COQUITLAM, B.C. — Simon Fraser University Athletics honoured its best and brightest on Wednesday evening at The Molson Canadian Theatre at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, with 400-plus student-athletes from across all 17 varsity programs highlighted for their achievements on and off the field of play. It was the first in-person SFU athletic awards ceremony since March 2019.
 
President's Team of the Year: Women's Wrestling
Women's wrestling capped off the evening by being selected the President's Team of the Year after placing third at the national championships. Women's wrestling is an emerging sport in NCAA. SFU had the most individual national champions of any school, with Alyvia Fiske (155 pounds), Karla Godinez-Gonzalez (116), and Alex Hedrick (123) winning titles. Eight wrestlers earned All-America status. It was a total team effort. Along with the recognition, SFU President Joy Johnson awarded $2,500 to the team for athletic scholarships.
 
Lorne Davies Athletes of the Year Individual Sport: Alison Andrews-Paul & Collyn Gagne
Four student-athletes were recognized as Lorne Davies Athletes of the Year, with Alison Andrews-Paul (track and field), and Collyn Gagne (swimming), winning the individual sport awards, and Julia Tays (volleyball) and Julian Roche (basketball) taking home the team sport awards.

Andrews-Paul capped off an incredible season by winning the NCAA Division II 800 meter title, recording the third-fastest time in NCAA Division II history. Andrews-Paul was also an All-American in two relays and named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Karla Godinez-Gonzalez (wrestling) and Kennedy Loewen (swimming) were finalists.

Collyn Gagne won an NCAA championship in record time, finishing nearly six seconds ahead of the field in the 400-yard individual medley. He earned All-America honours in five events at nationals, setting school records in each one. Aaron Ahl (track) and Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (wrestling) were finalists.
 

Lorne Davies Athletes of the Year Team Sport: Julian Roche & Julia Tays
Julian Roche was named Male Athlete of the Year - Team Sport after he was named All-GNAC Second Team for the second time. Roche was a force on the court, leading SFU in scoring, rebounding, and blocks and to a spot in the GNAC playoffs. Griffin Barrett (football) and Mark Talisuna (soccer) were finalists for male AOY - Team Sport.
 

Julia Tays capped off her university career with a season to remember, guiding SFU to the NCAA championship for the second time in school history. She finished as SFU's career leader in assists and she was an NCAA All-America Honorable Mention, All-West Region and GNAC All-Conference First Team. Tays was also named the Terry Fox Inspirational Female Athlete of the Year. Tays just completed her first season of professional volleyball in Switzerland. Alex Ogg (softball) and Jessica Wisotzki (basketball) were finalists for female AOY - Team Sport.

Bill DeVries Senior All-Around Athlete Award: Emily Chilton
The SFU Athletics Awards Show, hosted by sports and entertainment personality Kat Stefankiewicz, shone a spotlight on SFU scholar athletes as well. Emily Chilton, (cross country and track & field) was named the Nadine Caron Top Scholar-Athlete for the third straight year with a cumulative grade point average of 4.24 in biomedical physiology. Chilton was also recognized for her athletic achievements and community work by taking home the Bill DeVries Senior All-Around Athlete Award. An indoor track All-American and a key member of cross country, Chilton displays the highest level of integrity and generosity with her time, volunteering with Special Olympics, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, SFU's name change committee and as a learning coach and mentor. Bianca Te (volleyball) and Claudia Hart (basketball) were also finalists.
 

Nadine Caron Top 10 Scholar-Athletes
1 - 4.24 CGPA – Emily Chilton, Cross Country and Track & Field, Biomedical Physiology
2 - 4.20 CGPA – Alison Andrews-Paul, Cross Country and Track & Field, Master's in Health Sciences M.P.H
3 - 4.18 CGPA – Bianca Te, Volleyball, Kinesiology
4 - 4.04 CGPA – Ryan Stolys, Golf, Engineering Science
5 - 3.98 CGPA – Jordan Schmidt, Cross Country and Track & Field, Business Administration
6 - 3.97 CGPA – Estee Leung, Golf, Biomedical Physiology
7 - 3.94 CGPA – Brooke Dexter, Volleyball, Chemistry
8 - 3.90 CGPA – Jayden Cole, Swimming, Engineering Science
9 - 3.87 CGPA – Sophie Klassen, Basketball, Kinesiology
10 - 3.86 CGPA – Kohl Peters, Volleyball, Criminology
 

Terry Fox Inspirational Athletes of the Year: Jayden Cole & Julia Tays
Swim captain Jayden Cole was awarded with the Terry Fox Inspirational Male Athlete of the Year award. Cole was lauded for his incredible work ethic, leadership, inspiration, and encouragement. He is a 3.9 GPA student in Engineering Science, and placed 15th in the 100-meter backstroke at the NCAA Championships. Cole helped build a supportive team culture and an environment of excellence. Out of the pool, he also tutors fellow student-athletes.
 

Tays, a gym rat, inspired and led teammates to the NCAA tournament, and then turned professional by signing a contract to compete in Switzerland. One of the top setters in NCAA Division II, she carries a winner's mentality and plays with passion.
 
Ryan Stolys SAAC Excellence in Leadership Award
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Excellence in Leadership Award was renamed after president Ryan Stolys who is ending an incredible three-year term at the helm of the student leadership group during a time the SAAC became much more engaged in the community and a much stronger voice for advocacy on campus. This year's award winner was Emma Kramer (basketball), who has taken on leadership roles at the campus, conference, and national levels, inspiring a shared vision by building relationships and sharing ideas with the goal of uplifting others.

In October 2021, Kramer was named the GNAC's representative to the NCAA Division II SAAC.
 
Freshman of the Year: Simone Masi & Brooke Dexter
Men's soccer defender Simone Masi, who recently signed a professional contract with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, was named the Male Freshman of the Year. He was the only freshman selected GNAC All-Conference First Team by coaches after the defender contributed to a league-leading seven clean sheets. 

A member of the 2021 NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) All-West Region Team, Masi won over Scott Arndt (cross country), Bailey Bjornson (golf), and Aiden Good (track & field).
 

Brooke Dexter from volleyball took home the Female Freshman of the Year Award after a remarkable season in which she averaged 4.16 kills per set (12th in Division II). She was honoured as the top freshman in the GNAC and West Region and NCAA All-America Third Team. Dexter was the national player of the week after back-to-back 20-plus kill performances against ranked opponents. Dexter won ahead of Tori Meklensek (swimming), Marie-Éloïse Leclair (track & field), and Maddie MacKenzie (wrestling).
 

Rick Jones Award for Courage: Alex Hedrick
Sharing a deeply personal and inspiring story of her ability to persevere and compete after being diagnosed with Long QT syndrome, two-time national champion wrestler Alex Hedrick was bestowed the Rick Jones Award for Courage. Hedrick had open heart surgery and now carries a defibrulator to every match as a precaution as she continues to follow her dream towards the Olympic Games.
 

The night also recognized SFU's 68 departing senior athletes, 32 individuals who earned All-America status, and five new members of the SFU Athletic Hall of Fame: 800-metre Olympian Jessica Smith, football star Neil McKinlay, Olympic wrestler Craig Roberts (posthumously), two-time NAIA Champion women's soccer coach Shelley Howieson, and storyteller Howard Tsumura.

The Fred Dietrich Staff Achievement Award went to the department's sports medicine manager, Rohit Sawalkar, recognizing his work with COVID-19 and returning student-athlete safely to competition.

The Kip Dougherty Award for outstanding contribution to a varsity team as a trainer, equipment manager, or team manager, was awarded to sixth-year science student Chris Inigo.

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit https://athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.

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