OSHAWA, Ont. – Tonight the Ontario Tech University athletic department concluded the digital version of their 14^th annual athletic awards by naming Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ont.) of the women's lacrosse team and Fadi Salback (Bowmanville, Ont.) of the men's soccer team athletes of the year.
 
Martindale, in her first year with the Ridgebacks lacrosse program, led Ontario Tech to a fourth-place finish at the OUA championship. Posting a 78-goal season, Martindale led the Ridgebacks in scoring throughout the season, while adding 18 more goals during the OUA championship at Vaso's Field. This offensive output led her to capturing the OUA offensive MVP award, while being named a first team all-star. Martindale is just the second player from Ontario Tech's lacrosse program to receive the recognition, joining Taylor Landry, who captured the awards back in 2014.
 
Salback, had an outstanding freshman year with Ontario Tech, earning several provincial and national accolades. The first-year forward was an offensive force throughout the season, leading the entire OUA in goal scoring with 16 goals throughout 14 games. From his strong play, Salback captured the OUA rookie of the year, the first time a male soccer player from Ontario Tech had earned the award. Salback was also recognized as an east division first team all-star. It was not just within the OUA that Salback was successful, as his goal output also paced all players across Canada, leading to his being named to the U SPORTS all-rookie team. This was the first time a male soccer player from Ontario Tech was recognized nationally.
 
Graddy Kanku of the men's basketball program (Ottawa, Ont.) earned male freshmen athlete of the year honours, while Nicole Escano (Kingston, Ont.) from the women's hockey team was named female freshman athlete of the year.
 
Kanku, was exceptional offensively for the inaugural basketball season at Ontario Tech, leading the men's team with 388 points. Appearing in 19 of the Ridgebacks 22 games, the freshman guard also finished sixth across the OUA in points per game with 20.4.
 
Escano was a consistent presence on the Ridgebacks blue-line throughout the season, and displayed strong offense with eight points, to lead the teams back-end. With her strong season, Escano was recognized with a place on both the OUA all-rookie team, as well as the U SPORTS all-rookie team. She was just the second Ridgebacks women's hockey player to be named to the national all-rookie team, with Tori Campbell as the other.
 
Other major award winners were Danielle Bates (Bowmanville, Ont. – Dance) and Josh Maguire (Cobourg, Ont. – Men's Hockey) who were named the Dr. Gary Polonsky Leadership Award recipients.
 
Shaun McLeod was the recipient of the Sase Narayan Unsung Hero Award. The award, in its second year of being presented, 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 Sara Mathew (Whitby, Ont. – Rowing) for exemplifying academic success, passion and heart throughout the rowing season.
 
Megan Johnston (Goderich, Ont. – Women's Hockey) and Matthieu Gomercic (Winnipeg, Man. – 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.
 
 

MAJOR AWARDS

Female Athlete of the Year
Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ont.) – Women's Lacrosse
 
Male Athlete of the Year
Fadi Salback (Bowmanville, Ont.) – Men's Soccer
 
Female Freshman Athlete of the Year
Nicole Escano (Kingston, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
 
Male Freshman Athlete of the Year
Graddy Kanku (Ottawa, Ont.) – Men's Basketball
 
Gary Polonsky Leadership Award
Danielle Bates (Bowmanville, Ont.) – Dance
Josh Maguire (Cobourg, Ont.) – Men's Hockey
 
James-Baun Cup
Megan Johnston (Goderich, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
Matthieu Gomercic (Winnipeg, Man.) – Men's Hockey
 
Rob Millikin Award
Sara Mathew (Whitby, Ont.) – Varsity Rowing
 
Athletic Therapy Student Trainer of the Year
Sarah Norman
 
Sase Narayan Unsung Hero Award
Shaun McLeod
 
ETS Captain's Award
Rahsean Neil-Simpson (Mississauga, Ont.) – Men's Basketball
Alex Cafik-Irwin (Vancouver, B.C.) – Women's Lacrosse
 
Nustadia Recreation Award
Jolesha Allen-Brown (Oshawa, Ont.) – Women's Basketball
Carlos Edic (Toronto, Ont.) – Men's Soccer
 

TEAM AWARDS

Men's Badminton
MVP: Joel Nyenhuis (Stratford, Ont.)
Leadership: Nicholas Magee (Beeton, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Zain Ul Abideen (Brampton, Ont.)
 
Women's Badminton
MVP: Alyssa Wong (North York, Ont.)
Leadership: Alyssa Wong (North York, Ont.)
 
Dance
MVP: Doraianna Filippo (Hampton, Ont.)
Leadership: Danielle Bates (Bowmanville, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Natalie Bates (Bowmanville, Ont.)
 
Men's Soccer
MVP: Christopher Campoli (Woodbridge, Ont.)
Leadership: Nicholas Miller (Oshawa, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Fadi Salback (Bowmanville, Ont.)
 
Women's Soccer
MVP: Mikaela Tierney (King City, Ont.)
Leadership: Julia Listro (Toronto, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Christina Coroado (Bolton, Ont.)
 
Men's Rowing
Oarsman of the Year: Brett Hall (Toronto, Ont.)
Leadership: Adam Stone (Toronto, Ont.)
Novice Oarsman of the Year: Ryan Crawford (Clinton, Ont.)
 
Women's Rowing
Oarswoman of the Year: Kierstyn Hawke (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Sara Mathew (Whitby, Ont.)
Novice Oarswoman of the Year: Jessica Leishman (Burlington, Ont.)
 
Men's Hockey
MVP: Alex Yuill (Wellington, Ont.)
Leadership: Josh Maguire (Cobourg, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Noah McMullin (Beaver Bank, N.S.)
 
Women's Hockey
MVP: Natalie Wozney (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: Nicole Zabel (Palmerston, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Nicole Escano (Kingston, Ont.)
 
Women's Lacrosse
MVP: Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ont.)
Leadership: Dale Wilson (Saskatoon, Sask.)
Rookie of the Year: Caitlyn Cote (Oshawa, Ont.)
 
Men's Curling
MVP: Nick Mayede (Parry Sound Ont.)
Leadership: Colin Shaw (Courtice, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Treyton Cowell (Craighurst, Ont.)
 
Women's Curling
MVP: Morgan Typhair (Brighton, Ont.)
Leadership: Kylie Kellington (Oshawa, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Woods (Pickering, Ont.)
 
Golf
MVP: Justin Posteraro (Courtice, Ont.)
Leadership: Justin Posteraro (Courtice, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Brendan Smith (Whitby, Ont.)
 
Women's Basketball
MVP: Dalyssa Fleurgin (Montreal, Que.)
Leadership: Alyssa Carin (Brampton, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Vanessa Budimunda (Montreal, Que.)
 
Men's Basketball
MVP: Ammar Hassan (London, Ont.)
Leadership: Rahsean Neil-Simpson (Mississauga, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Graddy Kanku (Ottawa, Ont.)