MOHAWK 2011-12 ATHLETIC AWARDS

Mohawk College celebrated its 2011-2012 athletic programme at the 45th Annual Athletics Awards Banquet at Michelangelos on March 31.

The highest honour in Mohawk athletics is the Dr. Sam Mitminger Award which goes to the athlete, in his or her graduating year, who achieves consistent academic and athletic excellence. This year's award went to fifth-year guard Aminu Bello of the OCAA and CCAA champion men's basketball team. Bello was a CCAA all-Canadian, OCAA tournament all-star, OCAA West first-team all-star, OCAA West scoring champion, and male basketball athlete of the week in the OCAA in February. His 24.4 points per game was third best in all of Canada. Bello also was a CCAA all-Academic, averaging approximately 89 percent.

Volleyball star Justin Scapinello was named winner of the Wes Hicks Outstanding Male Athlete Award. Scapinello averaged 4.4 points per game, which was second in the OCAA West and fourth in the OCAA. He became a CCAA all-Canadian and an OCAA first-team league all-star. He led Mohawk to an OCAA bronze medal.

Basketball standout Rachelle Abella was selected the outstanding female athlete. Abella was the OCAA West's best defensive player. She was an OCAA first-team league all-star. She was second in OCAA and West region scoring averaging 20.2 points per game. She also led the Mountaineers with 67 steals and 49 assists and had 110 rebounds.

Basketball centre Megan Campbell won the female freshman award. In 18 games, she averaged 4.9 points per game for the Mountaineers and despite being a first year player, was one of the captains of a much improved Mohawk squad which finished the season with an 8-10 record.

The top male freshman for 2011-2012 was 6-foot-6 basketball forward Andrew Cicuttini. A member of Mohawk's OCAA and CCAA champions, Cicuttini was the most valuable player in the national tournament. He was third in team scoring with 10.2 points per game in the regular season and had 143 rebounds, just six behind the team leader.

Ashley Hagen was named the all-round female athlete. The award goes to an athlete for excellence in participating in more than one varsity sport. Hagen was the OCAA women's soccer scoring champion with 12 goals and was named to the West all-star team. In volleyball she had 44 kills, five aces, eight blocks and 63 digs.

CCAA Awards

The SIRC-CCAA academic all-Canadian award is the CCAA's most prestigious student-athlete award, epitomizing their mandate of recognizing excellence in academics and athletics. To achieve this honour, a student-athlete must be named to their province's all-star team (first or second), or have won a OCAA provincial gold or silver in a CCAA sport, and must have achieved honours at their institution.

This year we have one student athlete who has achieved this accomplishment. He's a graduating athlete who leads by example not only on the court, but also in the classroom. He led his team averaging 24.4 points per game, was the OCAA West division scoring champion, an OCAA first-team league all-star to name just a few of his accolades. In the classroom the winner accomplished an overall average of 89 percent in the urban planning diploma program. This year's recipient is Aminu Bello.

CCAA All-Canadian Awards

Each year the OCAA coaches within the varsity sports that lead to national championships select OCAA all-stars at the end of the season.  Only two of the top Ontario all-stars are selected and named a CCAA all-Canadian. This year Mohawk College was fortunate enough to have two athletes named to the all-Canadian team; Justin Scapinello from the men's volleyball team and Aminu Bello from the men's basketball team.

Mohawk College Academic & Leadership Awards

Each year colleges across Ontario have the opportunity to submit names of athletes who while achieving athletic excellence are also able to obtain a high academic standing. Mohawk College is proud to announce that 33 of its athletes were chosen to the all-academic team in Ontario.

Congratulations to the following students for being selected to receive the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association all-academic award:

Cross Country
Jeremy Connell
Michael Marshall
John Miles
Jonathan Redfearn

Women's Fastball
Amber Silversmith
Melanie White
Sybel El Kareh

Golf
Andrew Horner
Brandon Taylor

Men's Rugby
Tyler Brunke

Women's Rugby
Danika Faucon
Julie Hill
Jessica Ramsay

Men's Soccer
Vipusan Karvannathasan
Ioannis Simatis
Mark Vanduyvenvoorde

Women's Soccer
Nicole Roberts
Kailey Swaving
Melanie Wong
Fabrizia Leuzzi

Badminton
Kien Tran

Men's Basketball
Aminu Bello (CCAA All-Canadian Academic)
Mike Dzikic

Women's Basketball
Lindsay Bokor
Joanna Brown
Megan Campbell
Marina Ciannavei
Cynthia Mosca

