Campbell, Brown receive President's Award from Laurier

WATERLOO, Ont. (April 6, 2015) – Men’s football running back Dillon Campbell and women’s soccer forward Emily Brown were named the recipients of the 2014-15 President’s Award as the Wilfrid Laurier Department of Athletics and Recreation hosted their annual athletic banquet on Monday evening at the Wilfrid Laurier Athletic Complex.

The President’s Award, which was one of 11 major awards handed out at the banquet, is awarded annually to the most outstanding athletic performance from a male and female athlete over the past year.

Campbell, a fourth year native of Whitby, Ont., had one of the best seasons in Laurier football history in 2014 as he became the fourth Golden Hawk to be named the OUA MVP and the first in 20 years. A nearly unstoppable force out of the backfield, he posted the sixth-most rushing yards in CIS history as he galloped for 1,458 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the country in both categories. He also added 206 receiving yards on 12 catches, giving him 1,664 all-purpose yards for the year. When all was said and done, Campbell set three new school records in 2014, including most carries in a season, most rushing yards in a season and most rushing yards in a game. For his work, Campbell was also named a CIS First Team All-Canadian and an OUA First Team All-Star.

As for Brown, a fourth year native of Waterloo, Ont., she continued her incredible career at Laurier in 2014 by posting a new career-high for goals in a season while once again leading the country in goal scoring. One of the top forwards in the nation, Brown led the CIS in scoring for the third straight season as she put up 21 goals, bettering her own team record for goals in a season for the second consecutive year. She also tied the OUA modern day scoring record by recording her 63rd goal of her career in the Hawks final regular season game against Brock. For her efforts, she was named a CIS All-Canadian for the third time in her career and an OUA First Team All-Star.

The Rich Newbrough Rookie of the Year Award, handed out annually for the most outstanding athletic performance from a male and female rookie, was awarded to women’s soccer’s Pauline McCordic of North Vancouver, B.C., and men’s hockey’s Zach Lorentz of Waterloo, Ont.

McCordic, a defender for the women’s soccer team, had a stellar first season for the purple and gold as she started 15 of Laurier’s 16 games. Her play was instrumental in shutting down the opposition as the Hawks allowed just nine goals in 16 games and following the season, she was recognized as the OUA West Rookie of the Year and an OUA Second Team All-Star. 

Lorentz, meanwhile, was a key cog in the offensive attack for the men’s hockey team in 2014-15. The former OHL star was Laurier’s most consistent player over the course of the season, registering a point in 16 of 27 games and finished the year averaging a point per game. At the end of the campaign, he was named to the OUA West All-Rookie team.

The Luke Fusco Academic Athletic Achievement Award, which honours the male and female athlete who best combines academic and athletic achievement, was awarded to Will Coulthard of Oakville, Ont., from men’s basketball and Lee Anna Osei of Toronto, from women’s basketball.

Coulthard, a fourth year geography major, has a cumulative GPA of 9.27 heading into his final year after posting a 10.0 back in the fall. The Golden Hawks leading scorer in 2014-15, the dynamic guard finished the year averaging 17.0 points per game as he was named an OUA All-Star for the first time in his career. He eclipsed 300 points for the third time as a member of the purple and gold and moved into third all-time in scoring at Laurier with 1,239 points. 

As for Osei, a fifth year history major, she culminated her undergraduate degree at Laurier with a very strong 10.22 GPA after posting a 10.4 in the fall. On the court, the diminutive point guard guided the Hawks to their best regular season in school history as she averaged 6.1 points per game and 3.7 assists per game. Following the season, she was recognized by the OUA as a second team all-star and took home two awards for her all-around work in the classroom, on the court and in the community as she was the recipient of the OUA Joy Bellinger award and the Outstanding Woman of Laurier award.

The Fred Nichols Community Service Leadership Award, recognizing the male and female student-athlete or student-leader who gives back to the community through volunteer commitments and/or fundraising efforts, was handed out to Sam Jacobs of Enniskillen, Ont., and Jeremy Hedges of Cambridge, Ont. 

