Top honours for top Tigers student‑athletes

Last Thursday, it was the Dal Tigers’ turn to dress up and celebrate. At the 58th annual Black and Gold Athletic Awards Banquet, Athletics and Recreational Services recognized inspirational athletes, committed coaches and incredible volunteers.

The top honours—male and female athletes of the year—went to Simon Watts and Rieka Santilli.

Ms. Santilli, captain of the women’s soccer team, missed the 2010-11 season with a broken leg and suffered an MCL injury over the summer, leading to concern for her return to the pitch. But she hit the field with determination, leading the team in scoring with seven goals and taking the Tigers to their first AUS championship title in women’s soccer since 2001. She was named an AUS first team all-star and CIS first team all-Canadian honours. She was also named a CIS Academic All-Canadian – an honour she’s earned in each of her four years with the Tigers.

Mr. Watts is the current AUS record holder in the high jump (2.11m), long jump (7.13m) and triple jump (14.5m) events. This season he earned an AUS gold medal in each of these events and was named an AUS all-star and the AUS championship MVP for his accomplishments. At the CIS championship, he earned a gold medal in the triple jump, making history as the first Dalhousie athlete to medal in the event. Mr. Watts also finished fourth in the high jump and fifth in the long jump, and earned CIS first team all-Canadian honours. As a mentor coach to many of his teammates, he takes time away from his own training in an incredible show of team spirit and sportsmanship.

Complete list of winners

A.J. Sandy Young Award (for contribution to Nova Scotia sport): Judi Rice

Team Most Valuable Player Awards:

Basketball    
(M) Robert Nortmann             
(W) Anna von Maltzahn

Cross Country    
(M) Matthew McNeil
(W) Holly Van Gestel

Hockey
(M) David MacDonald
(W) Jocelyn LeBlanc

Soccer    
(M) Ben Ur
(W) Rieka Santilli

Swimming
(M) Bryan Fumerton            
(W) Michelle Campbell            

Track and Field    
(M) Robert McCulloch and Simon Watts
(W) Ashley Ryer

Volleyball    
(M) Graeme Higgins
(W) Louise Facca

Manager of the Year Award: Chuck Wheeler, Men’s Hockey

Volunteer Awards: Ken Jarvis, Rita Crosby

Trainer of the Year: Blair Williams, Women’s Volleyball

Rookie of the Year Awards
(M) Connor Maessen, Volleyball
(W) Maggie Li, Volleyball

Coach of the Year Award: David Fry, Swimming

President’s Award for academics, athletics, leadership and community service:
(M) Daniel You, Volleyball
(W) Rebecca Haworth, Track and Field

Class of ’55 Award - Female Athlete of the Year: Rieka Santilli, Soccer
Climo Award - Male Athlete of the Year: Simon Watts, Track and Field