OSHAWA, Ont. – Regent Theatre hosted Ontario Tech's 17th annual athletic awards gala on Thursday night. The gala recognized Ridgebacks student-athletes for the incredible achievements accomplished this past season. 

Kairo Coore (Whitby, Ont.) was named the Male Athlete of the Year after a superb season with the Ridgebacks, lighting up the league with 11 goals. Kairo finished with the most goals in the OUA, including a hattrick against Trent. Coore's prolific season helped him receive the OUA East Most Valuable Player award and he was also named a U Sports First Team All- Canadian.

Julia Jackson (Uxbridge, Ont.) earned the Female Athlete of the Year award after a remarkable season with Ridgebacks women's hockey. Julia was the top scorer in the OUA with an outstanding 14 goals in the season. Julia was a goal scoring machine and played a crucial role for the Ridgebacks. A standout moment was her two goals against Laurier to help the Ridgebacks come out on top three to two. After an impressive season she was acknowledged as an OUA Second Team All- Star member.

Nathan Washington (Brooklin, Ont.) was presented with the Rob Millikin Award demonstrating academic success and heart and passion for the rowing team this season.

Kayla Welk (Barrie, Ont.) and Baxter Anderson (Langley, B.C) received the James-Baun Cup, which is given to students on the men's and women's hockey teams who show commitment, dedication, perseverance, leadership, responsibility, and are great teammates. The cup is named after Bobby Baun and his long-time friend Don James. 

MAJOR AWARDS:
Female Athlete of the Year
Julia Jackson (Uxbridge, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
Male Athlete of the Year
Kairo Coore (Whitby, Ont.) – Men's Soccer

Female Freshman Athlete of the Year
Danika Passmore – Lacrosse

Male Freshman Athlete of the Year
Beckett Langkow – Men's Hockey

Dr. Gary Polonsky Leadership Awards
Jack Sears – Men's Soccer
Jasmine Groleau – Curling

James-Baun Cup
Kayla Welk (Barrie, Ont.) – Women's Hockey
Baxter Anderson (Langley, B.C) – Men's Hockey

Rob Millikin Award
Nathan Washington (Brooklin, Ont.) – Men's Rowing

Athletic Therapy Student Trainer of the Year
Jaimie Timbol and Keenan Robinson

Strength and Conditioning Student Coach of the Year
Ravi Hunter

Sase Narayan Unsung Hero Award
Cameron Bickle 

Team Awards
Men's Badminton
MVP:  Sam Lat Yone (Yangone, Myanmar)
Leadership: Eddie Ly (Toronto, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Ahan Patel (Whitby, Ont.)

Women's Badminton
MVP: Jailyn Joensen (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: Kartiki Balsekar (Mumbai, India)
Rookie of the Year: Althea Banaticla (Scarborough, Ont.)

Men's Soccer
MVP: Erion Metaj (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership:  Jack Sears (Ajax, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Alex Maadanian (Markham, Ont.)

Women's Soccer
MVP: Abbie Russel (Georgetown. Ont.)
Leadership: Alicia Chisholm (Woodbridge, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Jenna Viduka (Ottawa, Ont.)

Men's Rowing
Oarsman of the Year: Alex Pardy (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Thomas Sullivan (Rigaud, Que.)
Novice Oarsman of the Year: Liam Keenan

Women's Rowing
Oarswoman of the Year: Kierstyn Hawke (Oshawa, Ont.)
Leadership: Kara Woodworth (Oshawa, Ont.)
Novice Oarswoman of the Year: Lorena Jones

Men's Hockey
MVP: Gabriel Bernier (Victoriaville, Que.)
Leadership: Marko Jakovljevic (Brantford, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Beckett Langkow (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.)

Women's Hockey
MVP: Julia Jackson (Uxbridge, Ont.)
Leadership: Zoe McGee (Kanata, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Robyn Storey (Sarnia, Ont.)

Lacrosse
MVP: Maeya Price (Whitby, Ont.)
Leadership: Kendra Orr (Brooklin, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Danika Passmore (Brooklin, Ont.)

Men's Curling
MVP: Ryan Hastings (Stouffville, Ont.)
Leadership: Ryan Hastings (Stouffville, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Tom Keys-Brasier (Lindsay, Ont.)

Women's Curling
MVP: Jasmine Groleau (Hearst, Ont.)
Leadership: Jasmine Groleau (Hearst, Ont.)
 
Men's Golf
MVP: Nic Huebel (Pickering, Ont.)
Leadership: Ben Hilditch (Cookstown, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Josh Simpson (Brockville, Ont.)

Women's Golf
MVP: Diana Duffin
Rookie of the Year: Bridget Fron

Women's Basketball
MVP: Kaleah Gosse
Leadership: Elliot Cowan (Chatham, Ont.)
Rookie of the Year: Kaleah Gosse (Toronto, Ont.)

Men's Basketball
MVP: Zubair Seyed (Cambridge, Ont.)
Leadership: Emmanuel Okonkwo (Toronto, Ont.)