJEUNESSE AWARD (student-athlete with highest GPA)
Suzanne Briggs, Soccer
Briggs, who is finishing her final year in geographical analysis with a GPA of 4.07, is the recipient of the Claude Lajeunesse Award for the second straight year. She has been a CIS academic all-Canadian for three years, has been Ryerson's recipient of the OUA Women of Influence award, an academic student mentor and this year won the OUA East women's soccer community service award.
2008-09 MVPs
Women's Badminton, Clare Cheung
Men's Badminton, Eugene Lau
Women's Basketball, Lacey O'Sullivan
Men's Basketball, Boris Bakovic
Fencing, Faiz Khan
Figure Skating, Alex Dabkowski
Men's Hockey, Kevin Krasnowski
Women's Rowing, Allison Loosley
Men's Rowing, Matt Buie
Women's Soccer, Andrea Raso
Men's Soccer, Moses Kgasa
Women's Volleyball, Michelle Cook
Men's Volleyball, Chris McLaughlin
Source: Ryerson Rams 
