Tuesday, March 24th saw the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) announce the 2014-15 CCAA Academic All-Canadian award recipients. This year saw seven members of the Niagara College Knights earn the prestigious accolade including Lorelle Weavers (Golf), Nicole Forbes (Soccer), Jackie Lawther (Soccer), Bailey Cochrane (Volleyball), Aaron Vanderlugt (Volleyball), Steve Stone (Volleyball), and Lucy McLay (Volleyball).
The Academic All-Canadian award is presented to student-athletes that achieve honour standing at their respective institutions and are selected to their CCAA conference all-star teams.
Since the inception of the award in 2001, 33 Niagara College student-athletes have earned the accolade. The seven recipients in 2014-15 marks the highest ever for the Knights intercollegiate program.
“Recipients of the Academic All-Canadian award personify want it means to be a Niagara College Knight” said Niagara College acting vice-president of student affairs Rick Anderson. “These individuals strive for excellence on the court and in the classroom. Lorelle, Nicole, Jackie, Bailey, Aaron, Steve, and Lucy all reflect the high performance culture that exists in Athletics and Recreation at Niagara College, and each of these individuals should be proud of this accomplishment.”
Bailey Cochrane (Barrie) of the OCAA provincial champion Niagara College men’s volleyball program earned the award for the second consecutive season. Cochrane is currently in his second year of the Niagara College sales and marketing program. He joins Brittany Johnston (Soccer), Heidi Bench (Volleyball), and Eliran Kikos (Basketball) as Niagara College’s two-time Academic All-Canadian award winners.
Lorelle Weavers, 2014 CCAA women’s golf National Champion, joins Shayne Petrusma (Men’s Volleyball, 2012-13) as the only NC student-athletes to be named an All-Canadian and Academic All-Canadian in the same season.
The Niagara College women’s soccer program continued to flex academic prowess. This year marks the fourth consecutive season that two members of the program have earned the accolade. Third-year midfielder Jackie Lawther (Grimsby) is currently enrolled in the Niagara College sport management program, while forward Nicole Forbes is currently enrolled in recreation therapy.
Veteran men’s volleyball standouts Steve Stone (St. Catharines) and Aaron Vanderlugt (Burlington)join Cochrane on this year’s recipient list, marking the first time in school history that a Knights’ intercollegiate program has had three Academic All-Canadians in one season.
Each of the Niagara College Academic All-Canadian award recipients will be honoured at the 2014-15 intercollegiate athletic awards banquet on Friday, April 10th.
