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Lakehead Athletics Awards Winners: McPherson Hockey MVP

Tue Mar 31, 2009
Written by Mike Aylward
Photo by James Mirabelli

Lakehead University Athletics held its annual Athletics Award Ceremonies Tuesday as the Thunderwolves Varsity and Club Teams celebrated another successful season.

Huy Nguyen of mens wrestling was named Lakehead Male Athlete of the Year while Tasia McKenna of womens basketball was named Lakehead Female Athlete of the Year.

Nguyen won his second consecutive CIS wrestling title, an OUA title, and was named OUA Championships MVP. Nguyen was a CIS First Team All Canadian and an OUA First Team All Star.

McKenna was near the top of the OUA in many statistical categories at the guard position and her on-court leadership helped lead the Wolves to a playoff appearance. For her strong play; McKenna was named an OUA West First Team All Star.

Brit Bailey of womens Nordic was named Female Freshman Athlete of the Year while Yoosrie Salhia of mens basketball was named Male Freshman Athlete of the Year.

Bailey had a phenomenal performance at the OUA championships where she led her team to its fifth straight conference championship and she was named OUA Championships Female MVP. She also helped lead her squad to a sixth straight CCUNC national championship.

Salhia too had a fantastic freshman campaign and was named to the OUA West All Rookie team. He led the CIS in rebounding, was 7th in the nation in blocks, and was the only player in the OUA to average a double-double in scoring and rebounding. Why he was not named to the CIS All Rookie team is still a mystery.

Other major award winners were Kiraan Posey of mens basketball being awarded the Argus Award; and the Hank Akervall Award going to Amanda Nesbitt of womens basketball.

Posey set the Lakehead All Time and OUA Scoring Record and finished his career second in OUA All Time scoring. The Argus Award is given by the Argus campus newspaper to the athlete they feel was the biggest newsmaker. Nesbitt made a return to the Wolves after starting the season as an assistant coach and finished her career with the prestigious Akervall Award; given annually to the athlete, male or female, who best combines athletics, academics, and community service.

On the hockey side; Brock McPherson was named Most Valuable Player, Kalvin Sagert was named Rookie of the Year, Kyle Moir was named Most Improved Player, Scott Dobben was given the Best Work Ethic award, and DrewKivell was namedBest Defensive Player.

Lakehead Award Winners:
Argus AwardKiraan Posey
Hank Akervall AwardAmanda Nesbitt
Female Freshman of the YearBrit Bailey
Male Freshman of the YearYoosrie Salhia
Female Athlete of the YearTasia McKenna
Male Athlete of the YearHuy Hguyen

Women's Volleyball
Rookie of the YearLeslie Hansen
Coaches AwardLindsay Johnson
Corrine Kollman AwardAshley Baer
Most Improved Michelle Cournoyer
Most Valuable PlayerAshley Baer
Most Valuable PlayerKarla Brayshaw

Women's Wrestling
Rookie of the YearAislynn Torfason
Most Improved WrestlerJessica Bershatsky
Most Valuable WrestlerEmma Brightwell

Men's Wrestling
Rookie of the YearBenjamin Eagelstone
Most Improved WrestlerGaston Tardif
Most Valuable WrestlerHuy Nguyen
Most Valuable WrestlerChadd Lee
Frank Schaller AwardChadd Lee

Cross Country Running
Most Valuable Runner - FemaleLiz Van Every
Most Valuable Runner - MaleJonas Holmberg

Indoor Track & Field
Most Valuable Runner - FemaleLiz Van Every
Most Valuable Runner - MaleAlastair Brown
Eron Williams Memorial Spirit Award Melanie McLean

Men's Hockey
Rookie of the YearKalvin Sagert
Most Improved PlayerKyle Moir
Best Work Ethic Scott Dobben
Best Defensive PlayerDrew Kivell
Most Valuable PlayerBrock McPherson

Women's Basketball
Rookie of the Year Caitlin Galvin
Most Improved Player Georgia Harvey
Best Defensive Player Lisa Styles
Amanda Nesbitt Award Shannon Vellinga
Most Valuable PlayerTasia McKenna
Most Valuable PlayerKathryn Verboom

Men's Basketball
Rookie of the YearYoosrie Salhia
Most Improved PlayerBrendan King
Best Defensive PlayerGreg Carter
Most Valuable PlayerKiraan Posey

Nordic Skiing -
Sportsperson of the Year Mallory Deyne
Female
Rookie of the YearBrit Bailey
Most Valuable SkierAnna Crawford
Male
Rookie of the YearLachlan Armstrong
Most Valuable SkierChris Hamilton

Club Team Awards:
Women's Rugby Most Valuable PlayerAlexa Hryniuk
Men's Rugby Most Valuable Player Corey Johnston
Men's Soccer Most Valuable Player Michael Major

