The Dalhousie Tigers celebrated the Black and Gold Athletic Awards on Thursday night with Chelsea MacIsaac and Grace Beer named female athlete of the year and Jacob Benoit named male athlete of the year.
MacIsaac, a thrower with the track and field team, spent her season breaking records. She set and re-set the Dalhousie weight throw and shot put records several times this season on her way to claiming AUS gold medals in both events. She was named AUS field athlete of the year. At the U SPORTS national championship, she finished fourth in weight throw and second in the shot put, earning a spot as a second team all-Canadian.
Third year goalie Beer racked up the accolades this season. She led the AUS in saves and save percentage this season and was in the top three in the country in both statistical categories. The first ever AUS women’s hockey MVP for the Tigers backstopped Team Canada to a FISU World University Games silver medal in January, before returning to Halifax to lead the Tigers to a program record 15 wins this season.
Windsor, Nova Scotia’s Benoit capped off his U SPORTS career by being named the Climo award winner. After going undefeated in AUS cross country regular season, he crossed the line in second place at the championship in St. John’s, Newfoundland in October. At the U SPORTS national championship, he was named a first team all-Canadian for his fifth place finish. He wrapped up his career with a U SPORTS bronze medal in the 3000m race at the University of Windsor in March.
Fellow cross country and track & field athlete Aidan Goslett won the male President’s award while volleyball player Kasandra Trenke took home the women’s prize. The President’s Award recognizes an individual who best combines athletics, academics, leadership and fair play during their year at Dalhousie.
Goslett, a multi-year captain on the team, has been a leading ambassador for the Tigers during his time at Dalhousie. This season he won both the 1000m and 1500m AUS gold medals and as named the male track athlete of the year. Ath the U SPORTS championship he finished fifth in the 1000m race.
Known as an athlete and Dalhousie community member that strives to make a connection with everyone she encounters, Trenke is very active in the community in addition to her commitments to school and the volleyball team. She was named both the Erin Bursey Memorial Award for student-athlete community service award winner and the U SPORTS student-athlete community service award winner. Last month she was also named a nominee for the AUS James Bayer Memorial Scholarship.
Soccer’s Mohammed Tolba, swimming’s Mia Stein-Blumberg and hockey’s Abby Larkin were named the Rookies of the Year.
Tolba, stated 11 games for the Tigers this season, scoring three goals and added four assists. He was named the AUS rookie of the year and was selected to the U SPORTS all-rookie team.
Stein-Blumberg won three gold medals and four silver medals at the AUS championship this spring in both individual and relay events. She was named the AUS rookie of the year and rookie of the championship.
Larkin played in 27 games for the Tigers this season, recording 18 points. She was named the AUS rookie of the year and a first team all-star.
Complete list of award winners:
| Women’s Basketball Tiger of the Year – Madelyn White MVP – Kaitlyn Ferrier |
Men’s Basketball Tiger of the Year – Caleb and Riley Stewart MVP – Lydell Husbands-Browne |
| Women’s Cross Country Tiger of the Year – Eva Kriebel MVP – Molly Pert |
Men’s Cross Country Tiger of the Year – Alex Rogers MVP – Jacob Benoit |
| Women’s Hockey Tiger of the Year – Gabby Noodijk MVP – Grace Beer |
Men’s Hockey Tiger of the Year – Evan MacKinnon MVP – Liam Peyton and Barret Kirwin |
| Women’s Soccer Tiger of the Year – Hannah Firstbrook MVP – Elise Evans |
Men’s Soccer Tiger of the Year -Wilfreid Kindo MVP – Jack Ellis |
| Women’s Swimming Tiger of the Year – Emma Carrier Clarke MVP – Emilie Schofield |
Men’s Swimming Tiger of the Year – Eli Pickup MVP – Logan Sparkes |
| Women’s Track & Field Tiger of the Year – Aidan MacDonald MVP – Chelsea MacIsaac |
Men’s Track & Field Tiger of the Year – Tobi Oshikoya MVP – Aidan Goslett |
| Women’s Volleyball Tiger of the Year – Annik Boldon MVP – Ella Hornby |
Men’s Volleyball Tiger of the Year – Luke Rideout MVP – Michael Donovan |
| Women’s Curling MVP – Rebecca Regan |
Men’s Curling MVP – Nathan Gray |
Volunteer of the Year – Catherine Kennedy (cross country/track & field) and Max Joy (women’s hockey)
Manager of the Year – Caitlin Taylor (swimming) and Logan Smith (men’s basketball)
Eye of the Tiger – Liam Ferguson (swimming)
Trainer Team of the Year – Men’s Volleyball, head trainer Jadyn Danells, assistant trainers Matthew Burbidge, Adela Dunkley, Sabrina Myatt
Coach of the Year – Rich Lehman (cross country/track & field)
Rookie of the Year – Abby Larkin (hockey), Mia Stein-Blumberg (swimming), Mohammed Tolba (soccer)
President’s Award – Kasandra Trenke (volleyball), Aidan Goslett (cross country/track & field)
Class of ’55 Award (female athlete of the year) – Chelsea MacIsaac (track & field), Grace Beer (hockey)
Climo Award (male athlete of the year) – Jacob Benoit (cross country/track & field)
Awards presented annually include:
Class of ’55 Award (Dalhousie’s Female Athlete of the Year)
Climo Award (Dalhousie’s Male Athlete of the Year)
President’s Award
Rookies of the Year (Dalhousie's Female and Male awards)
Coach of the Year
Most Valuable Performer Award (one per team)
Volunteer Award
Manager of the Year
Trainer of the Year
AJ Sandy Young Award (For great contribution to Nova Scotia sports)