April 2, 2009
ROC, ADJETEY-NELSON AND SURMACZ NAMED WINDSOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
WINDSOR, Ont. - Lancers standouts Dranadia Roc, Jamie Adjetey-Nelson and Greg Surmacz walked away with Wednesday evening's top prizes as they were awarded the Banner and Olympic Shields, respectively as the University of Windsor Athletes of the Year.
The trio were multiple winners as part of the Evening of Excellence, highlighting the accomplishments of the Windsor Lancers, held at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts on Wednesday night.
Adjetey-Nelson and Surmacz, both fifth year athletes, were co-winners of the Olympic Shield as Male Athletes of the Year, while Women's Basketball's Roc was honoured with the Banner Shield as the Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.
The special evening featured a number of major highlights including the retirement of Lancer football star running back Daryl Stephenson's No. 24. Stephenson, a native of London, Ont., completed one of the greatest careers in CIS Football history as he captured the Hec Crighton Trophy as Canadian Player of the Year in 2006, was a two-time CIS All-Canadian and the first player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.
Daryl made history again this season as he broke the most prestigious record in CIS Sport, the CIS all-time rushing record, finishing his career with 5,163 rushing yards.
The Department of Athletics also unveiled the Richard Peddie Award on Wednesday night, named in honour of Richard Peddie, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Peddie, who is a University of Windsor alumnus and loyal Lancer supporter, was on hand to present the inaugural award of excellence to Dennis Fairall, head coach of the Lancers track & field team.
Fairall had another amazing season in track & field as he proved once again why is considered to be one of the greatest coaches in CIS history. His Lancers track & field teams made history this season as they completed the first ever national championship sweep at home. For his career now, Fairall has captured a staggering 20 CIS national championship titles, ranking him as one of the most decorated coaches in collegiate sports history.
In other major award news, the DeMarco Awards, presented annually to the top female and male students that best combine academic achievement with athletic prowess, went to Lancer track & field's Ben Warnock and Noelle Montcalm.
The Gino Fracas Coach of the Year Award also had co-winners, and was shared by Chantal Vallee, head coach of the women's basketball team and Brett Lumley, assistant head coach of the track & field team.
Vallee, in her fourth season in the CIS, led the Lancers to an incredible season as they finished the year with a 21-1 record and captured their first ever OUA provincial championship. They also earned a berth in the CIS national championship tournament – also a program first.
Lumley, who coaches with the Lancer track & field team, led his jumpers to one of the most impressive seasons in CIS history. As the coach for such athletes as Adjetey-Nelson, Derek Watkins and Jaideene Lowe, it was his guidance and expertise that helped these three athletes earn provincial and national awards this season. At nationals this year, Lumley's Lancers men finished first through fifth in the men's long jump, a historic finish never before duplicated in CIS track & field history.
The female rookie of the year award went to track & field's Jaideene Lowe, while Sam Malian from Lancers football won the male rookie of the year. Both recipients had outstanding rookie campaigns and are expected to enjoy great careers here at the University of Windsor.
"A" Awards, marking major contributions to Lancer Athletics went Dr. Wayne Marino, Department Head in the Faculty of Human Kinetics, Charlene Yates in the Registrars' office and Tim Brunet from the University's Student Recruitment Office.
The evening, featuring over 100 awards being presented, caps off a very successful season for the Lancers. The gala ended on a high note with the showing of the annual "Blue and Gold" video. The video highlighted all the Lancers' great moments during the past season, with an unbelievable response coming from all the student-athletes in attendance.
Source: Windsor Athletics
Photo Credit: Edwin Tam
The trio were multiple winners as part of the Evening of Excellence, highlighting the accomplishments of the Windsor Lancers, held at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts on Wednesday night.
Adjetey-Nelson and Surmacz, both fifth year athletes, were co-winners of the Olympic Shield as Male Athletes of the Year, while Women's Basketball's Roc was honoured with the Banner Shield as the Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.
The special evening featured a number of major highlights including the retirement of Lancer football star running back Daryl Stephenson's No. 24. Stephenson, a native of London, Ont., completed one of the greatest careers in CIS Football history as he captured the Hec Crighton Trophy as Canadian Player of the Year in 2006, was a two-time CIS All-Canadian and the first player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.
Daryl made history again this season as he broke the most prestigious record in CIS Sport, the CIS all-time rushing record, finishing his career with 5,163 rushing yards.
The Department of Athletics also unveiled the Richard Peddie Award on Wednesday night, named in honour of Richard Peddie, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Peddie, who is a University of Windsor alumnus and loyal Lancer supporter, was on hand to present the inaugural award of excellence to Dennis Fairall, head coach of the Lancers track & field team.
Fairall had another amazing season in track & field as he proved once again why is considered to be one of the greatest coaches in CIS history. His Lancers track & field teams made history this season as they completed the first ever national championship sweep at home. For his career now, Fairall has captured a staggering 20 CIS national championship titles, ranking him as one of the most decorated coaches in collegiate sports history.
In other major award news, the DeMarco Awards, presented annually to the top female and male students that best combine academic achievement with athletic prowess, went to Lancer track & field's Ben Warnock and Noelle Montcalm.
The Gino Fracas Coach of the Year Award also had co-winners, and was shared by Chantal Vallee, head coach of the women's basketball team and Brett Lumley, assistant head coach of the track & field team.
Vallee, in her fourth season in the CIS, led the Lancers to an incredible season as they finished the year with a 21-1 record and captured their first ever OUA provincial championship. They also earned a berth in the CIS national championship tournament – also a program first.
Lumley, who coaches with the Lancer track & field team, led his jumpers to one of the most impressive seasons in CIS history. As the coach for such athletes as Adjetey-Nelson, Derek Watkins and Jaideene Lowe, it was his guidance and expertise that helped these three athletes earn provincial and national awards this season. At nationals this year, Lumley's Lancers men finished first through fifth in the men's long jump, a historic finish never before duplicated in CIS track & field history.
The female rookie of the year award went to track & field's Jaideene Lowe, while Sam Malian from Lancers football won the male rookie of the year. Both recipients had outstanding rookie campaigns and are expected to enjoy great careers here at the University of Windsor.
"A" Awards, marking major contributions to Lancer Athletics went Dr. Wayne Marino, Department Head in the Faculty of Human Kinetics, Charlene Yates in the Registrars' office and Tim Brunet from the University's Student Recruitment Office.
The evening, featuring over 100 awards being presented, caps off a very successful season for the Lancers. The gala ended on a high note with the showing of the annual "Blue and Gold" video. The video highlighted all the Lancers' great moments during the past season, with an unbelievable response coming from all the student-athletes in attendance.
Source: Windsor Athletics
Photo Credit: Edwin Tam
