Heyes, Branch named Lakers Athletes of the Year

Every year there are new successes to celebrate, new records that have been broken and new reasons to be excited for the future.

From the introduction of basketball, to solid seasons from soccer, improved volleyball campaigns, impressive showings by cross country, Nordic skiing, the inaugural season of lacrosse in CUFLA, the men’s hockey team continuing their great run of playoff appearances and the women’s hockey team making history by qualifying for the playoffs, there were a lot of reasons to be a proud Laker this year.

The Nipissing Lakers honoured their student-athletes Thursday night at their 22 nd annual athletics awards banquet.

Female Athlete of the Year

This year’s female athlete of the year – and back-to-back winner – saved her best for last, claiming three medals at nationals, including a gold and finished tied for first overall.

Nordic Skier Kajsa Heyes is the 2014-15 Jack and Mary Ann Jones female athlete of the year.

She performed well all season and built to a strong showing at Nationals, with three-peat medal performances in the team sprints with Shelby Dickey, the 10km classic, and 1.5km classic sprints. Heyes was OUA all-star and member of the OUA bronze medal team, again with teammate Shelby Dickey.

The second year athlete brought a laser focus to races under pressure-cooker situations, and performed when it mattered. She brought a practice-positive attitude to training and was willing to step up and speak for her team, advocating for the needs of teammates.

Male Athlete of the Year

When you rank in the top 10 in four major offensive categories and in the top five of three of those, you’re bound to earn some respect around the league.

That couldn’t be more try to Lakers men’s volleyball right side Cam Branch, who had a great season and was named the 2014-15 Al Carfagnini male athlete of the year.

Branch was an offensive force from the right side, leading the OUA in kills per set, he ranked second in points per set, was third in kills and sixth in total points.

All that added up to a great year and a second team all-star nod.

Branch’s numbers were impressive, especially since he missed two matches due to injury during the season.

And as impressive as his stats are in Ontario, they ranked almost just as high nationally, including two top five spots in the CIS.

His 4.08 kills per set were first in the OUA and third in the CIS, along with his 4.6 points per set, which placed him second in the OUA and fifth in the CIS.

He also ranked in the top 26 in both kills and points nationally.

Throughout the season, he had three matches where hit powered his way to at least 20 kills, including the first match of the season. He also recorded 20 or more points five matches.

His season-high was recorded twice, as he fired 21 kills against both Queens and Windsor.

Lakers Award Winners

OUA ALL-STARS

Marcus Lewis - Men's Basketball - OUA All-Rookie Team
Marcos Clennon - Men's Basketball - OUA All-Rookie Team
Zosia Davis - Women's Hockey - OUA All-Rookie Team
Kaley Tienhaara - Women's Hockey - OUA All-Rookie Team
Jimmy McDowell - Men's Hockey - OUA All-Rookie Team
Erik Robichaud - Men's Hockey - OUA All-Rookie Team
Jean-Michel Paulin - Men's Soccer - OUA Second Team All-Star
Shelby Dickey - Nordic Skiing - OUA All-Star
Kajsa Heyes - Nordic Skiing - OUA All-Star
Thomsen D'Hont - Nordic Skiing - OUA All-Star
Jordan Cascagnette - Nordic Skiing - OUA All-Star
Annabelle Harvey - Women's Volleyball - OUA All-Rookie Team
Cameron Branch - Men's Volleyball - OUA Second Team All-Star

CIS ALL-STARS

Zosia Davis - Women's Hockey - CIS All-Rookie Team
Kaley Tienhaara - Women's Hockey - CIS All-Rookie Team

Leckie Award

Mitch McNeill – Men’s Hockey

M.E. Follis Award

Female: Carly Marchment – Women’s Hockey
Male: Andrew McWiggan – Men’s Hockey

Constable Andrew Keating Memorial Award

Steven Wood – Men’s Volleyball

Student Trainer of the Year

Heather Donovan – Women’s Basketball

Lakers P.R.I.D.E. Award

Leisa Wierenga – Women’s Basketball
Jerron Rhodes – Men’s Basketball
Terry Doiron – Cross Country
Stephanie Boland – Cross Country
Brittany Crago – Women’s Hockey
Brogan Bailey – Men’s Hockey
Patrick Fitzgerald – Men’s Lacrosse
Shelby Dickey – Nordic Skiing
Kevin Durkee – Nordic Skiing
Shannon Russell – Women’s Soccer
Zach Cameron – Men’s Soccer
Victoria Taylor – Women’s Volleyball
Shawn Humphrey and Andrew McWiggan – Men’s Volleyball

Rookies of the Year

Female – Kaley Tienhaara and Zosia Davis – Women’s Hockey
Male – Jimmy McDowell and Erik Robichaud – Men’s Hockey

Athletes of the Year

Female – Kajsa Heyes – Nordic Skiing
Male – Cam Branch – Men’s Volleyball

LAKERS 2014-15 AWARD WINNERS

Women’s Hockey

PRIDE – Brittany Crago (Pic)
Rookie – Kaley Tienhaara/Zosia Davis
MVP – Kaley Tienhaara/Zosia Davis

Men’s Hockey

PRIDE – Brogan Bailey
Rookie – Jimmy McDowell/Erik Robichaud
MVP – Matt Paton

Women’s Volleyball

PRIDE – Victoria Taylor
Rookie – Annabelle Harvey
MVP – Tracy Hammerton

Men’s Volleyball

PRIDE – Andrew McWiggan and Shawn Humphrey
Rookie – Steve Wood
MVP – Cam Branch

Women’s Basketball

PRIDE – Leisa Wierenga
Rookie – Maeve Therriault
MVP – Claire Abbott

Men’s Basketball

PRIDE – Jerron Rhodes
Rookie – Marcus Lewis and Marcos Clennon
MVP – Marcus Lewis and Marcos Clennon

Women’s Soccer

PRIDE – Shannon Russell
Rookie – Kristen Farkas
MVP – Selena Innamorati

Men’s Soccer

PRIDE – Zach Cameron
Rookie – Matt Simard
MVP – Grainger Munro

Nordic Skiing

PRIDE – Kevin Durkee (Men), Shelby Dickey (Women)
Rookie – Connor Psiuk (Men), Carina Eberhardt (Women)
MVP – Thomsen D’Hont (Men), Kajsa Heyes (Women)

Cross Country

PRIDE – Terry Doiron (Men), Stephanie Boland (Women)
Rookie – Connor Psiuk (Men), Jessica Mazzonello (Women)
MVP – Jordan Cascagnette (Men), Jessica Mazzonello (Women)

Lacrosse

PRIDE – Patrick Fitzgerald
Rookie – Nick Chaykowsky
MVP – Zachary Kozlowski