KAMLOOPS –Nine different awards were handed out and the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed two new inductees Wednesday night at the WolfPack Annual Awards Night.
Akwasi Agyekum of men's soccer and
Marissa Young of women's soccer took home the centrepeice awards as the Sports Task Force Athletes of the Year.
Agyekum earned Tournament MVP honours at the U SPORTS Men's Soccer Championship after leading the WolfPack to their first U SPORTS National title in school history. The defensive midfielder was a massive part of a shutdown WolfPack defence that powered the 'Pack to three-straight shootout victories at the national tournament.
Young was a key cog for a WolfPack team that had their best season yet at the Canada West level. The goalie from Calgary set the new program record for wins and shutouts during the regular season. In the playoffs, Young made five penalty shot saves while also adding a goal in a shootout herself to help TRU earn their first-ever trip to the Canada West Final Four.
Long-time director of athletics and recreation Ken Olynyk became the second ever inductee in the builder category of the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame. Joining the UCC Sun Demons in 2003, Olynyk oversaw not just the transition of the department from CCAA to CIS (U SPORTS) competition, but also led the way when the Sun Demons became the WolfPack in 2005-06. During his tenure Olynyk led the department to nine U SPORTS team national championship appearances, including three silver medal and a pair bronze medal performances. Over his time with the WolfPack over 400 student-athletes earned either PACWEST Academic Excellence or U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours. In the community Olynyk pushed the WolfPack to become leaders in both Kamloops and beyond with the athletic department raising countless dollars to support numerous initiatives.
Erin Mutch of women's volleyball and
Sam Elgert of men's volleyball earned the Cliff Neufeld Leadership Awards.
An exemplary student-athlete, Mutch has been a key piece for setting the culture and identity for her team and is a leader both on and off the court. The product of Victoria finished second on the team in both kills and points while playing a key role with the PACE Academic Program.
Elgert is a top student in the Faculty of Engineering who volunteers his time coaching youth volleyball. He finished second in the conference with 699 assists this past season and is a leader for his team.
The night also saw the first-ever team being inducted into the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame. The 1975-76 Cariboo College women's basketball team were the first team in Cariboo College history to win a 4-West Championship, earning their place as the top collegiate women's basketball team from B.C. to Manitoba. Representing the team are head coach Ron Paulson, manager Elaine Gustafson and student-athletes: Karin Jorgenson, Pauline Shupe, Lois Janning, Agnes Balson, HollyJackson, Donna Colman, Diane Janning and Sue Vickers.
Jan Pirretas of men's soccer and
Allie Shiyuk of women's soccer earned the Dr. Roger H Barnsley Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards.
Captaining the WolfPack to a national championship while completing the second year of his MBA, Pirretas is the definition of a top student-athlete. The centre-back was named a Canada West First-Team All-Star for the third consecutive year and formed the spine of one of the top defence's in the country.
Boasting a 4.3 GPA, Shiyuk played an integral in a WolfPack defence that helped the team to their best regular season and Canada West postseason win in program history. A part of the team's leadership group, she scored the shootout winning goal that sent the team to the Canada West Final Four.
Rounding out the award winners were
Alexis Virgo of women's soccer and
Elijah Dos Santos of men's soccer who claimed the Newcomer of the Year Awards.
Virgo made a massive impact for the 'Pack in her first year of competition. The centre-back started 16 games and was often tasked with marking some of the top players in the country. The product of Ottawa also recorded two goals on the year, including the dramatic tying goal in the Canada West quarter-final.
Named to the Canada All-Rookie team and U SPORTS tournament All-Star, Dos Santos looked like anything but a rookie in his first season of Canada West action. He started every game at centre-back for the 'Pack and successfully converted a penalty kick in all three of the WolfPack's shootout victories at nationals.
Josh Banton of men's soccer earned the Director's Award. With the WolfPack for six seasons and always the first to step up and help with anything his team, the department or the Kamloops community may need, Banton embodies everything it means to be a member of the WolfPack.
Carter White of baseball was named the recipient of the Tyler Lowey Award. Presented to a member of the 'Pack who has shown remarkable resilience in their career. Winners of the Tyler Lowey Award have faced a great deal of adversity and continued to compete for the WolfPack, or returned to compete after overcoming a significant injury or obstacle. White returned to competition this season with the back after suffering a fracture of his L5 vertebrae in a workplace accident in the Summer of 2021. Always the first to help his team, the department and the greater Kamloops community, White is a shining example of persevearance in the face of adversity.
Honoured with the WolfPack Appreciation were the Mitton family. Signed as a recruit to the WolfPack in September, Jude Mitton attends Lloyd George Elementary and is a local hero that is battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Jude and his family impacted the WolfPack in a massive way with their unwavering fight and spirit.
The event also featured Canada West and U SPORTS All-Stars/All-Canadians and award winners, along with fifth-year athletes who were also honoured at the celebration.
Major Award Winners:
Female Newcomer of the Year
Alexis Virgo, women's soccer - Winner
Olivia Andulajevic, women's volleyball - Finalist
Jaya Saroya women's basketball - Finalist
Male Newcomer of the Year
Elijah Dos Santos, men's soccer - Winner
Archie Golding, men's volleyball - Finalist
Carter Spencer, baseball - Finalist
Dr. Roger H Barnsley Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Jan Pirretas men's soccer - Winner
Thomas Olsen men's basketball - Finalist
Dylan VanSpankeren men's volleyball - Finalist
Dr. Roger H Barnsley Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Allie Shiyuk, women's soccer - Winner
Natalie Pietramala, cheer - Finalist
Siobhan Toal, women's volleyball - Winner
Female Cliff Neufeld Leadership Award winner
Erin Mutch, women's volleyball - Winner
Caylah Lemon, women's soccer – Finalist
Kennedy Love, cheer - Finalist
Male Cliff Neufeld Leadership Award winner
Sam Elgert, men's volleyball – Winner
Josh Banton, men's soccer – Finalist
Kolby Lukinchuk, baseball - Finalist
Director's Award winner
Josh Banton, men's soccer
Sports Task Force Male Athlete of the Year
Akwasi Agyekum, men's soccer - Winner
Sam Flowerday, men's volleyball – Finalist
Asher Mayan, swimming - Finalist
Sports Task Force Female Athlete of the Year
Marissa Young, women's soccer – Winner
Kelsey Cruz, women's basketball – Finalist
Abby Spratt, women's volleyball - Finalist
