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
