17吃瓜

17吃瓜鈥檚 Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2023鈥�24 season at the annual 17吃瓜 Panther Celebration鈥擜thletic Awards Gala on Friday, April 5, recognizing outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and the community.

This year, the 17吃瓜 Alumni Association鈥檚 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award went to Emily Duffy, 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Rugby. The Male Athlete of the Year co-winners are Kaleb Pearson, 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Hockey and Kamari Scott, 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Basketball.

The event, held at the Rodd Charlottetown, included student-athletes, coaches, and team staff from both varsity and club sport programs along with members of the University community. 17吃瓜鈥檚 varsity program includes Men鈥檚 Soccer, Women鈥檚 Soccer, Women鈥檚 Rugby, Men鈥檚 Hockey, Women鈥檚 Hockey, Men鈥檚 Basketball, Women鈥檚 Basketball, Men鈥檚 Cross Country, Women鈥檚 Cross Country, Men鈥檚 Track and Field, and Women鈥檚 Track and Field while 17吃瓜 club sport teams include Men鈥檚 Rugby, Women鈥檚 Field Hockey, Men鈥檚 Lacrosse, Ultimate, Equestrian, Swim, and Cheer.

鈥淐ompetitive sport is an integral aspect of education and a vital part of a full university experience,鈥� said Jane Vessey, 17吃瓜 Director of Athletics and Recreation. 鈥淚 am so proud of our student-athletes鈥� accomplishments this season and look forward to seeing them continue to grow and reach their full potential during their time at 17吃瓜.鈥�

The W.A. Ledwell Award is presented annually to a student who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship. This year鈥檚 recipient was Jonah Capriotti, 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Hockey.

The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award is presented to a male or female student athlete who, over four years, has best combined athletic achievement and academic excellence. This year鈥檚 winner was Lauren Rainford, 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Basketball.

The James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award was established in 1985 and is awarded annually to an outstanding student-athlete in Atlantic University Sport for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship, and citizenship. This year鈥檚 17吃瓜 nominee is Kamari Scott, 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Basketball.

In addition to the overall awards, varsity and competitive club team awards were also presented. These included the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Rookie of the Year, J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place, and Principles of Panther Pride awards.

The J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Awards are presented by the 17吃瓜 Student Union to varsity team student-athletes who contributed to student leadership on their team and on campus. Each coach presents the Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award to the student-athlete on their team, who best exemplifies purpose, preparation, respect for people, positivity, professionalism, presence, passion, and perseverance.

Team Award Winners for 2023鈥�2024

Varsity

Men鈥檚 Soccer: Riad Jaha (MVP), Emile Abele (Rookie of the Year), Jeremiah Osorio (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Max VanWiechen (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Women鈥檚 Soccer: Sarah Eden (MVP), Olivia James (Rookie of the Year), Mia Martell (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Claudia Mazzei (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Women鈥檚 Rugby: Emma MacLean (MVP), Alanna Mabey (Rookie of the Year), Olivia McLeod (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Abbey Morice (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Men鈥檚 Hockey: Kaleb Pearson (MVP), Noah Sedore (Rookie of the Year), David D'Agostino (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award ), Kurtis Henry (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Women鈥檚 Hockey: Lexie Murphy (MVP), Erin Cabaday (Rookie of the Year), Shaylin McFarlane (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Stephanie Leger (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Men鈥檚 Basketball: Kamari Scott (MVP and J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Owen Smith and Chinonso Njelita (Rookies of the Year), Sam Chisholm (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Women鈥檚 Basketball: Lauren Rainford (MVP), Lily Vrugteman (Rookie of the Year), Karla Benitez (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Grace Lancaster (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Women's Cross Country: Katie Richard (MVP), Anna Harris (Rookie of the Year), Ella Jenkins (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Men's Cross Country: Jack Roberts (MVP), Max MacIsaac (Rookie of the Year), Matt Kozma (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award)
Women's Track and Field: Alaere Peterside (MVP and Rookie of the Year), and Bianca Boutilier (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award)
Men's Track and Field: Jeremy Norman (MVP), Sidiki Diakite (Rookie of the Year), Colin Blanchard (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

Club

Women鈥檚 Field Hockey: Livi Lawlor (MVP), Charlotte Thompson and Kayla Batchilder (Co-Rookies of the Year), Lindsey Doiron (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award) and Reilly Sullivan (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)
Men鈥檚 Rugby: Adam Fitzpatrick (MVP), Jimmy Hulton (Rookie of the Year), Ben Bassett (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Adam Fitzpatrick (Warhorse Award)
Men鈥檚 Lacrosse: Top Senior-Will Mix (MVP), Top Freshman-Zack O鈥橫eara (Rookie of the Year), Nathan Bailey (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award), Tanner Gallant (1st Annual James Thomson Memorial Award).
Ultimate: Luke McCarvill and Anna Lucassie (MVPs), Matt Dunn and Lilly O鈥橰eilly (Rookies of the Year), Brian MacDonald (J.T. 鈥淢ickey鈥� Place Award ), Danny Collins and Sophie Hayes (Spirit Players)
Equestrian: Emma Richard (MVP), Makayla Gerroir (Rookie of the Year), Hannah Mowat (Sportsmanship), Stefanie Angel (Principles of Panther Pride Coaches Award)

About the 17吃瓜 Athletes of the Year

Emily Duffy had another standout season as a member of the 17吃瓜 Panthers rugby team and was once again one of the nation鈥檚 top props. Duffy endured a long summer recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon before dominating the pitch again in the fall. With a strength that鈥檚 unmatched in the AUS, Duffy went on to lead the conference in tries with seven. Duffy came up clutch in the final regular season game, where she scored two late tries against St. FX to send the Panthers directly to the finals and secure a berth at the U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Rugby nationals. Duffy earned her third consecutive AUS all-star selection in 2023 and was the only 17吃瓜 athlete to earn all-Canadian status this year.

Kaleb Pearson often showed flashes of greatness on the ice, but it wasn鈥檛 until the 2023-24 season when it all came together for the third-year forward. Simply put, Pearson was a goal-scoring machine. Pearson, who was named the team鈥檚 assistant captain during the offseason, had a monster stretch where he scored 11 goals in just eight games, which included a four-goal night against the Dalhousie Tigers on October 20. He finished the year with career-best 18 goals鈥攖ied for second in Atlantic University Sport (AUS)鈥攁nd 10 assists and guided the Panthers to the playoffs despite a large roster turnover. After his stellar campaign, Pearson was named an AUS Second Team All-Star for the first time as a Panther.

Kamari Scott reached the pinnacle of individual success in his fifth year with the men鈥檚 basketball program. After serving as the Panthers鈥� co-star in the previous two seasons, Scott emerged as the team鈥檚 leader and their go-to option on the hardwood. In 2023鈥�24, he posted career-highs in points (19.4), field goal percentage (46.0), assists (2.7), and steals (1.8), en route to his first Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Second Team All-Star selection. Scott led the conference in total minutes played and finished fourth in scoring. When the team needed him most, he delivered. With the team鈥檚 playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Scott guided 17吃瓜 to three straight wins to end the regular season, propelling them to a postseason berth.

Go Panthers Go!