Awarding Agriculture's accomplished athletes

Inspirational athletes and committed coaches were honored at the 51st Annual Athletic Awards Banquet on Friday evening, March 27.

It was an exceptional season for the Dal Agricultural Campus Rams having earned an Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA) Championship, an AIEL Championship (undefeated), 10 ACAA All-Conference athletes, an ECHO Challenger winner, two coaches selected as ACAA Coach of the Year and five Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Academic All-Canadians.

“I want to speak for the entire department in saying how proud we are of our student-athletes, teams, coaches and the competitive spirit displayed by everyone throughout the year,” said Athletics Director Judy Smith.

Highlights of the banquet include the presentation of the Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards and the Contribution Award.

The 2014-15 Contribution award was presented to Harris Bakker. Over the past four years Harris has always taken the time to lend a hand and help others. While participating in varsity sport, he assisted with facility prep and cleanup for both practices and competitions. He assisted teammates in learning sport skills and helped guide rookies both in the sport and with academic and campus questions.

This year he was instrumental in the success of recreation, intramurals and house challenges – including the Sport Marathon. He was keen to promote all athletic events, encouraging people to participate. In addition he attends events with a huge smile on his face asking “how can I help?” 

This year’s Female Athlete of the Year is Sam Fanning.  Sam has been a valuable part of her sport program for three years.  She has been selected as Team Rookie of the Year and twice Team MVP. She has been an ACAA All-Conference selection all three years and was also selected as a CCAA Athlete of the Month. Her stats this year place her in the top three in the ACAA in two categories. Her coach describes her as “a great athlete and leader, very coachable and one of the nicest athletes I have had the pleasure of coaching; she totally exemplifies what a student-athlete should be.” She is team captain and this year’s team MVP.

The 2015 Male Athlete of the Year has also shown exceptional skill in his sport over his four year career on campus. Craig MacEachern has been described as the foundation for the growth of the team during his time with the program. He has been Team Rookie, twice Team MVP, twice ACAA All-Conference, All Academic Athlete all four years, twice a CCAA Academic All-Canadian and this year the recipient of the ACAA Bob Coe Award. He is also team captain and is a leader on and off the field.

Complete list of major award winners

HUSTLE Award

Badminton Ryland Murphy
Rugby (w) Kaylee Little
Soccer (m) Nathan Hill                  
Soccer (w) Rachel Hirtle
Volleyball (w) Thea McLachlin
Woodsmen (m) Tyler Van Oirschot
Woodsmen (w) Kamryn Findlay

MIP (Most Improved Player) Award

Badminton Danielle Albers
Rugby (w) Jill Bent
Soccer (m) Scott Marrison
Soccer (w) Alea Power
Volleyball (w) Jackie McClelland
Woodsmen (m) James MacDonald
Woodsmen (w) Mandy Smith

ROOKIE Award

Badminton Andrew Sytsma
Rugby (w) Katie McQueen          
Soccer (m) Richard MacNevin
Soccer (w) Cora Sharp and Emily Merks
Volleyball (w) Alex Jackson
Woodsmen (m) Connor Morse
Woodsmen (w) Melanie Bos
Equestrian Becca MacSwain
Cross Country Hannah Arseneault
Golf Brette Holland        

DAL AC All Academic Athletes                                                  

Athletes who have demonstrated excellence in academics and athletics, achieving GPA of 3.7 or above for "Honors" and a position on a Team (1st semester).

Badminton

Ryland Murphy
Harris Bakker
Berdien Bakker
Danielle Albers
Zong Lin Ong (Jaymee)

Rugby

Jocelyn Manley
Katie McQueen (Rugby and Equestrian)
Emma Murray
Shannon Peck
Kathleen Sterritt
Cassie Stupart
Amy Unicomb

Soccer

Jonathan Bent
Josh Hamlin
Craig MacEachern
Josiah McNutt
Leah Cook
Brette Holland (Soccer and Golf)
Emily Merks
Sydney Sprenger

Volleyball

Alexandria Jackson
Jackie McClelland

Woodsmen

Angus Gibson
Justin Dean

Nathan Little
Connor Morse
Kayla Graham
Kamryn Findlay
Jaylene Woodworth
Eilish Conners
Alix Kusch
Mandy Smith
Melissa Baxter

Cross Country

Oscar Moyles
Hannah Arseneault
Anetta Arends
Morgan Morash
Lindsay Cameron (Cross Country and Golf)

Equestrian

Eric Pace
Chelsea Tuff-Hopkie

ACAA All-Conference 2014-15

Soccer

Emily Merks – 2nd team
Cora Sharp – 1st team
Craig MacEachern – 2nd team
Chris Morash – 1st team

Bob Coe Award

Craig MacEachern

Badminton

Coach of the Year:  Richard Bennicke

Rugby

Whitney Shaver                                
Katie McQueen                                
Jill Bent   

Volleyball

Sam Fanning

Cross Country

Hannah Arseneault (Gold Medalist and Women’s Champion for 2014)
Oscar Moyles
Coach of the Year:   Joy Galloway-Jones

Golf

Brette Holland

ACAA Women’s Golf Champions: Brette Holland and Lindsay Cameron

CILA (Canadian Intercollegiate Lumberjacking Assoc.)

ECHO Challenge
Winner: Kayla Graham

CCAA Academic All Canadians

SIRC (Sport Information Resource Centre) and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) are proud to announce the 2014-15 SIRC-CCAA Academic All Canadian Award recipients.

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 his/her respective Conference All-Star teams (first or second) in a CCAA Sport, and must achieve a GPA standing of 3.7 or higher (honours average, first semester).

Craig MacEachern (Soccer)
Emily Merks (Soccer)
Brette Holland (Golf)
Oscar Moyles (Cross Country)
Hannah Arseneault (Cross Country)

Fourth-Year Varsity Athletes

Harris Bakker (Badminton)
Leah Cook (Soccer)
Brittany Green (Soccer)
Craig MacEachern (Soccer)
Willem Schepp (Soccer)
Brad Elliott (Woodsmen)
Kayla Graham (Woodsmen)

Fifth-Year Varsity Athletes

Breagh Ross (Woodsmen)
Robert Matheson (Soccer)

MVP Awards (voted by team)

Badminton Luke MacKinnon
Rugby (w) Whitney Shaver
Soccer (m) Chris Morash
Soccer (w) Leah Cook
Volleyball (w) Sam Fanning
Woodsmen (m) Thomas Henderson                      
Woodsmen (w) Kayla Graham
Equestrian Club Eric Pace             
Cross Country Oscar Moyles
Golf Lindsay Cameron

Contribution Award

Harris Bakker

Outstanding Athlete Awards

KS Marchant Award – presented to the student athletes with highest GPA In Degree and Technology carrying a minimum of 4 courses, 1st semester.

Degree:               

Berdien Bakker (Badminton)
Katie McQueen (Rugby and Equestrian)
Josiah McNutt (Soccer)
Connor Morse (Woodsmen)
Hannah Arseneault (Cross Country

Technology:

Alix Kusch (Woodsmen)