Brock University celebrated its student-athletes at the annual Brock Badgers Awards Gala on Wednesday, March 27 at the Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark in Niagara Falls.
The varsity programs at Brock had another successful year, headlined by two national championship banners and four provincial titles.
In all, 15 teams appeared at a national championship events while 26 teams competed at the provincial championships.
The Badgers earned 17 major awards and eight Coach of the Year awards during the year.
On top of that, 26 student-athletes were named All-Canadians while the Badgers earned 81 provincial all-star selections across all sports during the 2023-24 season.
Leading the Badgers’ award winners were Sara Rohr from the women’s volleyball team and Connor Ungar of the men’s hockey team who were named the Brock Badgers Female and Male Athletes of the Year.
As the starting setter, Rohr led the Brock Badgers women’s volleyball team to a third consecutive OUA (Ontario University Athletics) Quigley Cup Championship and third straight appearance at the national championship.
The Milton, Ont product was recognized as a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, OUA Co-Player of the Year and OUA First Team All-Star.
During the regular season, Rohr led the OUA with 10.90 assists per set and 643 total assists, with the former putting her second in the country. She also set a program record, finishing her Badgers career with 2,677 assists.
Rohr is the first women’s volleyball player to be named Female Athlete of the Year since 1992-93 when Tanya Stephens won the award.
Sara Rohr was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Ungar made an impressive debut for Brock men’s hockey, earning numerous awards from both the OUA and U SPORTS.
He was recognized as the U SPORTS and OUA West Rookie of the Year and received a spot on both the U SPORTS and OUA West All-Rookie Teams. In addition, he was selected as a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian and was named the OUA West Goaltender of the Year and OUA West First Team All-Star.
The Calgary, AB product finished first in the OUA and U SPORTS with 20 wins in the regular season, setting a new program record in the process.
He recently signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Fellow goaltender Clint Windsor was the last men’s hockey player to win Male Athlete of the Year, taking home the honour in the 2017-18 season.
Connor Ungar was recognized as the Male Athlete of the Year.
The Coach of the Year awards were awarded to Dave Collie of women’s wrestling and TJ Manastersky of men’s hockey.
Collie was named both the U SPORTS and OUA Women’s Team Coach of the Year after guiding the Badgers to their 11th national title in program history and ninth consecutive provincial title. Over the two tournaments, Collie’s team took home ten individual gold medals, six silvers and two bronzes for a total of 18 medals.
Finishing with a program record 21 wins, Manastersky led the Badgers to new heights this past season and was named OUA West Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the team made their fourth appearance at the University Cup (U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Championship) and won five major OUA West Division awards.
Dave Collie and TJ Manastersky received the Wally Barrow Memorial Women’s and Men’s Coach of the Year Awards.
For the second year in a row, the women’s and men’s wrestling teams were named Female Team of the Year and Male Team of the Year.
The women’s wrestling team remains the masters of the mat, earning their 11th U SPORTS title in program history while earning three individual gold medals, three silver and two bronze. They also won their ninth consecutive OUA championship and 22nd overall, winning seven provincial gold medals and three silvers.
The Brock women’s wrestling team won the Women’s Team of the Year.
Continuing their reign of dominance over the U SPORTS landscape, the men’s wrestling team won their ninth consecutive national championship banner and 22nd in program history. At the U SPORTS Championships, the Badgers won five gold medals and three silvers, while at the provincial championships, they earned their eighth straight provincial banner and 25th overall, winning six individual gold medals, two silvers and two bronze.
The Brock Badgers men’s wrestling team earned the Men’s Team of the Year Award.
Catriona Cormier from women’s hockey was awarded the David S. Howes Spirit of Brock Award, which is named after Howes for his commitment to Brock University and the community of Niagara. This award is presented annually to a student who best embodies the spirit of Sir Isaac Brock: leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community service.
Catriona Cormier was awarded the David S. Howes Spirit of Brock Award.
Women’s soccer defender Grace Tawil and men’s rower Connor Dodds earned the David Atkinson Surgite Award and R.M. Davis Surgite Award, respectively. These are awarded each year to current female and male student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically.
Dodds also won the R.M. Davis Surgite Award for the 2022-23 season and was honoured at last year’s Brock Badgers Awards Gala.
Grace Tawil was awarded the David Atkinson Surgite Award while Connor Dodds took home the R.M. Davis Surgite Award.
Brock Sports Medicine (BSM) honoured Brianna Bruni as the winner of the Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award of Excellence.
Joseph Kenny and Steve Lidstone presenting Brianna Bruni with the Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award of Excellence.
The Brock Sports Performance (BSP) Awards went to Nick Eck, who was recognized as the BSP Student Intern of the Year, and Dustin Cordeiro, who received the BSP Impact Award.
Dustin Cordeiro and Nick Eck received the annual BSP awards.
Receiving the Marilou Iusi Memorial Service Award was Brock Sports Director of Recreation Karen McAllister-Kenny . This award recognizes an individual for their tireless dedication to Brock Sports. All previous award recipients have made a significant contribution to Brock Sports and gone above and beyond their standard call of duty to make the department and the experience for Brock’s student-athletes a positive one.
McAllister-Kenny’s time with Brock and Athletics began in 1983 as the women’s volleyball coach. Under her guidance, the Badgers clinched provincial bronze medals. She also earned accolades such as the Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach of the Year in 1989 and Brock’s Team of the Year award after an undefeated regular season.
In 2003, she was inducted into the Brock Athletics Hall of Fame as a Builder.
As Director of Recreation, McAllister-Kenny works tirelessly to expand programs and create a vibrant and inclusive environment for thousands of students and community members to participate and connect. She has played a leading role in growing campus recreation and athletics and has made it a key part of the university experience, whether students are participating in or facilitating programs.
Karen McAllister-Kenny pictured with Brock University Associate Vice President of Students Brad Clarke.
The full list of major award and team award winners is included below.
2023-24 BROCK SPORTS MAJOR AWARD WINNERS Female Athlete of the Year:Sara Rohr (Women’s Volleyball) Male Athlete of the Year: Connor Ungar (Men’s Hockey) Women’s Team Coach of the Year:Dave Collie (Women’s Wrestling) Men’s Team Coach of the Year:TJ Manastersky (Men’s Hockey) Female Team of the Year: Women’s Wrestling Male Team of the Year: Men’s Wrestling David S. Howes Spirit of Brock Award:Catriona Cormier (Women’s Hockey) David Atkinson Surgite Award:Grace Tawil (Women’s Soccer) R.M. Davis Surgite Award:Connor Dodds (Men’s Rowing) Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award: Brianna Bruni BSP Student Intern of the Year: Nick Eck BSP Impact Award: Dustin Cordeiro Marilou Iusi Memorial Service Award: Karen McAllister-Kenny