Trinity Western University honoured during its annual athletics banquet April 12 at the Langley Events Centre.
The Spartans Female Athlete of the Year award went to women’s volleyball fourth-year right side Elly Wendel, while the Spartans Male Athlete of the Year award went to track and field sprinter Nathan George.
Wendel was a CIS First Team All-Canadian and helped the Spartans to a Canada West championship and a CIS silver medal, while George won CIS gold in the 300m after posting a time of 33.52 seconds, which was the third fastest in CIS history.
Spartans men’s volleyball libero Tyler Koslowsky and women’s soccer midfielder Ali Oliverio took home the Spartans most prestigious honour at the banquet as they were each awarded the Complete Champion Award.
The volleyball and soccer stars were honoured with the evening-capping Complete Champion Awards, which are given to senior student-athletes who are “outstanding in athletic achievements, who advance to the edge of their abilities both academically and personally, and who also demonstrate leadership and a desire to grow spiritually.”
The Bahta Melles Award for servant leadership went to fourth-year women’s track and field and cross country athlete Hannah Ryan and fourth-year men’s soccer defender Taylor Johnson.
The Spartans Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award went to women’s track and field fifth-year high jumper Emma Nuttall and the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year award went to fifth-year men’s soccer midfielder Brayden Gant.
The Rookie of the Year Awards went to women’s soccer forward Rachel Hutchinson and men’s hockey defenseman Kaleb Denham.
The Human Kinetics Spartan Athlete Awards went to women’s track and field third-year multi-eventer Katie Maryschuk and men’s track and field second-year sprinter Aidan Kits.
The School of Business Spartan Athlete Awards went to women’s soccer fourth-year defender Lindsey Pulice and men’s soccer third-year midfielder Mitchell Urzinger.
The Student Therapy awards went to Joseph Songcayauon, who worked with women’s volleyball, and Emily Herle, who worked with men’s soccer.
The Joshua VanDyck Servant Leadership Memorial Scholarships went to second-year defender Amy Gartke and fourth-year defender Taylor Johnson.
The Spartans also honoured their graduating seniors in a special ceremony.
Graduating senior athletes
Men’s hockey – Ryan Bakken, PJ Buys, Blair Murphy, Jamie Russell, Mattias Schmidt
Men’s soccer – Jarvis Ambaka, Brayden Gant
Women’s soccer – Sarah Kim Bergeron, Vanessa Kovacs, Ali Oliverio, Jolayne Whitmarsh
Track and field/cross country – Ross Browne, Blair Johnston, Sarah Inglis, Dylan Kelso, Emma Nuttall, Katelynn Ramage, Hazel Ross, Jamie Sinclair, Kevin Solano, Dylan Williamson
Men’s basketball – Kelvin Smith
Women’s basketball – Kristin Ford
Men’s volleyball – Tyler Koslowsky
Women’s volleyball – Mariel Garcia
The Spartans also honoured departing men’s soccer head coach Pat Rohla, as well as departing assistant coaches Jason Keegstra (men’s basketball) and Neil Turner (women’s soccer).
The athletic therapy staff honoured long-time massage therapist Ron Mayne with an appreciation award as will not be returning to work with TWU next year.
The Athlete of the Year Award is selected by the Spartan Athletics Awards Committee from the coaches’ nominations and awarded to a varsity athlete who is outstanding in the following areas: athletic achievement, quality of character, role model/TWU representative, academics.
The Scholar-Athlete Award is selected by the Spartan Athletic Awards Committee and awarded to the male and female graduating varsity athletes who best exemplify scholastic and athletic achievement.
The Bahta Melles Servant-Leader of the Year Award is selected by the Spartan Athletic Awards Committee from the coaches’ nominations and awarded to the varsity athlete who best exemplifies the Spartan Athletics Mission Statement and the attributes of Spartans Hall of Fame member Bahta Melles.
The Male and Female Rookie of the Year Awards are selected from team rookies of the year and voted on by the Spartan Athletics Awards Committee.
