Morillo and Vantfoort named UOIT Athletes of the Year

OSHAWA, Ont. – The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) athletic department celebrated another outstanding year at the 8^th annual athletic banquet where Jill Morillo (Whitby, Ont.) and Nik Vantfoort (London, Ont.) were named the 2013-14 athletes of the year.

It was a night of celebration at the General W. Sikorski Polish Veterans Association Hall as UOIT student-athletes, coaches and contributors were honoured for their outstanding accomplishments throughout the varsity season.

"This was a wonderful night to celebrate another great year of UOIT athletics," said Ken Babcock, athletic director. "We talk about building champions and that includes various playing fields, in the classroom and in our community. I am very proud of everyone involved with varsity athletics on making the 2013/14 season so special."

A fifth year Nuclear Engineering and Management major, Morillo capped off her decorated career with another tremendous season on the ice for the women's hockey program. She scored 14 goals, 10 of which were on the power play which was tops in the OUA. She also became the first Ridgeback to eclipse 100 career points, finishing with 111. Her 64 career goals puts her fifth all-time in the OUA goal scoring charts. In the classroom, she earned the UOIT All-Academic award.

Female team MVP award winners were tennis player Sankavy Premakumar (Scarborough, Ont.), rower Allison Demaiter (Belleville, Ont.), dancer Jessica Cohan (Whitby, Ont.), field lacrosse player Tessa Lam (Brooklin, Ont.), curler Riley Weagant (St. Thomas, Ont.), women's hockey player Jaclyn Gibson (Cobourg, Ont.) and women's soccer player Shannon Lucas (Ajax, Ont.).

Vantfoort, a third year Energy Systems Engineering major, was recognized as the UOIT male athlete of the year for the second straight season. Vantfoort ended the year with a top ten finish in the men's doubles race at the national championship alongside partner Brett Bullock. The doubles crew also had a strong finish at the OUA provincial championship advancing to the finals and finishing fourth overall. He was also on crews that finished second at the Western Invitational, fourth at the Head of the Welland and fifth at the Brock Invitational. Earlier in the year, Vantfoort had the chance to represent Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games, where he picked up a gold and silver medal. Vantfoort was also named the Ridgebacks' men's rowing MVP.

Other male team MVP's included tennis player Kitso Leshope (Botswana), hockey player Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.), curler Ben Bevan (Whitby, Ont.), golfer James Krantz (Oshawa, Ont.) and soccer player Alexander Cuccovillo (Ajax, Ont.).

Rower Brett Bullock (Newmarket, Ont.) and women's lacrosse player Brittany Simmons (Whitby, Ont.) were named the recipients of the Dr. Gary Polonsky leadership awards. Both student-athletes exemplified outstanding leadership in the pursuit of excellence.

William Hodgins of Oshawa, Ont. was the recipient of the Rob Millikin award, which is presented to the varsity athlete who best exemplifies and displays the following criteria; academic success, passion and heart.

Mikaeli Cavell (Edmonton, Alta.) and Matt Pasztor (Langton, Ont.) were the recipients of the James-Baun Cup, which is presented to a student who shows commitment, dedication, perseverance, academic responsibility, leadership and is a great teammate in the pursuit of excellence. The Cup is named after Bobby Baun and his long-time friend Don James.

CIS All-Canadian Tori Campbell (Lethbridge, Alta.) of the women's hockey team and Dzijacky of the men's hockey team were named the freshman athletes of the year.

The team of the year award was presented to the women's soccer team. Led by head coach Peyvand Mossavat, the women's soccer team became the first program in UOIT history to advance to the OUA quarterfinals in a team sport as they defeated McMaster 2-0 in penalty kicks.

Mackenzie Korb (Newtonville, Ont.) was presented the student trainer of the year award that was presented by the athletic therapy team.

8^th ANNUAL UOIT ATHLETIC BANQUET
 
MAJOR AWARDS 

Male Athlete of the Year 
Nik Vantfoort, Men's Rowing (London, Ont.)

