February 4, 2015

York's Tufegdzich name ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS Male Athlete of the Week

OTTAWA (CIS) – Basketball players Sarah Wierks from the University of the Fraser Valley and Nick Tufegdzich from York University are the ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS female and male athletes of the week for the period ending Feb. 1st, 2015.

OTTAWA (CIS) – Basketball players Sarah Wierks from the University of the Fraser Valley and Nick Tufegdzich from York University are the ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS female and male athletes of the week for the period ending Feb. 1^st, 2015.

Wierks, a fifth-year kinesiology student from Chilliwack, B.C., claimed the women's honour for the second straight week after she rewrote the Canada West and team record books during a weekend split against Mount Royal. In a 79-72 overtime loss on Saturday, the 6-foot-2 centre set conference records for total rebounds (31) and offensive boards (12) in a single game, while also contributing 12 points and two block shots. In Sunday's rematch, a 70-51 win, she added a remarkable 20-point, 27-rebound double-double, setting a Canada West record for defensive boards (20) and tying her own school standard with seven blocks.

Dalhousie basketball player Courtney Thompson, Sherbrooke track standout Laurence Beaudet and Lakehead basketball player Jylisa Williams were also nominated for the women's award.

Tufegdzich, a fifth-year history student from Tecumseh, Ont., averaged an impressive 27.5 points and 15 rebounds against the top two teams in the OUA West division. The 6-foot-7 forward opened the two-game set last Friday with 25 points and 16 rebounds in an 87-75 loss to Western (9-6) and added 30 points and 14 boards the following night to lead the Lions (8-7) to a 89-84 upset win over then nationally fifth-ranked Windsor (9-5). Tufegdzich is one of only two OUA players averaging a double-double this season with 20.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest.

Saint Mary's hockey player Ben Duffy, Laval track star Charles Philibert-Thiboutot and Victoria basketball player Chris McLaughlin were the other male nominees.

Female nominees:

AUS: Courtney Thompson, basketball, Dalhousie

RSEQ: Laurence Beaudet, track & field, Sherbrooke

OUA: Jylisa Williams, basketball, Lakehead

CWUAA: Sarah Wierks, basketball, Fraser Valley (recipient)

Male nominees:

AUS: Ben Duffy, hockey, Saint Mary's

RSEQ: Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, track & field, Laval

OUA: Nick Tufegdzich, basketball, York (recipient)

CWUAA: Chris McLaughlin, basketball, Victoria

Source: CIS