Friday, April 4th saw the Niagara College department of athletics & recreation formally conclude the 2013-14 intercollegiate athletics season with the hosting of the annual Niagara College Athletics Award Banquet at the Riverstone Event Centre in Welland, Ontario.
Niagara College director of athletics & recreation Matthew Davies commented “we are very proud of our student-athletes’ accomplishments in the classroom and in their respective sports. They have proven to be fantastic ambassadors for the college and have demonstrated a commitment to excellence that is the core of the Knights Family culture. We look forward to watching each and every one of them continue to grow as leaders and professionals in their respective fields.”
The event was highlighted with the four biggest presentations of the evening, the male and female Top-Scholastic and male and female Athlete of the Year awards.
The female Top-Scholastic award was presented to mixed curling team member Tess Brown. The second-year Trent River, Ontario native excelled in the classroom in 2013-14 finishing the year with a 93% average in the Dental Hygiene program. Brown’s named was called a number of times during the event, as she was also presented with the Tournament Sport Athlete of the Year, Curling MVP, and the Curling Top-Scholastic awards.
The male Top Scholastic award was presented to Georgetown, Ontario’s Matthew Scott. A member of the Knights men’s volleyball program Scott earned a department high 95% average in the accelerated Police Foundations program.
The evening was concluded with the presentation of the Niagara College Athlete of the Year awards.
On the female side the Athlete of the Year Award went to Alexandria Botelho (Stoney Creek) of the women’s volleyball program. The third-year middle blocker enjoyed a standout campaign for the Knights earning CCAA Academic All-Canadian and OCAA Second Team All-Star selections. Botelho was also named Niagara College athlete of the week a season high four times in 2013-14.Botelho was also named the women’s volleyball MVP.
For the second straight year the male Athlete of the Year award was presented to a member of the Niagara College men’s volleyball program as outside hitter Daniel Groenveld earned the accolade. The Welland native had an outstanding season for the Knights earning CCAA All-Canadian, OCAA First-Team All-Star, and CCAA Athlete of the Month selections in 2013-14.Groenveld was also named the men’s volleyball MVP and Leadership award winner.
The evening’s other major award winners included; Rookies of the Year Bailey Cochrane (men’s volleyball) and Alyssa McCabe (women’s basketball), Leadership Award winners William Janetos (men’s soccer) and Miranda Ross (women’s basketball), male Tournament Sport Athlete of the Year Zachary Bankuti (golf), and the Ralph Nero Award (for a coach’s dedication to student-athlete recruitment and retention) Frank DeChellis (men’s and women’s soccer).
The 2013-14 season saw the Niagara College intercollegiate athletics program capture an OCAA bronze medal in golf, an OCAA silver medal in mixed curling, receive 29 OCAA All-Academic selections, and have five student-athletes named SIRC-CCAA Academic All-Canadians.
Full List of 2013-14 Award Winners
Major Awards
Male Athlete of the Year – Daniel Groenveld (Men’s Volleyball)
Female Athlete of the Year –Alexandria Botelho (Women’s Volleyball)
Male Rookie of the Year – Bailey Cochrane (Men’s Volleyball)
Female Rookie of the Year –Alyssa McCabe (Women’s Basketball)
Male Tournament Sports Athlete of the Year –Zachary Bankuti (Golf)
Female Tournament Sports Athlete of the Year –Tess Brown (Curling)
Male Outstanding Leadership Award –William Janetos (Men’s Soccer)
Female Outstanding Leadership Award –Miranda Ross (Women’s Basketball)
Male Scholastic Award –Matt Scott (Men’s Volleyball)
Female Scholastic Award –Tess Brown (Curling)
Ralph Nero Award – Coach Frank DeChellis(Men’s and Women’s Soccer)
Team Awards
Men’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player –JordiAmores
Leadership Award – William Janetos
Scholastic Award – Kevin Charrois
Rookie of the Year – Jordan Provenzano
Women’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player – Melanie Bajic
Leadership Award – Chelsea Fraser
Scholastic Award – Chelsea Fraser
Rookie of the Year – Leah Harrison
Men’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Aidan Alize-Minty
Leadership Award – Aidan Alize-Minty
Scholastic Award – Michael Mortley
Rookie of the Year – Ty Rogers
Women’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Tara Giallonardo
Leadership Award – Miranda Ross
Scholastic Award – Miranda Ross
Rookie of the Year – Alyssa McCabe
Men’s Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Daniel Groenveld
Leadership Award – Daniel Groenveld
Scholastic Award – Matt Scott
Rookie of the Year – Bailey Cochrane
Women’s Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Alexandria Botelho
Leadership Award – Kayde Bailey
Scholastic Award – Kaylee Barber
Rookie of the Year – Maddi Morgan
Golf
Most Valuable Player – Zachary Bankuti
Leadership Award – Cody Chase
Scholastic Award – Evan Littlefield
Rookie of the Year – Evan Littlefield
Curling
Most Valuable Player – Tess Brown
Leadership Award – Cody Smith
Scholastic Award – Tess Brown
Rookie of the Year – Allison Mondloch
