2012-13 Graduating athletes (Andrew Snucins photo)
A member of the men’s soccer team and a female cross country honor were the major winners as the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack held their annual year end awards banquet tonight (Mar 28) at the TRU Grand Hall.
Jack Miller (Cross Country coach), Justin Smeaton and Doctor Alan Shaver with Dr. Roger H. Barnsley Scholar Athlete Award (Andrew Snucins photo)
Justin Smeaton (Kamloops, BC) of men’s soccer and cross country runner Rolena De Bruyn (Grand Forks, BC) were awarded with the Dr. Roger H. Barnsley Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. The award goes to the student athlete who best combines academics, and athletic performance. All nominees qualify as “TRU Scholar Athletes”.
Justin Smeaton (Andrew Snucins photo)
Smeaton is a computer science major in the faculty of Science. He had a Grade Point Average of 4.07 this past fall. Smeaton was a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Scholar Athlete his entire four year post-secondary career. He was also one of the first players off the bench for the WolfPack soccer squad.
Rolena De Bruyn (Andrew Snucins photo)
De Bruyn had a G.P.A. of 4.26 in the faculty of Science. She was 50 th overall at the 2012-13 CCAA Nationals in Quebec this past November.
Other nominees for the Barnsley Award were Erika Dufort (badminton), Taiysa Worsfold (women’s basketball), Emily Edmundson (women’s soccer), Kristen Giesbrecht (women’s volleyball), Kyle Sandulescu (baseball), Mark Carolan (cross country), Nathan Michaels (hockey), and Brett Rouault (men’s basketball).
The Barnsley Award honors excellence in the classroom and on the playing field.
Kevin Pribilsky (left) Christopher Seguin-VP Advancement (center) and Diane Schuetze (right): Sports Task Force Athletes of the Year (Andrew Snucins photo)
The Sports Task Force Athlete of the Year—which is based totally on outstanding performance on the field, ice or court went to two basketball players.
Diane Schuetze (Andrew Snucins photo)
Diane Schuetze (Vernon, BC) was a CIS first team All-Canadian. The fifth year post led the nation in defensive rebounds (166 ) and was first in total rebounds (248). She was third in offensive rebounds (82), third in rebounds per game (11.3), fifth in blocks (34), fifth in free throws (103-142), sixth in total points (391), sixth in field goals (149-269), seventh in field goal percent (53.2) and ninth in the country in scoring (17.8 points per game).
Kevin Pribilsky (Andrew Snucins photo)
The male athlete of the year was Kevin Pribilsky (Victoria, BC). The fifth year guard was a leader on and off the court for the men’s basketball team this season.
Other nominees for female athlete of the year were women soccer players Alanna Bekkering and Blair MacKay and badminton player Anica Arduini.
Other nominees for male athlete of the year were baseball player David Hole, Joey Chu of badminton, Alessio Tomassetti of hockey, Colin Carson of men’s volleyball and men’s soccer player Ashley Raynes.
The other major award handed out was the newly named Cliff Neufeld Leadership Award. This goes to the athlete who not only excels on the court, field or ice but also leads by example with their teammates and in the community.
Abbey McAuley (left)-Jon Shephard-Athletics Assistant and Spencer Reed (right) Cliff Neufeld Leadership Award (Andrew Snucins photo)
The winners for 2012-13 were soccer player Abbey McAuley (Langley,BC) and men’s volleyball player Spencer Reed (Prince George, BC). This is McAuley’s second time winning the award. She captured it in 2010-11.
Spencer Reed (Andrew Snucins photo)
Other nominees were Jessie Paustian (cross country), Jen Ju (women’s basketball), Curtis Tonello (hockey), Kevin Pribilsky (men’s basketball) and Sebastian Gardner (men’s soccer).
Sebastian Gardner (left) Tyler Lowey (center) and Kevin Cramer (right)-Tyler Lowey Award winners (Andrew Snucins photo)
Gardner and baseball player Kevin Cramer (Camp Verde, AZ) were honored with the Tyler Lowey Award. Gardner was recognized for returning to school and soccer after being diagnosed with lymphoma. Cramer made a comeback after suffering a serious spinal cord injury. Gardner’s cancer has returned and he starts a second round of aggressive chemo therapy next month.