AMINU BELLO NAMED OCAA MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is pleased to announce that Mohawk College men's basketball student-athlete Aminu Bello is its 2011-12 male athlete of the year.

The OCAA West region scoring champion averaged 24.4 points per game for a grand total of 440. He led the OCAA in field goals shooting 159-of-322, and free throws shooting 84-of-99. For his efforts, Bello was named an OCAA West Division first-team all-star and CCAA all-Canadian. Mohawk finished the regular season with a 13-5 record, good for fourth place in a tough OCAA West Division.

It was Bello's play during the post-season, however, that people will remember for a long time. The Mountaineers co-captain scored 18 points in a 90-65 win over Durham in the qualifying round to secure an invite to the OCAA championship tournament. Mohawk carried this momentum throughout the tournament, first knocking off East regional champion Centennial 73-69 as Bello scored a team-high 20 points.

Bello contributed another 15 points in a 96-61 semi-final victory over Georgian, setting up a meeting in the OCAA final against three-time defending champion Humber. Bello scored a team-high 33 points, earning player of the game honours as Mohawk defeated Humber 89-86, ending a 40-year OCAA championship drought. Bello scored a running jumper with 17 seconds remaining to seal the victory. Bello was also named a tournament all-star.

Bello and his teammates picked up where they left off at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) nationals. Bello scored 23 points in a 101-96 win over defending national champion Vanier to open the tournament, and added 15 points in a 78-71 win over No. 1 seed UNBC in the semi-finals. The Mountaineers capped off their first-ever national championship with an 88-73 win over Mount Royal, with Bello contributing a game-high 32 points to earn player of the game honours.

Bello was equally as strong off the court as he was on it. He earned all-academic honours in both the OCAA and CCAA. Bello received the Dr. Sam Mitminger Award, given to a Mohawk athlete in his or her graduating year who achieves consistent academic and athletic excellence. Bello will graduate from Mohawk with an urban planning diploma.

Along with the highest OCAA honour, Bello was named the 2012 CCAA male athlete of the year across all sports, and Mohawk's most valuable player in men's basketball

Bello will be presented his OCAA male athlete of the year award later this month. He becomes the fifth basketball player to earn this honour, and the fourth Mohawk student-athlete.

OCAA MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
2011-12: Aminu Bello, Mohawk (Basketball)
2010-11: Eric Smith, Durham (Basketball)
2009-10: Ryan Talsma, Redeemer (Volleyball)
2008-09: Charley Spurr, Algonquin (Basketball)
2007-08: Jasmin Cull, Mohawk (Volleyball)
2006-07: Loui Legakis, Algonquin (Soccer)
2005-06: Peter Sniuolis, Mohawk (Volleyball)
2004-05: Nathaniel Allard, Centennial (Badminton)
2003-04: Glendon Thomas, Cambrian (Badminton)
2002-03: Joey Martins, Loyalist (Soccer, Volleyball)
2001-02: Mike Silva, Humber (Soccer, Indoor Soccer)
2000-01: John Sozio, Mohawk (Soccer)
1999-2000: Shane Bascoe, Sheridan (Basketball)
1998-99: Bill Crowdis, Durham (Basketball)
1997-98: Mike Kaytar and Bob Parnell, Cambrian (Badminton)
1996-97: Todd Boys, Loyalist (Volleyball)

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 31 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com