Female Athlete of the Year 
Jill Morillo, Women's Hockey (Whitby, Ont.)

Male Freshman Athlete of the Year 
Colin Dzijacky, Men's Hockey (Thunder Bay, Ont.)

Female Freshman Athlete of the Year
Tori Campbell, Women's Hockey (Lethbridge, Alta.)

Dr. Gary Polonsky Leadership Award 
Brett Bullock, Men's Rowing (Newmarket, Ont.)
Brittany Simmons, Women's Field Lacrosse (Whitby, Ont.)

James-Baun Cup 
Luke VanMoerkerke, Men's Hockey (Tillsonburg, Ont.)
Mikaeli Cavell, Women's Hockey (Edmonton, Alta.)

Rob Millikin Award
William Hodgins, Men's Rowing (Oshawa, Ont.)
 
Team of the Year
Women's Soccer


TEAM AWARDS

Women's Rowing 
MVP: Allison Demaiter (Belleville, Ont.)
Leadership: Shelby Cohen (Oshawa, Ont.)
Coxswain of the Year: Amanda Leo (Whitby, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Joanna Toonders (Williamsburg, Ont.)

Women's Curling 
MVP: Riley Weagant (St. Thomas, Ont.)
Leadership: Riley Weagant (St. Thomas, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Courtney Stafford (Brockville, Ont.)

Women's Hockey 
MVP: Jaclyn Gibson (Cobourg, Ont.)
Leadership: Jill Morillo (Whitby, Ont.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Melissa Berney (Bowmanville, Ont.)
Offensive Player of the Year: Jaclyn Gibson (Cobourg, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Tori Campbell (Lethbridge, Alta.)

Women's Tennis 
MVP: Sankavy Premakumar (Scarborough, Ont.)
Leadership: Kelly Massicotte (Courtice, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Ragavey Premakumar (Scarborough, Ont.)

Women's Field Lacrosse 
MVP: Tessa Lam (Brooklin, Ont.)
Leadership: Brittany Simmons (Whitby, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Milburn (Whitby, Ont.)

Women's Soccer 
MVP: Shannon Lucas (Ajax, Ont.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Kylie Bordeleau (Cambridge, Ont.)
Offensive Player of the Year: Sonia Sampogna (Toronto, Ont.)
Leadership: Sierra Bulger (Oshawa, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Kayla De Souza (Scarborough, Ont.)

Dance Team
MVP: Jessica Cohan (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: Alissa Kuksis (Ajax, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Brianne Dallas (Oshawa, Ont.)

Men's Rowing 
MVP: Nik Vantfoort (London, Ont.)
Leadership: Brett Bullock (Newmarket, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Mike Juzkow (Cannington, Ont.)

Men's Curling 
MVP: Ben Bevan (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: James McPherson (Ajax, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Mark Mihailov (Kitchener, Ont.)

Men's Hockey 
MVP: Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
Leadership: Matt Pasztor (Langton, Ont.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jeff Braithwaite (Ennismore, Ont.)
Offensive Player of the Year: Mitch Bennett (Fenelon Falls, Ont.) & Luke VanMoerkerke (Tillsonburg, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Colin Dzijacky (Thunder Bay, Ont.)

Men's Tennis 
MVP: Kitso Leshope (Botswana)
Leadership: Robert Petrican (Hamilton, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Tushar Gaur (Mississauga, Ont.)

Men's Golf 
MVP: James Krantz (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Kevin Jovanov (Pickering, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Jovanov (Pickering, Ont.)

Men's Soccer 
MVP: Alexander Cuccovillo (Ajax, Ont.)
Leadership: Justin Gordon (Pickering, Ont.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Davon Greaves (Brampton, Ont.)
Offensive Player of the Year: Joe Vaz (Whitby, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Tristan Maenza (Courtice, Ont.)

Athletic Therapy
Student Trainer of the Year: MacKenzie Korb (Newtonville, Ont.)