Guelph, Ont – Women's Rugby player, Jacey Murphy of Alliston, Ont. and men's Track & Field and Cross Country runner Kyle Boorsma of Guelph, Ont. have been selected as the University of Guelph's Athletes of the Year for the 2010-2011 season. Gryphon student-athletes were honoured tonight (March 31) for their outstanding accomplishments this season at the Guelph Gryphons Annual Intercollegiate Awards Banquet held at the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre.
This is fifth-year Kyle Boorsma's third consecutive time being named men's athlete of the year. The senior graduates on a high note after an incredibly successful five years as a Gryphon athlete and as arguably one of the strongest athletes in Gryphon history. The Human Kinetics student ran for both track and cross country this year and gave both teams exceptional performances. In cross country he finished with an OUA silver and CIS gold medal and was named an OUA all-star, CIS first team All-Canadian and the CIS MVP. He helped the men's cross country team to their seventh consecutive OUA title and fifth consecutive CIS title. In track and field he was an OUA champion in the 1500m event. At the CIS Championships he was a two-time medalist in the 1500m and 3000 metres and was named a first team OUA all-star, CIS All-Canadian and the CIS Performer of the Meet. He also helped his squad to an OUA and CIS team silver medal. Boorsma also graduates as the school record holder in the 1500 and 3000 metres.
Women's fourth-year rugby player Jacey Murphy was named the women's athlete of the year. She was dominant this season for the OUA champion Gryphons as she tallied a league best 17 tries in only five conference games – six more than any other player – finishing second in scoring with 85 points. She was named the OUA and CIS Player of the year and was an OUA all-star and CIS All-Canadian for the second straight season. She was a major factor in the Gryphons outscoring their opponents by an outstanding 551-12 in eight overall matches. At the CIS Championships, she guided her team to their fourth straight bronze medal.
2010-2011 Major Award Winner Summary:
Award – Name – Sport – Hometown
Male Athlete of the Year – Kyle Boorsma – Track & Field / Cross Country – Guelph, Ont
Female Athlete of the Year – Jacey Murphy – Women's Rugby – Alliston, Ont.
President's Trophy Female – Kylen Van Osch – Women's Volleyball – Exeter, Ont.
President's Trophy Male – Dan McCarthy – Men's Basketball – Guelph, Ont
W.F. Mitchell Sportswoman – Brienne Stairs – Field Hockey – Kitchener, Ont.
W.F. Mitchell Sportsman – Guyson Kuruneri – Track & Field – Guelph, Ont.
Shirley Peterson Most Improved – Brooke Lloyd – Women's Volleyball – Whitby, Ont.
Don Cameron Most Improved – Tim Hendry – Track & Field – Parry Sound, Ont.
Dr. Mary Beverley Burton Female Rookie – Emily Driedger – Track & Field / Cross Country – Georgetown, Ont.
Scott Yanchus Male Rookie of the Year – Ross Proudfoot – Track & Field / Cross Country – Sudbury, Ont.
Dr. James Maclachlan Trainer of the Year Award – Josh Smith, Football
Cathy Rowe Manager of the Year – Jenn Kaufman – Women's Rugby
Fred Ramprashad Scholarship – Sandra McCubbin – Figure Skating – Barrie, Ont.
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MAJOR AWARD BIOS
President's Trophy, Female Student-Athlete: Kylen Van Osch – Women's Volleyball – Exeter, Ont.
A model student athlete, Kylen achieves excellence as a member of the women's volleyball team and as a student in Biomedical Sciences. This past season, the dominant middle blocker was named a CIS first team All-Canadian – the first in Gryphon women's volleyball history – she was also the CIS Mary Lyons player of the year nominee from the OUA, OUA MVP, and a first team OUA all-star. She led the Gryphons to an OUA silver medal after an amazing season where she was second in OUA kill percentage and top three in points per set, averaging 3.80 points per game.
President's Trophy, Male Student-Athlete: Dan McCarthy – Men's Basketball – Guelph, Ont
Dan has displayed a passion in both athletics and academics at the University of Guelph. This past season he was named a OUA first team OUA all-star after leading the team with 17 points per game, seven rebounds per game, and shot 40 percent from the field. His academic performance has been equally impressive averaging 84.5 percent in his third year of Biomedical Sciences. He is also very involved in the community of Guelph and is an outstanding role model to his peers.
W.F. Mitchell Sportswoman Award: Brienne Stairs – Field Hockey – Kitchener, Ont.
Brienne leads by her worth ethic on the field which is second to none. This speedy forward is a fourth year member of the field hockey team and is a three-time CIS All-Canadian and three-time OUA first team all-star. She was named the OUA and CIS Player of the Year for the last two seasons and was the top scorer in the country for three of her four years. This season she scored 32 goals in 14 league games. Thanks to her 27 assists she was in on 69 percent of Guelph's conference leading 85 goals.
