Camryn Drever and Nick Wiebe Highlight Major 7 Award Winners at 2024 Salute

SASKATOON, SK – Huskie Athletics celebrated the best and brightest from a memorable 2023-24 season Thursday night (Apr. 4) with the 2024 edition of Salute presented by Wirelsss Age. Six student-athletes, a head coach, and a studnet trainer were honoured as major award winners while countless more we recognized for their athletic contributions as well as the impact they made in the classroom and the community while donning the green and white this season. Canada West all-stars and award winners, U SPORTS all-Canadians and award winners, and graduating student-athletes were among those recognized. 

2023-24 Major 7 Award Winners
Pat Lawson Trophy (Female Rookie of the Year) – Abby Wolff, Wrestling
Howard Nixon Trophy (Male Rookie of the Year) – Easton Thimm, Basketball
Valerie Girsberger Trophy (All-Round Female Athlete) – Carly Ahlstrom, Basketball
Rusty MacDonald Cup (All-Round Male Athlete) – Alexander Dewar, Basketball
Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy (Most Outstanding Female Athlete) – Camryn Drever, Hockey
E. Kent Phillips Trophy (Most Outstanding Male Athlete) – Nick Wiebe, Football
Colb McEwon Trophy (Coach of the Year) – Lisa Thomaidis, Basketball
Dr. Walter Hader Award (Student Trainer of the Year) – Ella McLean
 

Pat Lawson Trophy – Female Rookie of the Year

Abby Wolff – Wrestling

Abby Wolff takes home the Pat Lawson Trophy as the most outstanding female rookie following an incredible first season with the Huskie wrestling team. In her first year of collegiate wrestling, the local product from St. Joseph Collegiate, reached the top of the Canada West podium, landing falls against both of her opponents on her way to a gold medal. Her impressive performances ranked her among the top rookies in the conference and garnered the attention of coaches and competitors alike as she was recognized as the Canada West Rookie of the Year, becoming just the second U of S athlete to earn the award. Two weeks after the conference championships the arts & science major captured U SPORTS silver to cap off an incredible rookie campaign.

Abby becomes just the fifth member of the Huskie women’s wrestling team to be recognized as the top USask rookie, joining Kiera Prior (2016), Megan Nelthorpe (2015), Pam Ewanishin (2006), and Viola Yanik (2001). 

Nominees:
Daraida Sutherland, Soccer
Attleigh Maloney, Track & Field
Abby Wolff, Wrestling
Sophia Magus, Volleyball
 

Howard Nixon Trophy – Male Rookie of the Year

Easton Thimm – Men’s Basketball

Easton Thimm is the 2024 recipient of the Howard Nixon Trophy as the most outstanding male rookie after a sensational first season as a member of the Huskies men’s basketball team. The business major became just the third Huskie to be honoured as the top Canada West freshman after ranking within the top 5 in the conference in several key statistical categories including field goal percentage and rebounds. By the end of the season Thimm was the Huskies second-leading scorer with 195 total points, the 6th most by any rookie in program history. His first season was highlighted by a 21-point, 16-rebound performance against the UNBC Timberwolves in the Huskies regular season finale. Shortly after that performance Thimm was honoured as a member of the 2024 U SPORTS All-Rookie team, becoming just the second Huskie earn a spot among the nation’s top freshman. 

This marks just the third time in program history in which a member of the Huskies men’s basketball team has been honoured as the top rookie in green and white, and first in two decades. Thimm joins Andrew Spagrud (2004) and James Kenyon (2000). 

Nominees:
Jacob Baird, Volleyball
Easton Thimm, Basketball
Landon Kosior, Hockey
Joshua Tam, Track & Field
 

Valerie Girsberger Trophy – All-Round Female Athlete

Carly Ahlstrom finishes her Huskie career as the most decorated student-athlete in the history of Saskatchewan women’s basketball. The kinesiology major from Calgary, Alberta is a U SPORTS national champion and 3x medalist, a 4x Canada West champion, a conference MVP, 2x Canada West all-star, a U SPORTS 1st-team all-Canadian and the 2022-23 Mary Ethel Winner as the most outstanding female student-athlete. She also ranks within the top 10 in several program career regular season and playoff records and is 13th all-time in U of S scoring. In addition to her resume of unparalleled on-court accolades, she has been named a U SPORTS academic all-Canadian in all 5 seasons as a member of the Huskies, served on the HAC executive council for the past two years, and has coached in the Junior Huskie Program. In her final season, Carly led the Huskies to the best overall and conference record in program history at 30-2 and 19-1. 

Ahlstrom becomes the latest member of the Huskie women’s basketball program to have their career recognized, joining 13 other student-athletes who have earned the Valerie Girsberger Trophy. Among those 13 athletes, Carly joins her sister Megan Ahlstrom, who was honoured as the top all-round athlete in 2019. This also marks the third time in four years a Huskie women’s basketball student-athlete has claimed the award, and 7th time since 2010. 

