NGUYEN AND MCKENNA NAMED LAKEHEAD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

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

Huy Nguyen of men's wrestling was named Lakehead Male Athlete of the Year while Tasia McKenna of women's basketball was named Lakehead Female Athlete of the Year.

Nguyen won his second consecutive CIS wrestling title, an OUA title, and was named MVP at the OUA Championships. 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 women's nordic skiing was named Female Freshman Athlete of the Year while Yoosrie Salhia of men's 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 women's MVP at the OUA Championships. 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 seventh in the nation in blocks, and was the only player in the OUA to average a double-double in scoring and rebounding.

Other major award winners were Kiraan Posey of men's basketball being awarded the Argus Award, while the Hank Akervall Award went to Amanda Nesbitt of women's basketball.

Posey set the Lakehead all-time 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, and has a positive attitude towards and enjoys life.

LAKEHEAD AWARD WINNERS

Argus Award: Kiraan Posey
Hank Akervall Award: Amanda Nesbitt
Female Freshman of the Year: Brit Bailey
Male Freshman of the Year: Yoosrie Salhia
Female Athlete of the Year: Tasia McKenna
Male Athlete of the Year: Huy Hguyen

Women's Volleyball
Rookie of the Year: Leslie Hansen
Coaches Award: Lindsay Johnson
Corrine Kollman Award: Ashley Baer
Most Improved: Michelle Cournoyer
Most Valuable Player: Ashley Baer
Most Valuable Player: Karla Brayshaw

Women's Wrestling
Rookie of the Year: Aislynn Torfason
Most Improved Wrestler: Jessica Bershatsky
Most Valuable Wrestler: Emma Brightwell

Men's Wrestling
Rookie of the Year: Benjamin Eagelstone
Most Improved Wrestler: Gaston Tardif
Most Valuable Wrestler: Huy Nguyen
Most Valuable Wrestler: Chadd Lee
Frank Schaller Award: Chadd Lee

Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner - Female: Liz Van Every
Most Valuable Runner - Male: Jonas Holmberg

Track & Field
Most Valuable Runner - Female: Liz Van Every
Most Valuable Runner - Male: Alastair Brown
Eron Williams Memorial Spirit Award: Melanie McLean

Men's Hockey
Rookie of the Year: Kalvin Sagert
Most Improved Player: Kyle Moir
Best Work Ethic: Scott Dobben
Best Defensive Player: Drew Kivell
Most Valuable Player: Brock 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 Player: Tasia McKenna
Most Valuable Player: Kathryn Verboom

Men's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Yoosrie Salhia
Most Improved Player: Brendan King
Best Defensive Player: Greg Carter
Most Valuable Player: Kiraan Posey

Nordic Skiing
Sportsperson of the Year: Mallory Deyne
Female
Rookie of the Year: Brit Bailey
Most Valuable Skier: Anna Crawford
Male
Rookie of the Year: Lachlan Armstrong
Most Valuable Skier: Chris Hamilton

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

All Canadians, Champions, Medalists, All Stars, and Award Winners

CIS First Team All-Canadians
Huy Nguyen: Men's Wrestling
Chad Lee: Men's Wrestling

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

CIS Champions/Gold Medalists
Huy Nguyen: Men's Wrestling
Chad Lee: Men's Wrestling

Nordic CCUNC Gold Medalists
Anna Crawford/Mallory Deyne: Women's Pair Relay
Chris Hamilton/Scott Sullivan: Men's Pair Relay

CIS Second Team All-Canadians
Gaston Tardiff: Men's Wrestling
Emma Brightwell: Women's Wrestling

CIS Men's Hockey Randy Greg Award Winner
Andrew Brown

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

CIS Silver Medalists
Emma Brightwell: Women's Wrestling
Gaston Tardiff: Men's Wrestling

Nordic CCUNC National Championship Silver Medalists
Anna Crawford: Women's 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: Women's 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: Men's Wrestling
Chad Lee: Men's Wrestling
Emma Brightwell: Women's Wrestling
Gaston Tardiff: Men's Wrestling
Ben Eaglestone: Men's Wrestling
Chris Hamilton: Men's Nordic (2 medals)
Scott Sullivan: Men's Nordic
Mark Doble: Men's Nordic
Linnaea Kershaw: Women's Nordic
Brit Bailey: Women's Nordic (2 medals)
Hilary Schrama: Women's Nordic

OUA Championships Silver Medalists
Clayton Serreres: Men's Wrestling
Colten Woznow: Men's Wrestling
Corey Lee: Men's Wrestling
Jessica Bershatsky: Women's Wrestling
Leah Dougherty: Women's Wrestling
Brit Bailey: Women's Nordic
Chris Hamilton: Men's Nordic

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

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

OUA All-Stars and All-Rookies

Women's 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

Men's Basketball
Kiraan Posey: OUA West First Team
Yoosrie Salhia: OUA West All-Rookie Team
Greg Carter: OUA West All-Rookie Team

Men's Hockey
Brock McPherson: OUA West Second Team
Jordan Smith: OUA West Second Team

Source: Lakehead Thunderwolves