Williams and Tree Crowned Athletes of the Year

Author: Hugh Mullally

Lakehead Athletics presented their annual honors on Saturday amidst fun, fanfare, and the Thunderwolves family.

The Athlete of the Year honors went to Jylisa Williams of the women’s basketball team, and Kevin Tree of the men’s cross country running and indoor track teams.

A full list of award winners follows below.

Williams soared to national notoriety in her two years at Lakehead, capping off her university career this season as the OUA and CIS Player of the Year. In doing so she also set multiple Lakehead and OUA scoring records. Williams also won the women’s basketball team’s MVP and best defensive player awards.

Kevin Tree, who couldn’t attend the awards gala due to participating in the world cross country championships in China, also broke records this year, including Lakehead’s 3000m, which stood for 40 years. Kevin made the Canadian national running team, and competed in Colombia in February, and was an OUA All Star in cross country running. Tree was also named MVP for the cross country running and indoor track teams.

The Hank Akervall memorial award, which combines athletic and academic excellence with community spirit, went to graduating senior Anthony McIntosh of the men’s basketball team.

As for the Rookies of the Year, Rheanna Geisel of the women’s volleyball team and Brennen Dubchak of the men’s hockey team were honored for their outstanding performances in their freshman campaigns at Lakehead.

“This is a special event every year, and it just keeps getting better,” said Athletics Director Tom Warden in his closing remarks. “The people in this room work very hard to represent Lakehead well and once gain have done an outstanding job.”

Major Awards:

Athletes of the Year

Female – Jylisa Williams

Male – Kevin Tree

Freshman of the Year

Female – Rheanna Geisel

Male – Brennen Dubchak

Hank Akervall Award

Anthony McIntosh

Argus Award

Mike Quesnele

Team Award Winners (by team):

Hockey

Rookie of the Year – Jake Wright

Best Offensive Player – Mike Hammond

Best Work Ethic – Kelin Ainsworth

Best Defensive Player – Justin Sefton

MVP – Mike Hammond

Women’s Basketball

Rookie of the Year – Bridget O’Reilly

Most Improved Player – Corina Bruni

Best Defensive Player – Jylisa Wiiliams

Amanda Nesbitt Award – Katie Ulakovic

MVP – Jylisa Williams

Wrestling

Male Rookie of the Year – Kevin Leatherdale

Female Rookie of the Year – Gabrielle Fairhurst

Women’s Most Valuable Wrestler – Emma Horner

Men’s Most Valuable Wrestler – Chris Waltner

Frank Schaller Award – Tyler Ashurst

Cross Country Running/Indoor Track

XCR Women’s MVP – Mary Strain

XCR Men’s MVP – Kevin Tree

Track Women’s MVP – Callie Roelfsema

Track Men’s MVP – Kevin Tree

Nordic Skiing

Women’s Rookie – Holly Brown

Women’s MVP – Moira Haggarty

Men’s Rookie – Angus Foster

Men’s MVP – Scott Hill

Sportsperson of the Year – Sean Carter

Men’s Basketball

Most Improved – Bacarius Dinkins

Best Defensive Player – Alex Robichaud

MVP – Dwayne Harvey and Anthony McIntosh

Volleyball

Rookie – Rheanna Geisel

Coaches Award – Jasmine Fox

Corinne Kollman – Rachel Moore

Most Improved – Kailan Robinson

MVP – Breanne Hilhorst