Nominees:
Sophie Lalor, Hockey
Carly Ahlstrom, Basketball
SueAnne Harms, Wrestling
 

Rusty MacDonald Cup – All-Round Male Athlete

Alexander Dewar will go down as one of the greatest Huskie men’s basketball student-athletes in program history after an accomplished career, both on and off the court. On the court Dewar is a U SPORTS silver medalist and finals player of the game, a Canada West bronze medalist, a conference all-rookie and all-star, and the 3rd highest scorer in program history with 1538 points. Throughout his career, the local product and kinesiology major averaged 15.8 points per game and 4.3 rebounds. Off the court Dewar is a 5x U SPORTS academic all-Canadian and has been honoured for his community service at both the provincial and national level as the winner of the Canada West community service award and the U SPORTS Ken Shields award. 

Alexander becomes just the fourth member of the Huskie men’s basketball program to be hnoured as the top all-round athlete, and first since 1996 when Scott Ferguson was recognized by Huskie Athletics. In addition to Ferguson, Dewar joins Blair Garneau (1992) and Ken Traynor (1974). 

Nominees:
Daniel Perry, Football
Alexander Dewar, Football
Jake Neufeld, Track & Field
 

Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy – Most Outstanding Female Athlete

Camryn Drever wraps up her U of S hockey career a with one more accolade added to her resume, the Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy as the most outstanding female athlete of the year. The product of Edmonton, Alberta completed a dominant season between the pipes for the Huskies to close out her career as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Huskie women’s hockey program history. Drever totaled 15 wins, a new program record, while recording 5 shutouts, a 1.33 goals against average, and the best save percentage in the nation en route to being named the Canada West goaltender and player of the year. She became just the 4th Huskie student-athlete and 2nd goaltender to earn the top conference award and would later add to her season with a U SPORTS 2nd-team all-Canadian nod. Drever leaves behind a lasting legacy at the University of Saskatchewan, having set records and earned accolades that will be remembered for years to come. 

This marks just the second time in the history of the Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy that a member of the Huskie women’s hockey team has been honoured as the top athlete in green and white. Camryn joins Breanne George, who claimed the award in 2010 following a season in which was also honoured as Canada West’s player of the year. 

Nominees:
Kaitlyn Harrison, Cross Country/Track & Field
Avery Pearson, Track & Field
Gage Grassick, Basketball
Camryn Drever, Hockey
SueAnne Harms, Wrestling
 

E. Kent Phillips Trophy – Most Outstanding Male Athlete

In just his third season with the Huskie football program, linebacker Nick Wiebe takes home the E. Kent Phillips Trophy as the most outstanding male athlete during the 2023-24 season. A leader and standout member of the Huskie secondary, Wiebe finished the season as the conference leader in tackles and third in the nation, averaging 7.6 per game. The business major from Calgary, Alberta also added 1.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble before being named the 9th Canada West Defensive Player of the Year in program history in addition to a unanimous all-star and U SPORTS first team all-Canadian. Wiebe’s success on the football field can be credited to his mental toughness and ability to stay composed in high-pressure situations. 

Nick joins elite company after being recognized as the most outstanding athlete for the 2023-24 season, becoming the 21st member of the Huskie football program to be honoured as the top USask athlete. It also marks the third consecutive season in which a student-athlete from Huskie football has won the award, with Mason Nyhus and Adam Machart having been recognized in 2023 and 2022. 

Nominees:
Chantz Petruic, Hockey
Masson Altrogge, Track & Field
Nick Wiebe, Football
 

Colb McEown Trophy – Coach of the Year

In her 25th season, Lisa Thomaidis takes home the Colb McEown Trophy as the Huskie coach of the year after leading the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball program through a record-setting season. This marks the third accolade of the 2023-24 campaign after she earned her 6th Canada West coach of the year award and 3rd Peter Ennis Award as the nation’s top coach. This season, her Huskies were nearly unstoppable, setting new marks for best overall and conference records at 30-2 and 19-1 while boasting the conference’s most prolific offence. After claiming an 9th Canada West title, Thomaidis and the Huskies entered the U SPORTS national championships as the No. 1-seed for the 3rd time in her tenure. After convincing wins in the quarterfinal and semi-final rounds, the Huskies earned U SPORTS silver, their 6th medal finish under Thomaidis. 

Thomaidis also experienced success on the international stage, guiding Germany’s women’s national program to their first-ever Olympic berth less than a year after being named head coach. She will be making her fourth Olympic appearance in Paris this summer after having previously made trips with Team Canada in 2012, 2016, and 2020. 

This marks the sixth time in which Thomaidis has been recognized as the Huskies top coach following a season, having previously been honoured in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2020. Thomaidis is also the only head coach in the history of the Huskies women’s basketball program to be awarded the Colb McEown Trophy.

Nominees:
Jason Reindl, Track & Field
Lisa Thomaidis, Women’s Basketball
 

Dr. Walter Hader Award – Student Trainer of the Year

Throughout her two years as a student trainer Ella has left a positive impact on numerous athletes, coaches and staff. Beyond her work with the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, Ella has volunteered for tournaments and additional clinic hours, assisting athletes from almost every sport. Her enthusiasm towards her involvement as a Student Trainer is very clear – she is often found trying to restrain herself when a good song comes on during games. Ella’s investment and commitment to all athletes at the University of Saskatchewan is very evident. She can often be found spending her time watching and cheering athletes from every sport in person or on online. What stands out the most about Ella is her work ethic and willingness to help with any job no matter the size or how unglamorous it may be. 

Nominees:
Easton Martens, Men’s Soccer/Track & Field
Ella McLean, Men’s & Women’s Basketball
Ashley Stusek, Football