OSHAWA, Ont. – On Thursday night at the Regent Theatre, Ontario Tech held its 13^th annual athletic awards gala, where student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding achievements. Capping off the celebration, Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.) of the women's hockey team and Alex Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) of the men's hockey teams were named athletes of the year.

Nauboris finished her five-year career as a Ridgeback earning numerous recognitions, as well as setting several program records. In her final season at the "Dog Pound" she ranked second in the province in league scoring, registering 15 goals and 32 points in 24 games played. Her best regular season performance saw her set new single-season program records for assists (17) and points per game (1.33), as well as tying the Ridgebacks single-season points mark of 32. Nauboris was named an OUA first-team all-star for her effort. In addition to her accomplishments within OUA competition, she also became the first Ridgeback to compete internationally in women's hockey for Team Canada, donning the maple leaf at the 2019 FISU Winter Universiade in Russia. She joins women's soccer players Katherine Koehler-Grassau and Kylie Bordeleau as female Ridgebacks who have competed at the FISU Games. Coming home with a silver medal, the first Ridgeback to win a medal at the event, Nauboris appeared in all seven games with Canada, recording one goal and two assists.

Yuill has been an ironman for the Ridgebacks playing in every conference game since his rookie year. The all-around defenceman has appeared in 112 consecutive OUA games in his four years, adding 11 points (2 G, 9 A) from the blue line this past season to his career total of 52 (9 G, 43 A). In addition to being a key part of the Ridgebacks defence, which ranked in the top 10 in the OUA in goals allowed and penalty kill, Yuill also played for Team Canada at the 2019 FISU Winter Universiade, alongside teammate Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.). The duo became the first male Ridgebacks to wear the maple leaf at the international showcase, returning home with a bronze medal. Yuill notched one goal and one assist in seven games played for Team Canada. 

Also from the women's and men's hockey teams, Erin Ross (Lucan, Ont.) and Michael Bullion (Anchorage, Alaska) were named the freshman athletes of the year just prior to the final awards of the night.
 
Ross delivered an exceptional offensive freshman campaign, being named an OUA all-rookie. Appearing in all 24 games for the Ridgebacks, she finished fourth in team scoring with 15 points (6 G, 9 A), including an impressive late season run which featured a four-game scoring streak where she tallied three goals and five assists.
 
Bullion maintained a spot near the top of the OUA leaderboard in several statistical categories for the entirety of his rookie season with the Ridgebacks. The Anchorage, Alaska native finished the year with a 10-4 record through 14 starts, ranking second in the province in goals-against average (2.15), third in save percentage (.927), and sixth in win percentage (.714).
 
Other major award winners included Mikaela Tierney (King City, Ont. – Women's Soccer) and Bradley Semenick (Thunder Bay, Ont. – Men's Rowing) who were named the Dr. Gary Polonsky Leadership Award recipients.

A new award introduced at the annual event, the Sase Narayan Unsung Hero Award was handed out to its inaugural winner, assistant equipment manager of the women's hockey team Sam Keane. The award recognizes a student who has positively influenced a program or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence.
 
The Rob Millikin Award was awarded to Rhiannon Dearman (Belleville, Ont. – Women's Rowing) for exemplifying academic success, passion and heart throughout the rowing season.
 
Nauboris and Josh Maguire (Cobourg, Ont. – Men's Hockey) were the recipients of James-Baun Cup, which is presented to a student on the women's and men's hockey teams who show 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.
 
13^th Annual Ridgebacks Awards Gala
 
MAJOR AWARDS 
 
Female Athlete of the Year
Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
 
Male Athlete of the Year
Alex Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) – Men's Hockey
 
Female Freshman Athlete of the Year
Erin Ross (Lucan, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
 
Male Freshman of the Year
Michael Bullion (Anchorage, Alaska) – Men's Hockey
 
Dr. Gary Polonsky Leadership Award
Mikaela Tierney (King City, Ont.) – Women's Soccer
Bradley Semenick (Thunder Bay, Ont.) – Men's Rowing
 
James-Baun Cup
Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
Josh Maguire (Cobourg, Ont.) – Men's Hockey
 
Rob Millikin Award
Rhiannon Dearman (Belleville, Ont.) – Women's Rowing
 
Athletic Therapy Student Trainer of the Year
Brooke Carpenter
 
Sase Narayan Unsung Hero Award
Sam Keane
 
ETS Captain's Award
Alex Cafik-Irwin (Vancouver, B.C.) – Women's Lacrosse
Leif Hertz (Kingston, Ont.) – Men's Hockey
 
NuStadia Recreation Award
Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
Bradley Semenick (Thunder Bay, Ont.) – Men's Rowing

 
TEAM AWARDS

Men's Badminton
MVP: Zhiyi Chen (Newmarket, Ont.)
Leadership: Zhi Sheng Chen (Newmarket, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Alfonse Ly (Scarborough, Ont.)
 
Women's Badminton
MVP: Emilee Carmichael (Stouffville, Ont.)
Leadership: Katie Chung (Markham, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Alyssa Wong (North York, Ont.)
 
Dance
MVP: Sam Latta (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: Doraianna Filippo (Oshawa, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Victoria Jeronimo (Whitby, Ont.)
 
Men's Soccer
MVP: Nicholas Miller (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Andrea Cicciarella (Pickering, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Jacob Begley (Markham, Ont.)
 
Women's Soccer
MVP: Katherine Koehler-Grassau (Greely, Ont.)
Leadership: Mikaela Tierney (King City, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Michele Dell'Aquila (Vaughan, Ont.)
 
Men's Rowing
Oarsman of the Year: Braden Reid (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: Bradley Semenick (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
Novice Oarsman of the Year: Adam Stone (Toronto, Ont.)
 
Women's Rowing
Oarswoman of the Year: Kierstyn Hawke (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Rhiannon Dearman (Belleville, Ont.)
Novice Oarswoman of the Year: Nicole Marin (Whitby, Ont.)
 
Men's Hockey
MVP: Alex Yuill (Wellingtonn, Ont.)
Leadership: Danny Elser (Hopewell Junction, New York)
Rookie of the Year: Michael Bullion (Anchorage, Alaska
 
Women's Hockey
MVP: Kassidy Nauboris (Brampton, Ont.)
Leadership: Sarah Biesenthal (Chepstow, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Erin Ross (Lucan, Ont.)
 
Women's Lacrosse
MVP: Brianna Nicolas (Ajax, Ont.)
Leadership: Elyse Lockhart (Ajax, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Lauren Young (Fergus, Ont.)
 
Men's Curling
MVP: Robert Andersen (Burlington, Ont.)
Leadership: Robert Andersen (Burlington, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Eric Lansley (Grafton, Ont.)
 
Women's Curling
MVP: Brittany Andrey (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Morgan Typhair (Brighton, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Vivian Batty (Lindsay, Ont.)

Golf
Leadership: Aaron Ellwood (Oshawa, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Justin Posteraro (Courtice, Ont.)

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