SACOBIE TAKES MVP AS OUA HANDS OUT MAJOR FOOTBALL AWARDS
From the Queen's Golden Gaels, Head Coach Pat Sheahan picked up his second OUA Coach of the Year award. The eight-year head coach led the Golden Gaels to a 6-2 record improving on their 4-4 record from the 2006 season. Fourth-year offensive tackle from the Laurier Golden Hawks, Scott Evans (Cambridge, ON) received the J.P. Metras award for OUA Lineman of the Year, while fellow teammate Anthony Maggiacomo took home the Standup Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Ryan Chmielewski, a first-year linebacker from McMaster University, took home the Norm Marshall Trophy for OUA Rookie of the Year. The first-year student started call eight McMaster regular season games at linebacker.
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues, Mike Goncalves, is the OUA nominee for the CIS Russ Jackson Award, which combines athletics, academics and community involvement. In his fifth and final season, Goncalves has been a three-year captain, team leader and outstanding individual with the Varsity Blues Football program. He was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2007, and returned to the Varsity Blues for his final year.
All award recipients move on as the OUA nominees for their respective awards at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) level. The All-Canadians Awards Ceremony, where individual national awards will be named, takes place Wednesday, November 21 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
OUA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - CIS HEC CRIGHTEN AWARD NOMINEE
Josh Sacobie- Ottawa Gee-Gees
Hometown: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Program: Fourth-year Social Science
2007 Season Stats: 8 GP, 145 completions, 238 attempts, 2320 yards, 21 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
Fourth year pivot Josh Sacobie had his most productive year in his four year career, re-writing the uOttawa record book. He finished the season as the top passer in the OUA (second in Canada) with a completion rate of 60.1% and would have finished as the top passer in the country had he not been pulled in four of the eight games this season.
He was removed from the game midway through the fourth quarter against Toronto (50-7) and York (53-14), the middle of the third quarter against McMaster (60-7) and after the first series of the third quarter in the season finale against Windsor (43-2). In total he was asked to leave more than a full game of playing time to ensure Brad Sinopoli furthered his development as our #2.
He was intercepted just four times in eight games and just twice after the season opener in Guelph. He did not throw an interception against Toronto, York, McMaster or Laurier.
OUA LINEMAN OF THE YEAR - CIS J.P. METRAS AWARD NOMINEE
Scott Evans- Laurier Golden Hawks
Hometown: Cambridge, Ontario
Program: Fourth-year, Computer Science
Evans, wearing number #58 for all four seasons with the Golden Hawk football program has been a significant force as part of the Laurier offensive line. At 6'7, 295 lbs the offensive tackle has helped to make Laurier rushing game even better as part of the blocking group for the backs. Evans has never missed a game in his career as a Golden Hawk and the Computer Science major will now graduate Laurier with two OUA all-star recognitions and a CIS all-Canadian honour as well as the outstanding lineman of the year award.
OUA STANDUP DEFESNVIE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - CIS PRESDIENTS TROPHY NOMINEE
Anthony Maggiacomo- Laurier Golden Hawks
Hometown: Waterloo, Ontario
Program: Fifth-year, Kinesiology/Physical Education
2007 Season Stats: 8 GP, 48 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 43 interception yards
Maggiacomo had his best year in his final season in the purple and gold. The 6'1 linebacker set a new tackle record for the Laurier defense with 60.5 this season - the best in Ontario and fourth overall in the nation. Maggiacomo, a graduate of Jacob Hespler in Cambridge, Ont. scored a defensive touchdown this year off of an interception and had a pair of fumble recoverys.
After receiving his first all-star nomination earlier this week Maggiacomo will graduate Laurier with a Kinesiology & Physical Education Degree and now as the winner of Presidents' Trophy as the stand-up defensive player of the year in Ontario.
OUA NORM MARSHALL TROPHY - OUA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - CIS PETER GOREMAN TROPHY NOMINEE
Ryan Chmielewski- McMaster Marauders
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario
Program: First-year, Social Science
2007 Season Stats: 8 GP, 41 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, 4 sacks
Ryan Chmielewski a true McMaster freshman out of St. Francis High School, played in his first season of CIS football as middle linebacker for the Marauders. He was a top defender on a McMaster squad who had 503 total tackles (3rd in the OUA) and 394 solo tackles (2nd in the OUA).
Chmielewski's 35 solo tackles in the regular season was third best among all time Marauders. He led McMaster with 50 total tackles (T-13th in the OUA), had 10 assists, and three sacks in eight games played. He continued to perform in the Marauders only playoff game accumulating another six solo tackles including a sack.
He made his debut with a game high seven solo tackles in the Marauders season opener against Laurier. In one monster game alone he accumulated a career high nine tackles, two assisted tackles, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries against Toronto.
While playing for the Niagara Spears Varsity Club in 2006, Chmielewski led the team with 24 solo tackles, including four sacks, and was second in total tackles with 34.
CIS RUSS JACKSON AWARD NOMINEE
Mike Goncalves - University of Toronto Varsity Blues
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
2007 Season Stats: 5 GP, 10 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle
Mike is a very caring individual who has given to his community and active with a number of charitable groups as a volunteer. These include; Central Neighbourhood House (CNH) Youth Outreach Volunteer (helped inner-city adolescents and teens cope with life on the streets, poverty, abusive home, etc.), Prime Mentors of Canada Elementary School Tutor (tutored Grade 7 and 8 students in various subjects), United Way (Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada) Youth Outreach Volunteer (provided counseling for adolescents and teens), and Brampton Bulldogs OVFL Senior Football Coach (coaches high school football players). He has also actively volunteered for the Huntington's Society of Toronto (fundraising and awareness leader), which is a disease that has inflicted his uncle.
OUA COACH OF THE YEAR - CIS FRANK TINDALL AWARD NOMINEE
Pat Sheahan - Queen's Golden Gaels
In his eight seasons with the Gaels, Coach Sheahan has already showed the same excellence as he has elsewhere. Taking over a team that had been 2-6 in 1999, the rebuilding season of 2000 left only a 1-7 record to show. But in 2001 the Gaels showed their most dramatic improvement in the modern era, finishing with a 5-3 record and making the playoffs for the first time since 1997. Pat earned OUA Coach of the Year honours in 2001. For the 2002 campaign, he led Queen's to a 7-1 regular season record, its best in a decade, and took the team to its first Yates Cup appearance since 1979. The 2003 campaign again brought a 7-1 regular season, with Queen's losing the semi final to Laurier in double overtime. The Gaels returned to the playoffs this past season after a two year absence and won their first game over McMaster since 2000 in the quarterfinals.
- OUA -
Michelle Church
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Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
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