W.F. Mitchell Sportsman Award: Guyson Kuruneri – Track & Field – Guelph, Ont.
Guyson has been a team captain for three years with the Gryphons. In addition to his captain duties, he acts as an assistant coach and has mentored many of the top Gryphon jumpers over the years. This past season he won the OUA title and a CIS silver in long jump. He was named a first team OUA all-star and a second team All-Canadian. In addition to being an outstanding athlete he works for the department of athletics events staff and also with many of the Gryphon track camps. He is the epitome of the spirit and passion of varsity athletics.
Shirley Peterson Award (Most Improved): Shirley Peterson Most Improved – Brooke Lloyd – Women's Volleyball – Whitby, Ont.
Brookes development on the volleyball court over the last three years has been outstanding. Showing promise from the start, she was named to the OUA all-rookie team in her first season and was third on the team in scoring averaging 1.65 digs a set and a 16 percent kill percentage. This past season, in her third year she helped her team to the OUA silver medal, was named a first team OUA all-star and became the team leader in total kills, averaged 3.06 digs a set and a 19% kill percentage.
Don Cameron Award (Most Improved): Tim Hendry – Track & Field – Parry Sound, Ont.
Tim has shown vast improvement on the track and field team as a weight throw and shot put specialist. During his first year, he qualified for the CIS Championships. In his second year he made a major leap forward capturing two bronze medals. This past season, Tim continued his extraordinary progress and won the OUA and CIS title in weight throw and became the OUA bronze medalist and CIS silver medalist in shot put.
Dr. Mary Beverley-Burton Female Rookie of the Year: Emily Driedger – Track & Field / Cross Country – Georgetown, Ont.
Emily is a committed and hard working athlete who had a breakthrough fall as a first year athlete. She was a member of the OUA and CIS Championship cross country team and the OUA and CIS silver medalist track and field team. In cross country she was named OUA first team all-star, OUA rookie of the year, CIS second team All-Canadian and CIS rookie of the year.
Scott Yanchus Male Rookie of the Year: Ross Proudfoot – Track & Field / Cross Country – Sudbury, Ont.
Ross is a diligent worker, who has the make-up of an international class athlete. He was a member of the OUA and CIS championship cross country team and the OUA and CIS silver medalist track and field team. In cross country he was OUA rookie of the year, OUA first team all-star, CIS rookie of the year and CIS first team All-Canadian. In track and field he was also named the OUA rookie of the year and a first team OUA all-star after winning the OUA title in the men's 3000m and a bronze medal in the OUA 1500metres. At the CIS Championships, he was a bronze medalist in the 1500m.
Dr. James Maclachlan Trainer of the Year Award: Josh Smith, Football
Josh is a fourth year human kinetics student who has developed into an outstanding senior student trainer. His dedication and worth ethic has seen him perform many of the training room tasks at a level equal to that of the full time staff. On top of the customary student trainer tasks josh has added much to his plate including complete away game packing, practice equipment manager and on occasion the game day equipment manager. Countless hours of work above the mandated weekly hours determines if a trainers service is 'outstanding' and josh has diligently spent those hours before, during and after the football season to maximize his contribution to the team fortunes.
Cathy Rowe Manager of the Year – Jenn Kaufman – Women's Rugby
As the team manager for the women's rugby team, Jenn did an amazing job at all off-field decision making and organizing duties. Jen single handedly took on the responsibility of the athlete medical, health and eligibility forms as well as the entire team kit, including all the merchandise orders. She set up all the equipment for any team meetings and generously gave up her free time away from work and school to be there for the players and coaches. She was an excellent link between the coaching staff and the players, taking care of any concerns that arose during the season with the utmost professionalism and reliability.
Fred Ramprashad Scholarship: Nadine Frost – Sandra McCubbin – Figure Skating – Barrie, Ont.
This award is established through the direction of the College of Biological Science Alumni to honour Professor Fred Ramprashad for his commitment to the college and to the athletic programs at Guelph. The award will recognize the student that best demonstrates the combination of academic excellence in Biological Science and participation in intercollegiate athletics. Sandra McCubbin has won over 30 medals for the Gryphon figure skating team in four years of competition and won the OUA title with the team in 2009 and 2010. This season she captured a team silver medal and individually was a member of the silver medalist 'bronze rhythm dance' and won a bronze in senior silver solo dance and junior silver similar dance. She is a leader on the team and program coordinator for the popular Gryphon 'Learn to Skate' program. Sandra also excels in academics, with an 86.9% average in Biological S