Lakehead Thunderwolves 2008-09:
All Canadians, Champions, Medalists, All Stars, and Award Winners:

CIS First Team All Canadians:
Huy Nguyen: Mens Wrestling
Chad Lee: Mens Wrestling

Nordic Canadian Colleges and Universities Championships All Canadians:
Mallory Deyne
Anna Crawford

CIS Champions/Gold Medalists:
Huy Nguyen: Mens Wrestling
Chad Lee: Mens Wrestling

Nordic CCUNC Gold Medalists:
Anna Crawford/Mallory Deyne: Womens Pair Relay
Chris Hamilton/Scott Sullivan: Mens Pair Relay

CIS Second Team All Canadians:
Gaston Tardiff: Mens Wrestling
Emma Brightwell: Womens Wrestling

CIS Mens Hockey Randy Greg Award Winner:
Andrew Brown

Canadian Junior National Wrestling Champion
Emma Brightwell: Women's Wrestling

CIS Silver Medalists:
Emma Brightwell: Womens Wrestling
Gaston Tardiff: Mens Wrestling

Nordic CCUNC National Championship Silver Medalists:
Anna Crawford: Womens Skate Race

Canadian National Senior Wrestling Championships Greco Roman Silver Medalist:
Corey Lee

Canadian Senior Wrestling Championships Bronze Medalists:
Emma Brightwell: Women's Wrestling

Nordic CCUNC National Championship Bronze Medalists:
Hilary Schrama/Brit Bailey: Womens Pair Relay

OUA Individual Champions or MVPs:
Nordic Skiing:
Chris Hamilton: OUA Individual Male Champion (MVP)
Brit Bailey: OUA Individual Female Champion (MVP)

Wrestling:
Huy Nguyen: Outstanding OUA Male Wrestler (MVP)

OUA Championships Gold Medalists:
Huy Nguyen: Mens Wrestling
Chad Lee: Mens Wrestling
Emma Brightwell: Womens Wrestling
Gaston Tardiff: Mens Wrestling
Ben Eaglestone: Mens Wrestling
Chris Hamilton: Nordic Skiing
Chris Hamilton: 2 gold medals: Mens Nordic
Scott Sullivan: Mens Nordic
Mark Doble: Mens Nordic
Linnaea Kershaw: Womens Nordic
Brit Bailey: 2 gold medals: Womens Nordic
Hilary Schrama: Womens Nordic

OUA Championships Silver Medalists:
Clayton Serreres: Mens Wrestling
Colten Woznow: Mens Wrestling
Corey Lee: Mens Wrestling
Jessica Bershatsky: Womens Wrestling
Leah Dougherty: Womens Wrestling
Brit Bailey: Womens Nordic
Chris Hamilton: Mens Nordic

OUA Championships Bronze Medalists:
Jason Chalifoux: Mens Wrestling
Angelo Daniele: Mens Wrestling
Aislynn Torfason: Womens Wrestling
Alex Demars: Womens Wrestling
Mark Doble: Mens Nordic
Lachlan Armstrong: Mens Nordic
Jake Porter: Mens Nordic
Rob Martin: Mens Nordic
Amanda Holdsworth: Womens Nordic
Katherine Hall: Womens Nordic
Ava Rudachyk: Womens Nordic
Scott Sullivan: Mens Nordic

Special Recognition Awards:
Andrew Brown: Mens Hockey: OUA West Randy Greg Award Nominee
Emma Brightwall: Womens Wrestling: Wrestling Canada Bob McLeod Scholarship
Karla Brayshaw: Womens Volleyball: 2009 Ontario Quest for Gold Scholarship
Kathryn Verboom: Womens Basketball: OUA Athlete of the Week: Jan. 19, 2009:
Emma Brightwell: Womens Wrestling: 2008 Ontario Quest for Gold Scholarship
Stephen Gross: Mens Wrestling: 2008 Ontario Quest for Gold Scholarship
Nicole Plummer: Womens Wrestling: 2008 Ontario Quest for Gold Scholarship

OUA All Stars and All Rookies:

Womens Basketball:
Tasia McKenna: OUA West First Team
Kathryn Verboom: OUA West Second Team

Nordic Skiing:
Chris Hamilton
Brit Bailey
Scott Sullivan
Linnaea Kershaw
Hillary Schrama
Mark Doble
Katherine Hall
Rob Martin
Amanda Holdsworth
Jacob Porter

Mens Basketball:
Kiraan Posey: OUA West First Team
Yoosrie Salhia: OUA West All Rookie Team
Greg Carter: OUA West All Rookie Team

Mens Hockey:
Brock McPherson: OUA West Second Team
Jordan Smith: OUA West Second Team