Jacobs, a fourth year forward on the women’s basketball team, has been an excellent representative of Laurier within the community during her time with the Golden Hawks. She has worked extensively with youth basketball players throughout the Waterloo Region, working with players at elementary schools while also coaching at Laurier’s girls basketball clinic. This year, she served as Vice-President of Laurier’s Lettermen club and helped organize hospital visits and raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Meanwhile, Hedges, a fourth year flanker with the men’s rugby team, served as President of the Lettermen club this year and oversaw a significant positive changes in the organization this past year. As well, in the community, Hedges was instrumental in overseeing various fundraising and outreach programs, including local school and hospital visits, as well as running the annual Powderpuff football tournament which raises money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Glenn Carroll Team of the Year Award was presented to women’s basketball after a record-setting regular season for head coach Paul Falco’s team. Over the course of their 20-game season, the Golden Hawks set team records for longest winning streak (12 games), highest CIS Top 10 ranking (No. 5), best winning percentage (.850), most wins (17) and fewest losses (3). The highlight of the season for the Hawks was when they handed the No. 1 team in the country, the Windsor Lancers, their first home loss in 5 years when they won 60-53 in January.

Laurier Athletics and Recreation also recognized six individuals for their contributions to the department and varsity teams over the past year. 

The Marty Wamsley Student Trainer of the Year Award was awarded to Natalie Figueria from the men’s football team. A trainer with the team since her first year at Laurier, she has shown unwavering dedication during that time despite working with the largest roster of any team at the university.

The Earl C. Shelley Unsung Hero Award was handed out to Jan Basso, the Director of Co-operative Education and Career Development at Laurier and a member of the Outstanding Women of Laurier (OWL) committee. Working with the OWL committee since 2006, she has been influential in securing the majority of the sponsorships and ticket sales for the event during that time.

The Tuffy Knight Award, which recognizes a person not affiliated with the university, for their untiring efforts over an extended period of time, was given to Rick Pajor. A familiar voice at Laurier’s basketball games, he has dedicated himself to the announcer’s role despite commuting from out of town and working around the commitments of his full-time job.

The Chuck Classen Award of Excellence for Team Managers was awarded to men’s basketball’s Daniella Orsi. A critical member of the team’s staff, her duties over the course of this past season included organizing team meals and rooming lists, assisting at practice, organizing team events and preparing the team for all road trips.

The Dean E. Brandon Award, awarded to the female contributing most to Athletics, went to Kate Walker. For the past two years, she has worked in the department as both the concessions coordinator and summer events coordinator, and has greatly improved the operations of both roles.

The Bill Haggstrom Trophy, awarded to the male contributing most to Athletics, was given to Soheil Jamshidi. As coordinator of the Athletic Complex Hawk desk over the past year, he was one of the most recognizable faces around the facility throughout the year, often working well over his required hours to ensure the building operated smoothly.

Also honoured on Monday night were each team’s Most Valuable Players and Rookie’s of the Year.

Most Valuable Players
Baseball - Brett Van Pelt
Men’s Basketball - Kyrie Coleman
Women’s Basketball - Whitney Ellenor
Cheerleading - Stephanie Ricottone
Men’s Cross Country - Adam Cornwall
Women’s Cross Country - Sarah Cranmer-Byng
Men’s Curling - Spencer Nuttall
Women’s Curling - Carly Howard
Football - Dillon Campbell
Men’s Golf - Daley Byles
Women’s Golf - Skylar Turkiewicz
Men’s Hockey - Tyler Stothers
Women’s Hockey - Laura Brooker
Women’s Lacrosse - Shelby O’Ryan
Men’s Middle Distance - Adam Cornwall
Women’s Middle Distance - Sarah Cranmer-Byng
Men’s Rugby - Andrew Thomson
Women’s Rugby - Jennifer Gilmour
Men’s Soccer - Anastasios Sitaridis
Women’s Soccer - Maggie Carmichael
Men’s Swimming - Richard Naylor
Women’s Swimming - Kate Vanderbeek

Rookie’s of the Year
Baseball - Matthew Voight
Men’s Basketball - Luke Allin
Women’s Basketball - Lauren Jamieson
Cheerleading - Jaime-Lyn Gilberds
Women’s Cross Country - Jenna Gascho
Men’s Cross Country - Brent Smalley
Women’s Curling - Riley Sandham
Football - Carson Ouellette
Men’s Golf - Connor Wilks
Women’s Golf - Jamie Wood
Men’s Hockey - Zach Lorentz
Women’s Hockey - Nicholle Kovach
Women’s Lacrosse - Chelsea Palmer
Men’s Middle Distance - Michael Charanduk
Men’s Rugby - Andrew Quattrin
Women’s Rugby - Lori Musselman
Men’s Soccer - Tahrik Rodriques
Women’s Soccer - Pauline McCordic
Men’s Swimming - Michael Neves
Women’s Swimming - Jessica Kern