Curling
Christine Moore
Wesley Steen
Sandy Toole

Men's Volleyball
Kyle Hussey
Philip Youngblut

2011-2012 Coaches Awards

Badminton
Most Valuable Player: Chris Hong
Most Valuable Player: Mohammed Nazimuddin
Coaches Award: Kien Tran

Men's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Aminu Bello                 
Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Dowhaniuk
Coaches Award: Manny Campbell

Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Rachelle Abella             
Rookie of the Year: Megan Campbell                
Coaches Award: Marina Ciannavei

Cross Country
Most Valuable Player: Jonathan Redfearn             
Rookie of the Year: John Miles             

Curling
Most Valuable Player: Sandy Toole             
Most Improved Player: Sarah McFarlane            
Coaches Award: Jordan Crockett
            
Women's Fastball
Most Valuable Player: Nicole Leitch    
Most Improved Player: Sybel El Kareh
Coaches Award: Stephanie Duffin

Golf
Most Valuable Player: Curtis Henshaw    
Most Improved Player: Heather Brouwer

Men's Rugby
Most Valuable Player: Phil Jackson        
Most Improved Player: Nathan Lemstra
Coaches Award: Eric Moyer            
                 
Women's Rugby
Most Valuable Player: Raquel Rose
Most Improved Player: Reyanna Sangestino
Coaches Award: Rebecca Halliwell

Men's Soccer
Rookie of the Year Player: Alex Mickeloff     
"Tom Bell" Coaches Award: Momo Veljko    
"Tom Bell" Coaches Award: Davis MacLeod

Women's Soccer
Most Valuable Player: Ashley Hagen    
Coaches Award: Shelby Dawdy    
Coaches Award: Jaclyn Halliday        

Men's Volleyball
Most Valuable Player: Justin Scapinello        
Coaches Award: Justin DesRoche        
Coaches Award: Andrew Ross

Women's Volleyball
Most Valuable Player: Kristin VanHartingsveldt    
Rookie of the Year: Chi Chi Chuks-Mady            
Coaches Award: Julie Gagnon

OTHER AWARDS

Department of Athletics & Recreation Award

This award is in recognition of outstanding participation in both the varsity and campus recreation programs.

This year's winner was very active in the campus recreation program, participating in co-ed soccer and volleyball, ultimate frisbee, touch football and was the leader in the active living challenge.

He was the lead on the varsity men's curling team which won the Ron Fearon Fair Play Award.

The 2011-2012 department of athletics and recreation award winner....a third-year business student....

JORDAN CROCKETT

Hap Holman Business Award

The recipient of the Hap Holman Business Award recognizes outstanding participation in varsity athletics and academic excellence in a business program by a second- or third-year student.  The award is named after Mohawk and OCAA hall of famer Hap Holman, who coached Mohawk curling for 27 years and was a professor in business studies for 25 years.

The winner averaged 81 percent in the fall semester while participating on his varsity team. He made it to the semi-finals in the West regional badminton tournament and participated in a number of invitational tournaments this year.

The winner of the 2011-2012 Hap Holman Business Award....in his third year of business administration....

NICOLAAS VanGEMERT

Dr. Keith McIntyre Athletic Leadership Award

Named after the former president of Mohawk College, is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership qualities that have contributed toward the enrichment, support, development and enhancement of student life at Mohawk College.

With the college set to break ground on a $35 million recreation centre, featuring full size courts, a triple gymnasium, a fitness centre approximately five times the size of the current one and a health and wellness clinic, two student leaders have passionately lobbied support for a new facility. Thanks to their presentations and support at the Mohawk Students' Association table the MSA voted to support moving forward with a building fee to be charged once the facility is open without going to referendum.

The award goes to Daniel Clark, MSA president and Jamie-Leigh Haughn, MSA VP athletics and SAC chair.

Barb Moore Spirit of Athletics Award

The Barb Moore Spirit of Athletics Award is dedicated to a student involved in athletics as a non-participant who demonstrated dedication and the true spirit of student life in support of athletics....the same spirit Barb Moore gave Mohawk over 20 years in the student life department.

He attends most every home game and a number of road games taking photos for the athletics department. He initiated the Mohawk Mountaineers Facebook page, posting stories and photos after every game.

He is reknowned for his photo shoots with athletes and his never ending need for sports pictures. His passion for sports photography won him first place in the Sweat Magazine photo contest this winter.

The winner of the 2011-2012 Barb Moore Spirit of Athletics Award is Mohawk's student photograper...

ELIA KOOLSBERGEN

Source: Mohawk College