A 5’4” badminton player and a 7’2” basketball player were the big winners at the 2010-11 Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletics Awards Banquet.   Marlee Mertens Marlee Mertens (4^th year, Salmon Arm, BC)  was named the Female Athlete of the Year.  Mertens was the WolfPack’s top female badminton player, winning a bronze medal in women’s doubles at the BC College Athletic Association championship tournament.    Mertens also played women’s singles this past season. She was chosen over Abbey McAuley (3^rd year, Langley, BC)  of women’s soccer,  Basketball’s Diane Schuetze (3^rd year, Vernon, BC) and Kelly Asleson (4^th year, Richmond, BC) of women’s volleyball. Mertens in action “This is the capper to a great year,” said Mertens.  “ I was so shocked to win. The girls I was up against....all quality athletes and people.  Any one of us could have won it.  They deserve it as much as me.” Martens said winning the honor as a member of an individual sport made it even more special. “ Thats the thing, we can’t really compare our sport to the others.  We don’t have stats the others do. I am so happy.” Martens is the second badminton athlete in three years to be named an athlete of the year.  Garrett Babichuk won Male Athlete of the Year in 2008. Greg Stewart Greg Stewart’s (5^th year, Kamloops, BC) selection as the Male Athlete of the Year was a great way for him to cap off his post secondary career.  Stewart became the first WolfPack player to win a major CIS basketball award when he was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.  2010-11 also saw him win his second straight Canada West  Defensive Player of the Year.   Stewart in game action “Its a great honor considering the calibre of the athletes I was up against,” said Stewart.  “ Everyone of the athletes here work so hard, they sacrifice and do the best.  I have to thank my family, my friends and my coaches for this award.” Stewart helping out at New Life Mission Others considered for the award were Justin Wallace (1^st year, Kamloops, BC) of men’s soccer, baseball’s Dillon Morgan (4 th year, Camp Verde, AZ), Joel Leonard (4^th year, Kamloops, BC) of hockey,  Kevin Tillie (2^nd year, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) of volleyball  and Garrett Babichuk (4^th year, Kelowna, BC) of badminton. The Doctor Roger H. Barnsley Scholar Athletes of the Year for 2010-11 were Ashley Piggot (4^th year, Prince George, BC) of women’s soccer and Alex Condon (2^nd year, Victoria, BC)  of  baseball. Ashley Piggot Piggot had a high grade point average in the Bachelor of Science program, was involved in community work and was a key member of the WolfPack midfield this season while scoring twice.  She beat out Amanda Frayne (4^th year, Kamloops, BC) from women’s volleyball, Jorri Duxbury (1^st year, Salmon Arm, BC) of women’s basketball and Kia Lidster (3^rd year, Kamloops, BC) of badminton. Ashley Piggot goes to head ball “This came as a complete surprise,” said Piggot.  “ It is a great achievement.” Piggot was a CCAA Scholar Athlete in 2010 and is well on her way to that honor again this season. She admits that it’s been easier to juggle school and sports in the fall when her season is on rather than the spring semester.  “ I like it better because I find when we have soccer my life is more disciplined, she laughs. Alex Condon Condon took five classes and had a G.P.A. of 4.33.  He was also involved in the baseball team’s community work which included skills camps for Kamloops Minor Baseball Players.   Other athletes considered for the Barnsley award were Brett Rouault (1^st year, Vernon, BC) of basketball, Ryan Talsma (5^th year, Orono, ON) of volleyball, Justin Smeaton (2^nd year, Kamloops, BC) from soccer and David Gore (3^rd year, Kamloops, BC) of hockey. Alex Condon in game action Condon gave credit to his teammates for helping him keep his grades up. “ We have a really supportive team,  guys help each other out in subjects we aren’t strong in.” The Sports Task Force Athletes of the Year were both soccer players.  McAuley won the women’s award while Tim Unaegbu (5^th year, Port Coquitlam,BC) was selected as the winner for men’s athletics.  McAuley not only did well in the class room but , as captain of the WolfPack coordinated all their community events and was solid in their midfield.  She also coached a U-12 girls house team in Kamloops Youth Soccer in 2010.  Abbey McAuley in game action “It feels great to be recognized for something like this,” she said.  “I did put a lot of time and effort into it. I couldn’t think of one community event that stood out in my mind. Coaching the girl’s soccer team was gratifying because they worked so far. They went from the bottom of the league to one of the top teams.” McAuley is continuing her work with youth soccer after recovering from off season surgery. She will be helping coach a U-12 girls Rep team. McAuley working with Kayla Read (left) and April Read (right) in Operation Christmas Child preps. She beat out Mertens, Asleson and Schuetze: who won the honor in 2009-10. Tim Unaegbu Unaegbu played two sports in his final year of post secondary eligibility.  He joined the basketball team in January when they were short of players and played some valuable minutes while being a leader on and off the court.  That dedication mirrored his performance on the soccer pitch.   Others considered for the award were basketball’s Chas Kok (4^th year, Lynden, WA), Andrew Fisher (3^rd year, Kamloops, BC) of hockey, Danny Moore (3^rd year, Victoria, BC) from baseball and volleyball’s Spencer Reed (2^nd year, Prince George, BC). Unaegbu on basketball court “I didn’t even know I was nominated until this afternoon,” Unaegbu  smiled afterwards. “ To actually win was a bonus after being nominated.  I’m going to remember the people and how this program has grown over the last five years.  It has been phenomenal.  I hope it continues.” Award winners: Ashley Piggot, Tim Unaegbu, Marlee Mertens, Greg Stewart and Alex Condon Mc's for the evening were basketball's Jen Ju and baseball's Tanner Gainer 2010-11 Graduating Players Pat O'Brien (center) flanked by former President Dr. Roger H. Barnsley and current President Dr. Alan Shaver Pat O’Brien was the third recipient of the TRU WolfPack Appreciation Award. O’ Brien, who is still involved with the TRU Sports Task Force was the first athletic director at the school when it was Cariboo College. He also coached the men’s soccer team for a time.    O’ Brien follows in the footsteps of previous winners Doctor Roger H. Barnsley (2008) and Eric Schweizer (2009).