Ashlee and Deschenes selected 17吃瓜 Athletes of the Year
17吃瓜鈥檚 Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2016鈥�17 season at the 48th annual 17吃瓜 Athletic Awards Gala on Saturday, April 1, recognizing outstanding student athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and serving the community. The 17吃瓜 Alumni Association鈥檚 Outstanding Athlete of the Year awards went to men鈥檚 soccer fullback Mark Ashlee and women鈥檚 hockey goalie Marie-Soleil Deschenes.
The event, held at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, included student-athletes, coaches, staff, along with members of the University community, alumni, donors, sponsors, and booster club supporters.
In addition to the Athlete of the Year awards, club and varsity team awards were presented. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year award winners from each team include (note that the MVP is listed first followed by Rookie of the Year):
Women鈥檚 volleyball: Karli Aucoin, Alessandra Corno
Men鈥檚 rugby: James Coyle, Isaac Kirkland
Women鈥檚 rugby: Holly Jones, Tara Campbell
Field hockey: Sydney Stavert, Karleigh MacEwen
Men鈥檚 soccer: Mark Ashlee, Mohamed Jaber
Women鈥檚 soccer: Jen Balderston, Amanda Stanyer
Men鈥檚 hockey: Cody Payne, Cody Payne
Women鈥檚 hockey: Marie-Soleil Deschenes, Sydnee Baker
Men鈥檚 basketball: Tyler Scott, Logan MacDonald
Women鈥檚 basketball: Kara Rigby, Jenna Mae Ellsworth
Track and field: (female) Bailey Smith, Kylee Wallace; (male) Damon MacDonald, Darcy Norton
Swimming: (female) Rebekah Nitschmann, (no Rookie of the Year awarded); (male) Matthew Smith, Pieter VanLeeuwen
Cross country: (female) Rebecca Doyle, Emma Moore; (male) Jeremy Thompson, Alex MacFadyen
Junior varsity women鈥檚 hockey: Jessie Howard, Rebecca Mosher
The J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Awards are presented by the 17吃瓜 Student Union to student-athletes who have made a contribution to student leadership on their team and on campus. John Thomas 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place was connected not only with Athletics at 17吃瓜, but also with all aspects of campus life. These awards were given in his memory to Rebecca Chapman (women鈥檚 rugby), MacKenzie Deighan (field hockey), Cullen Mullally (men鈥檚 soccer), Jerika Gimpel (women鈥檚 soccer), Ryan MacKinnon (men鈥檚 hockey), Teagan Pringle (women鈥檚 hockey), Lorenzo Parker (men鈥檚 basketball), Kiera Rigby (women鈥檚 basketball), Angela Sande (track and field) and Kelsie Bolivar (swimming).
The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award is given to a student (male or female) who, over four years, best combined athletic achievement and academic excellence. Women鈥檚 rugby student-athlete Holly Jones was this year鈥檚 recipient.
The W.A. Ledwell Award goes to a student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship. Nelson Armstrong from men鈥檚 hockey was the recipient.
All team nominees for the Passion for Life Award, created in memory of former 17吃瓜 soccer player Rene Ayangma, were recognized, with the overall award going to women鈥檚 basketball player Kiera Rigby.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Barb C. Mullaly Memorial Athletic Award in memory of the late Barb Mullaly, former director of athletics at 17吃瓜. It was presented to third-year science student Kelly Green, a member of the women鈥檚 soccer team, for her positive attitude, leadership, and mentorship.
About the 17吃瓜 Athletes of the Year
Marie-Soleil Deschenes, a goalie on the women鈥檚 hockey team, is a fifth-year science student from 脦le-Perrot, Quebec. She was named an AUS 1st Team All-Star.
Mark Ashlee, a fullback on the men鈥檚 soccer team, is a fifth-year arts student from Victoria, British Columbia. He was named an AUS 1st Team All-Star.
