(HALIFAX, N.S.) - At the 59th Annual Black and Gold Athletic Awards Banquet this evening, Dalhousie University's Department of Athletics and Recreational Services recognized inspirational athletes, committed coaches and incredible volunteers.
This season Dalhousie celebrates six AUS championship titles, six CIS all-Canadian awards, 22 major AUS and CIS awards, 59 AUS all-star awards and over 2,000 hours of community service.
For the second consecutive year soccer captain Rieka Santilli was named the Class of '55 (Female Athlete of the Year) award winner, while swimmer David Sharpe earned his second Climo (Male Athlete of the Year) award in four years.
A three-time AUS Subway Player of the Game, Santilli was second in AUS scoring with six goals. She was named an AUS first team all-star, the conference MVP and a CIS first team all-Canadian as she led the Tigers to a repeat AUS championship victory.
The team captain for the past two seasons, the fifth-year defender led by example on and off the field this year, training and playing with incredible determination. Santilli also excels academically as a four-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and will graduate with a commerce degree in May.
This season, 2012 Olympian Sharpe set new Dalhousie, AUS and Nova Scotia records in the 50, 100, and 200 metre backstroke, the 100 and 200 metre butterfly, the 200 metre individual medley and the 400 metre medley relay.
The AUS champion in the 100 metre backstroke and 100 and 200 metre butterfly events, Sharpe was named an AUS all-star and the AUS Swimmer of the Year. At the CIS championship Sharpe won silver medals in the 50 and 100 metre backstroke and a bronze medal in the 100 metre butterfly, bringing his career CIS medal count to three gold, five silver and three bronze.
A complete list of major award winners:
A.J. Sandy Young Award (for contribution to Nova Scotia sport): David Fry
Team Most Valuable Player Awards:
Basketball
(M) Simon Marr
(W) Keisha Brown
Cross Country
(M) Matthew McNeil
(W) Holly Van Gestel
Hockey
(M) Pierre-Alexandre Vandall
(W) No Award
Soccer
(M) Kerry Weymann
(W) Rieka Santilli
Swimming
(M) Kit Moran
(W) Julia Gow
Track and Field
(M) Robert McCulloch and Simon Watts
(W) Rebecca Haworth
Volleyball
(M) Bryan Duquette
(W) Louise Facca
Manager of the Year: Larry Cass, Men's
Soccer
Volunteer of the Year: Michelle Aucoin, Women's
Volleyball
Trainer of the Year: Diane Ramsay, Women's
Basketball
Rookies of the Year:
(M) Jordan Bruce, Track and Field
(W) Sarah Taplin, Track and Field
Coach of the Year: Rick Scott, Women's Volleyball
President's Award for academics, athletics and
leadership:
(M) Rob McCulloch, Track and Field and Volleyball
(W) Rebecca Haworth, Track and Field
(W) Anna von Maltzahn, Basketball and Cross Country
AUS James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award: Rebecca Haworth, Track and Field
Class of '55 Award - Female Athlete of the
Year: Rieka Santilli, Soccer
Climo Award - Male Athlete of the Year: David
Sharpe, Swimming
Source: Dalhousie Sports Information