Fitzpatrick And Clapperton Named Athletes Of The Year
Woodland, Luchese, Gazzola, MacDougall and Campbell honoured too
(FREDERICTON, NB) Siobhan Fitzpatrick, of the women’s volleyball team, and Chris Clapperton, of the University Cup Champion men’s hockey team, have been named the UNB Reds female and male Athletes of the Year.
Fitzpatrick led the Atlantic University Sport conference in kills and points per set.
The fifth-year outside hitter, playing her final year of U SPORTS eligibility, and her one and only season with the Reds after four at UBC-Okanagan, earned 1st Team All-Canadian status while helping the Reds to the AUS championship match.
Clapperton led the AUS in scoring and led the country in assists.
He was named the AUS MVP, a 1st Team All-Canadian, and a University Cup All-Star.
Clapperton helped the Reds to their second straight AUS championship and the school’s 8th national championship.
“Chris and Siobhan were standouts on their teams, in the conference and nationally,” said John Richard, UNB’s Director of Athletics. “They haven’t just led statistically, they’ve led their teams with their work ethic and desire to succeed. They’re both more than deserving of these honours.”
As UNB’s female Athlete of the Year, Fitzpatrick was awarded the Colin B. Mackay Shield.
As the Reds male Athlete of the Year, Clapperton earned the James Downey Shield.
“We had a wonderful class of athletes this past season. Chris and Siobhan had some significant competition,” said Richard.
Goaltender Kendra Woodland, from the Reds women’s hockey team, was named UNB’s female Rookie of the Year, while Eduardo Luchese, of the men’s volleyball team, earned male Rookie of the Year honours. Both were named to U SPORTS All-Rookie Teams.
Fifth-year defenceman Randy Gazzola, of the men’s hockey team, won the Garnet Copeland Award for the second year in a row.
Gazzola was named the top all-round student-athlete. Consideration for the award includes academic performance, athletic accomplishment and community contributions.
Reds men’s hockey team head coach Gardiner MacDougall took home the Dean’s Award for Coach of the Year.
MacDougall led the Reds to their 16th AUS Championship, their 12th consecutive AUS regular season title, and their 8th University Cup. The national championship was the team’s third in four years, and the 7th under MacDougall.
“Gardiner has proven, consistently, that he’s one of the best coaches in all of Canadian university men’s hockey,” said Richard. “He is constantly looking for ways to improve, which is a source of inspiration for all of our coaches.”
Kristian D’Amore, a four-year member of the men’s soccer team, was named winner of the Brunswickan Award, for having the highest cumulative grade point average through the end of the first term.
Outgoing UNB President and Vice Chancellor Eddy Campbell was honoured with the James Born Award, for his significant contributions to athletics during his time.
“Doctor Campbell has always placed a lot of importance on athletics,” said Richard. “He’s been a supporter of all of our Reds programs and an advocate for them. He’s been a big part of what we’ve been able to do, as a program, in recent years, and we felt he was worthy of the Born Award.”
The awards were handed during the Reds Awards Gala, at the Richard J. Currie Center, on Tuesday night.
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS:
Male Athlete of the Year: Chris Clapperton - Men’s Hockey
Female Athlete of the Year: Siobhan Fitzpatrick - Women’s Volleyball
Male Rookie of the Year: Eduardo Luchese - Men’s Volleyball
Female Rookie of the Year: Kendra Woodland - Women’s Hockey
Garnet Copeland Award: Randy Gazzola - Men’s Hockey
Brunswickan Award: Kristian D’Amore - Men’s Soccer
James Born Award: Dr. Eddy Campbell
Coach of the Year: Gardiner MacDougall - Men’s Hockey
Directors Unsung Hero Awards: Megan Campbell - Women’s Basketball
John Curry - Men’s Volleyball
TEAM AWARD WINNERS:
Women’s Basketball
Rookie Katie Daley
Red & Black Jane Boyle
MVP Mikaela Dodig
Men’s Basketball
Rookie Sterling Simpson
Red & Black Will Legere
MVP Chris Spurrell
Women’s Volleyball
Rookie Katie MacDonald
Red & Black Cameron Rogers
MVP Maggie McLenahan
Men’s Volleyball
Rookie Eduardo Luchese
Red & Black John Curry
MVP Brad Stewart
Women’s Soccer
Rookie Madison Goertz
Red & Black Emily Burton
MVP Abby Sullivan
Men’s Soccer
Rookie Tristan Nkoghe
Red & Black Nick Ellingwood
MVP Off. Ben Gorringe
MVP Def. Joe Hamilton
Women’s Hockey
Rookie Jenna MacLean
Red & Black Jennifer Bell
MVP Kendra Woodland
Men’s Hockey
Rookie Matthew Boucher
Red & Black Randy Gazzola
MVP Chris Clapperton
Women Track & Field
Rookie Lexie Shannon
Red & Black Anne DeWeyert
MVP Sydney MacDonald
Men’s Track & Field
Rookie Eric Hughes
Red & Black Brandon Cleghorn
MVP Jarod Manuel
Women’s Swimming
Rookie Hannah Casey
Red & Black Sarah Kelly
MVP Leah Smal
Men’s Swimming
Rookie Erik Staeben
Red & Black Michael Walz
MVP Noah Horwood
Women’s Curling
Rookie Keira McLaughlin
Red & Black Brigitte Comeau
MVP Justine Comeau
Men’s Curling
Red & Black Jack Smeltzer-McCausland
MVP Evan MacKnight
Women’s Cross Country
Rookie Emmanuelle Martin
Red & Black Jill Lamb
MVP Hannah Cormier
Men’s Cross Country
Rookie Alex Clemis
Red & Black Isaac Cull
MVP Michael Colford
Men’s Wrestling
MVP Mustafa Saeed
(NOTE: There were no rookies in men’s curling. There was no MVP in women’s wrestling)