BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF 2023-24 TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT 55TH ANNUAL YORK VARSITY ATHLETICS BANQUET

York University Athletics & Recreation wrapped up the 2023-24 season Thursday night, hosting the 55th annual Varsity Athletics Banquet at Paradise Banquet Hall in Vaughan.

Track & field athlete Kaitlin Brooks and men’s soccer player Christian Zeppieri earned the night’s most prestigious honours as female and male athlete of the year, respectively.

Brooks, a thrower from Barrie, Ont., had a fantastic final season in red & white. She won six medals in conference competition, including a gold at the McGill Team Challenge. The kinesiology & health science major then won a silver at the OUA championships in Windsor and a bronze at the U SPORTS championships in Winnipeg.

Zeppieri a midfielder from Maple, Ont., had an remarkable rookie campaign for the OUA runner-up Lions. He scored four goals in regular season play and was named the OUA West MVP and a U SPORTS first team all-Canadian. Of his four goals, three of them either tied a match or gave the Lions the lead. His lone playoff goal was the go-ahead goal in the Lions semi-final win in penalties over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.

The year’s entire list of major award winners is below:

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Awarded to one female who has exhibited outstanding athletic skill, character and fair play in their sport, and, as a result, contributed to the success of their team.

Winner:

Kaitlin Brooks (Women’s Track & Field)

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Awarded to one male who has exhibited outstanding athletic skill, character and fair play in their sport, and, as a result, contributed to the success of their team.

Winner:

Christian Zeppieri (Men’s Soccer)

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The recipient of this award must be compliant with U SPORTS and OUA rookie of the year sport-specific regulations, and be in their first year of eligibility in university competition. The award is presented to a female member of a York varsity team who exhibited outstanding athletic skill in their rookie season.

Winner:

Juliet Redelaar (Field Hockey)

MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The recipient of this award must be compliant with U SPORTS and OUA rookie of the year sport-specific regulations, and be in their first year of eligibility in university competition. The award is presented to a male member of a York varsity team who exhibited outstanding athletic skill in their rookie season.

Winner:

Arwin Mathivathanan (Men’s Track & Field)

CHARLES SAUNDERCOOK MEMORIAL TROPHY

Presented to a student-athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for life and consideration of others. This trophy is open to male and female student-athletes.

Winner:

Tyler Pryce (Men’s Basketball)

BRYCE M. TAYLOR AWARD:

Presented to a graduating female athlete, who has, throughout their undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to Varsity Athletics at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of Varsity Athletics will be considered qualifications for this award.

Winner:

Ava Ricker-Singh (Women’s Hockey)

OUTSTANDING MALE GRADUATE AWARD

Presented to a graduating male athlete, who has, throughout their undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to Varsity Athletics at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of Varsity Athletics will be considered qualifications for this award.

Winners:

Michael Douglas (Men’s Hockey) & Philip Costa (Men’s Track & Field)

LIONS LEGACY AWARD

Lions Legacy Awards are presented annually to the graduating student-athletes who have, throughout the undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to varsity sport at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of varsity sport will be considered qualifications for this award. All recipients will be nominees for the Outstanding Male Graduate Award or the Bryce M. Taylor Award.

Winners:

Philip Costa (Men’s Track & Field)

Michael Douglas (Men’s Hockey)

Lexi Hannah (Field Hockey)

Agostino Principato (Men’s Soccer)

Ava Ricker-Singh (Women’s Hockey)

Evan Shadkami (Men’s Basketball)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Presented to a coach who has demonstrated leadership and earned the respect of both athletes and coaches in setting high expectations which have led to significant improvements and/or accomplishments over the past season for their program.

Winner:

Jermain Holness (Men’s Basketball)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

Presented in recognition of individuals who have demonstrated leadership, competitive success, ethics, York spirit, and fair play.

Winners:

Women’s Basketball – Kiara Leveridge

Men’s Basketball – Josh Noton & Evan Shadkami

Women’s Cross Country – Laura Peters

Men’s Cross Country – Abdullahi Abdullahi 

Field Hockey – Natalie Winter

Football – Braden Hart

Women’s Hockey – Jillian Milligan

Women’s Rugby – Lynelle Vassell

Women’s Soccer – Maia Torelli

Men’s Soccer – Christian Zeppieri

Women’s Tennis – Tamara Janev

Men’s Tennis – Alex Bodor

Women’s Track & Field – Kaitlin Brooks 

Men’s Track & Field – Tamarri Lindo

Women’s Volleyball – Jessica Reynolds

Men’s Volleyball – Dennis Cota

Women’s Wrestling – Erin Corrado

Men’s Wrestling – Stephan Niron

The York Lions would like to congratulate all award winners on their outstanding accomplishments, and extend thanks to our generous sponsors and loyal fans for another great season of Lions athletics.