Keyano Huskies Athletics celebrate best of 2023-24 with annual awards night

Keyano College Huskies Athletics celebrated the best of 2023-24 with their annual awards night Thursday at Rivers Casino & Entertainment Centre in downtown Fort McMurray.  

The night’s major awards, Male and Female Athletes of the Year, were awarded to Men’s Volleyball student-athlete João Cunha (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) and Women’s Soccer/Futsal student-athlete Marissa Mestre (Hamilton, Ont.).  

Cunha was recognized as the third-ever Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Year in Keyano Huskies athletics history last month.
 
On the Women’s side of the competition, Mestre played a leading role in a historic season for the Women’s Soccer/Futsal Huskies, where they placed on the ACAC podium in the sports of soccer and futsal in the same academic year for the first time ever, earning silver in soccer and bronze in futsal.

Both Cunha and Mestre each earned Player of the Year honours for their respective sports.

“I want to congratulate all award winners on their many successes this season,” said Jonathan Lambert Director, Athletics & Recreation at Keyano College. “It was a wonderful night of celebrating all our teams, our presenting sponsors, and staff from the entire campus who make each athletics season possible.”

The President’s Award for Athletic & Academic Achievement, presented to two outstanding graduating student-athletes were presented to Men’s Volleyball student-athlete Nathan Luken (Calgary, Alta.) and Women’s Basketball student-athlete Kirsten Reid (Edson, Alta.).  

The Bridget & Zara Memorial Award, presented to one male and one female student-athlete who best exemplified the qualities of a Keyano Huskies student-athlete were presented to Men’s Volleyball student-athlete Anderson King (Edson, Alta.) and Women’s Basketball student-athlete Kirsten Reid (Edson, Alta.).  
 
The Brent Butt Memorial Award, was presented to Men’s Soccer/ Futsal student-athlete Jacob Marshall (Burton-Upon-Trent, England).  
 
The Huskies Booster Club Ambassador Award was presented to Kerrin Pertschy, Coordinator, Guest Services. 
 
On the academic side, the Huskies also distributed 18 Academic Achievement Awards to student-athletes across the seven Huskies teams.   
 
Team Award Winners:
 
Esports – Presented by SMG Builders (Presenting sponsor of SMG Esports Arena) 
Player of the Year: Brayden Currie 
Pride in the Pack: Jedrek DeGuzman 
Rookie of the Year: Alex Rendell 
 
Women’s Basketball – Presented by Matt Pate IG Wealth Management
Player of the Year: Kaylynn Tucker 
Pride in the Pack: Jaylynn Twin 
Rookie of the Year: Danika Cadieux  
 
Women’s Futsal
Player of the Year: Natalie Orellana 
Pride in the Pack: Selena Arima 
Rookie of the Year: Nicole Gauvin 
 
Women’s Soccer  
Player of the Year: Marissa Mestre    
Pride in the Pack: Harleen Singh  
Rookie of the Year: Ayla Taller 
 
Women’s Volleyball – Presented by Chard Metis Dene Group of Companies 
Player of the Year: Megan Polant 
Pride in the Pack: Raisa Stokes  
Rookie of the Year: Amanda Onyeukwu 
 
Men’s Basketball – Presented by Northstar Ford 
Player of the Year: Omeechi Williams  
Pride in the Pack: Tafari Carefoote-Jones 
Rookie of the Year: Evan Meyer 
 
Men’s Futsal – Presented by Diversified Transportation 
Player of the Year: Cleisson Anklam 
Pride in the Pack: Aaron Ernst  
Rookie of the Year: Tano Torchia 
 
Men’s Soccer – Presented by Diversified Transportation 
Player of the Year: Cleisson Anklam 
Pride in the Pack: Hafid Huaman Arellano 
Rookie of the Year: Mario Morote 
 
Men’s Volleyball - Presented by CLAC 
Player of the Year: Joāo Cunha  
Pride in the Pack: Preston Yole 
Rookie of the Year: Rafael Parada   
 
ACAC Minor Officials of the Year 
Jodi Hinkson 
Efe Edafeghwara 
Gabriel De Carvalho