UBCO Athletics
KELOWNA – Volleyball star Katy Klomps of Surrey dominated the seventh annual UBC Okanagan Heat athletics awards banquet Tuesday night at the Coast Capri Hotel.
An exciting night for reviewing the 2014-15 season for the campus’ vibrant student athlete community was highlighted by a new awards format that included awards to be given out for the first time.
“The departure from the previous format has been well received.,” said atletic director Rob Johnson. “With the addition of newer athletics programs like varsity rugby and cross country, the department saw the end of year banquet increasingly difficult to manage with its large cast of individual awards. Instead, it opted for a new, streamlined format with fewer yet more distinguished awards for which teams could nominate multiple players. A shortlist of five nominees was selected by an external committee and the winner announced at the banquet.”
Adding to the new spin for the evening’s program was a move by the department, led by Johnson, to have student athletes Cameron Friesen and Katie Smilie serve as emcees for the night. The pair injected a flair of humour and a deeper connection with both the attending students and various support staff and university administration who were also present.
It was a big night for the fourth-year Klomps, who pocketed several awards, including becoming the school’s first-ever CIS Academic All-Canadian before being crowned with the night’s final award.
Her volleyball exploits for the year were historic, ranking No. 1 in the country in total blocks, blocks per set, and number two for hitting percentage. Her numbers this year pushed her to second all-time in regular season career total and per set blocks with 407 and 1.35, respectively, topped only by Trinity Western’s graduating middle Alicia Perrin.
She is the current record holder for total blocks in a single regular season match at 15 and in a playoff match at 11.
For her exploits, Klomps was named a Canada West All-Star for the second time in two years, and was a two-time Canada West Athlete of the Week. This is the first time since 2003-04 that a student athlete at the school has won this prestigious and ultimate award at the banquet two years in a row.
Joining Johnson at the podium for speeches were graduating athletes Myrte Schön and Trisha-Lee Metro. All three shared stories of their time with the department and offered heartfelt thanks to the athletics community at UBC Okanagan, affectionately referred to as the “Heat Family.”
The revamped Student Athlete of the Year award was received by two players in women’s soccer’s Hayley Carlson and women’s volleyball’s Chandler Proch.
Carlson will graduate from her program this year, but will leave it as a first-class academic in the classroom and first-rate athlete on the turf. She was the squad’s top goal scorer and received four Player of the Game awards, never missing a single minute of time on the field during the 2014 fall season. Her offensive exploits are impressive in her role as a defender, and the co-captain will leave with five career goals to her name.
After sharing time with former Canada West All-Star and All-Rookie teammate Emily Oxland at the setter spot last year, the senior Proch found herself more often at the starting spot in the position this year as she coordinated her team’s offence towards a staggering 19-win and top-place finish.
