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.
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
