Last Thursday, it was the Dal Tigers鈥� turn to dress up and celebrate. At the 58th annual Black and Gold Athletic Awards Banquet, Athletics and Recreational Services recognized inspirational athletes, committed coaches and incredible volunteers.
The top honours鈥攎ale and female athletes of the year鈥攚ent to Simon Watts and Rieka Santilli.
Ms. Santilli, captain of the women鈥檚 soccer team, missed the 2010-11 season with a broken leg and suffered an MCL injury over the summer, leading to concern for her return to the pitch. But she hit the field with determination, leading the team in scoring with seven goals and taking the Tigers to their first AUS championship title in women鈥檚 soccer since 2001. She was named an AUS first team all-star and CIS first team all-Canadian honours. She was also named a CIS Academic All-Canadian 鈥� an honour she鈥檚 earned in each of her four years with the Tigers.
Mr. Watts is the current AUS record holder in the high jump (2.11m), long jump (7.13m) and triple jump (14.5m) events. This season he earned an AUS gold medal in each of these events and was named an AUS all-star and the AUS championship MVP for his accomplishments. At the CIS championship, he earned a gold medal in the triple jump, making history as the first AV俱乐部 athlete to medal in the event. Mr. Watts also finished fourth in the high jump and fifth in the long jump, and earned CIS first team all-Canadian honours. As a mentor coach to many of his teammates, he takes time away from his own training in an incredible show of team spirit and sportsmanship.
Complete list of winners
A.J. Sandy Young Award (for contribution to Nova Scotia sport): Judi Rice
Team Most Valuable Player Awards:
Basketball聽聽 聽
(M) Robert Nortmann 聽聽 聽聽聽 聽聽聽 聽
(W) Anna von Maltzahn
Cross Country聽聽 聽
(M) Matthew McNeil
(W) Holly Van Gestel
Hockey
(M) David MacDonald
(W) Jocelyn LeBlanc
Soccer聽聽 聽
(M) Ben Ur
(W) Rieka Santilli
Swimming
(M) Bryan Fumerton聽聽 聽聽聽 聽聽聽 聽
(W) Michelle Campbell聽聽 聽聽聽 聽聽聽 聽
Track and Field聽聽 聽
(M) Robert McCulloch and Simon Watts
(W) Ashley Ryer
Volleyball聽聽 聽
(M) Graeme Higgins
(W) Louise Facca
Manager of the Year Award: Chuck Wheeler, Men鈥檚 Hockey
Volunteer Awards: Ken Jarvis, Rita Crosby
Trainer of the Year: Blair Williams, Women鈥檚 Volleyball
Rookie of the Year Awards
(M) Connor Maessen, Volleyball
(W) Maggie Li, Volleyball
Coach of the Year Award: David Fry, Swimming
President鈥檚 Award for academics, athletics, leadership and community service:
(M) Daniel You, Volleyball
(W) Rebecca Haworth, Track and Field
Class of 鈥�55 Award - Female Athlete of the Year: Rieka Santilli, Soccer
Climo Award - Male Athlete of the Year: Simon Watts, Track and Field