The Niagara College Department of Athletics & Recreation celebrated another tremendous season of athletic excellence on Friday night at the Riverstone Event Centre in Welland, as they held their 47th Annual Athletic Awards Banquet. The event marks the official culmination of the 2015-16 intercollegiate season.
"It was an outstanding year for the Niagara College Knights," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Matthew Davies, "We are so proud of our student-athletes' continued commitment to the pursuit of excellence, both in the classroom, with their respective sport, and as leaders in the Niagara community."
The winners of the evening's marquee awards were Lorelle Weavers (Burlington) and Evan Littlefield (Thunder Bay), both of the Knights golf team, who were named the 2015-16 Niagara College Athletes of the Year.
Lorelle Weavers earned the Knights Female Athlete of the Year Award for the second consecutive season. It was another tremendous season for the fourth-year golfer. During the invitational portion of the schedule she earned a pair of one-stroke victories at the Fanshawe and Georgian Invitationals, while also capturing the silver medal at the Niagara Knights Invitational.
Weavers entered the OCAA Championship, hosted by the Knights at Hunters Pointe Golf Course in Welland, as the odds on favourite and she did not disappoint. She posted a three-round total of 226, earning a four-stroke victory and the OCAA Individual Championship. She wrapped up the season narrowly missing the medals at the CCAA Championship, coming home with fourth place and CCAA Tournament All-Star honours.
On top of her medals, Weavers was also named a CCAA All-Canadian, a member of the OCAA All-Ontario team, the Niagara College Tournament Sport Player of the Year, the Knights Golf Leadership Award winner, and received the Knights Athlete of Distinction Award. Weavers is the seventh female in Niagara College history to earn back-to-back Athlete of the Year awards, and first since volleyball player Heidi Bench captured the honours in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Evan Littlefield wins his first Athlete of the Year award. In three invitational tournaments this year, Littlefield won the Georgian Invitational and lost in a playoff at the Niagara Invitational. However, he saved his best for when it mattered the most. Littlefield fired a one-under 69 in the final round of the OCAA Championship on his home course to lock down a two stroke victory and the gold medal.
On top of the individual accomplishments, Littlefield was also a part of the men's golf team that had success at both the provincial and national level. Niagara edged the Humber Hawks by a single stroke at the OCAA Championship to capture the OCAA Golf Championship for the first time since 1975-76. At the CCAA Championship Littlefield and his teammates captured the CCAA Silver Medal, the team's best finish since 2005-06.
For his efforts this season Littlefield was also named a CCAA All-Canadian, a member of the OCAA All-Ontario Team, the Niagara College Male Tournament Sport Player of the Year, the Knights Golf Most Valuable Player, and received the Knights Athlete of Distinction Award.
The evening's other major award winners included; Rookies of the Year Jordan Koslowski (women's volleyball) and Kimbel Donayre (men's soccer), Leadership Award winners Olivia Page (women's soccer) and Andy Hein (men's soccer/cross country/curling), Tournament Sport Players of the Year Lorelle Weavers (golf) and Evan Littlefield (golf). The Ralph Nero Award winner for coach's dedication to student athlete recruitment and retention is men's basketball head coach Keith Vassell, and the newly established Luciano Berardocco Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to intercollegiate athletics is Athletic Therapist Amy Olar.
The 2015-16 season ranks as among the best in Niagara College history. For the first time three student-athletes were named CCAA All-Canadians (Lorelle Weavers, Evan Littlefield, Jeff Scott) in the same season. The Knights also captured three OCAA gold medals (Lorelle Weavers - golf, Evan Littlefield - golf, men's golf), one silver medal (women's volleyball), and one bronze medal (Josiah Dixon – golf). The Knights also captured a CCAA silver medal (men's golf). Other accomplishments include five CCAA Academic All-Canadians, the OCAA women's soccer Central Division Defender of the Year (Natalie Semenuk), 35 OCAA All-Academic recipients, 16 OCAA all-stars, and two OCAA all-rookie team recipients.
Major Awards List
Female Athlete of the Year – Lorelle Weavers (Golf)
Male Athlete of the Year – Evan Littlefield (Golf)
Female Rookie of the Year – Jordan Koslowski (Volleyball)
Male Rookie of the Year – Kimbel Donayre (Soccer)
Female Tournament Sport Player of the Year – Lorelle Weavers (Golf)
Male Tournament Sport Player of the Year – Evan Littlefield (Golf)
Female Top Scholastic – Allison Mondloch (Curling) & Natalie Semenuk (Soccer)
Male Top Scholastic – Alexander Latham (Soccer)
Female Leadership Award – Olivia Page (Soccer)
Male Leadership Award – Andy Hein (Soccer/Cross Country/Curling)
Ralph Nero Award – Keith Vassell (Men's Basketball)
Luciano Berardocco Memorial Award – Amy Olar (Athletic Therapist)
Team Awards List
Curling
Most Valuable Player – Megan Droog
Leadership Award – Andy Hein
Rookie of the Year – Danika Thompson
Top Scholastic – Allison Mondloch
Cross Country
Most Valuable Player – Andy Hein
Leadership Award – Andy Hein
Rookie of the Year – Gavin Martin
Top Scholastic – Russell Gibson
Golf
Most Valuable Player – Evan Littlefield
Leadership Award – Lorelle Weavers
Rookie of the Year – Mark Wikkerink
Top Scholastic – Katherine Copeland
Men's Soccer
Most Valuable Player – Jordan Provenzano
Leadership Award – Andy Hein
Rookie of the Year – Kimbel Donayre
Top Scholastic – Alexander Latham
Women's Soccer
Most Valuable Player – Jackie Lawther
Leadership Award – Olivia Page
Rookie of the Year – Chelsea Hay
Top Scholastic – Natalie Semenuk
Men's Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Marako Lundy
Leadership Award – Jo'hann Jenkins
Rookie of the Year – Jordon McDonald
Top Scholastic – Lequan Hylton
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player – Courtney McPherson
Leadership Award – Miranda Ross
Rookie of the Year – Jolene Awuku
Top Scholastic – Marina Painco
Men's Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Jeff Scott
Leadership Award – Tyler Vanderwal
Rookie of the Year – Matt Friesen
Top Scholastic – Jonathan Wismer
Women's Volleyball
Most Valuable Player – Rachel Rivers
Leadership Award – Linnea Davis
Rookie of the Year – Jordan Koslowski
Top Scholastic – Nicole Abbott
