ANTIGONISH, NS --- The StFX Athletic Department honored the athletic accomplishments of their varsity athletes Tuesday evening at their annual awards gala at the Charles V. Keating Centre. X-Women rugby athlete Emma Taylor was named the StFX Female Student-Athlete of the Year, while X-Men cross country/track & field runner Scott Donald was awarded StFX Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors. The StFX Female Community X-Cellence award was presented to Melissa Gottschall from the X-Women basketball team, while Shane Coupland (X-Men basketball) and Rob Slaney (X-Men hockey) were co-winners of the StFX Male Community X-Cellence award.
Emma Taylor is a fifth year business student from Scotsburn, N.S. and played the lock position with the CIS national champion X-Women rugby team. The AUS conference and playoff MVP, she helped lead her team to their 17th consecutive league title and fourth national title in team history. The leading try scorer at the CIS championship, Emma was honored as a CIS tournament all-star and most valuable player. She has amassed 103 career points over her five years at StFX and leaves as a two-time CIS All-Canadian and three-time AUS all-star and is the only StFX athlete to win three CIS national titles. Emma becomes the fifth X-Women rugby player to be named the StFX Female Student-Athlete of the Year and first since Tyson Beukeboom won back-to-back awards in 2013 and 2012.
Scott Donald is a third year arts Human Kinetics student from Ottawa, Ont. who lead the X-Men cross country team to their fourth consecutive AUS championship title. Scott claimed individual gold as he was the top finisher at the 10k event. Not to be out-done, at the AUS track & field championship, Scott won gold in the 1500m race and picked up silver medals in the 3000m and the 4x800m relay. He has been an AUS all-star in each of his three seasons with the X-Men. Scott becomes the fourth X-Men cross country runner to receive StFX Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors and first since Connor McGuire in 2013.
Melissa Gottschall, a guard and co-captain with the X-Women basketball team, is a fourth year business student from Antigonish, N.S. who lends her basketball talents to coaching at the high school and with the U15 provincial teams on select weekends. A representative on the StFX Student Athlete Leadership Team, Melissa volunteered at L’Arche, including at L’Arche Antigonish summer camps where she went on trips and organized various events. Melissa volunteered for the welcoming committee for the provincial Special Olympics, was a bike race volunteer during the Antigonish Highland Games, and volunteered for Sobeys employee appreciation day. She ran a two-day basketball camp for the girls team at a local middle school, lent her time to the Halloween Safe Crossing initiative and assisted with the X-Women basketball Shoot-for-the-Cure fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.
Shane Coupland is a fourth year business student hailing from Brisbane, Australia and a graduating captain with the X-Men basketball team. This past season he volunteered his time weekly working with an individual with Down Syndrome at the CACL, along with assisting with local youth at weekly Fit for Life events, in conjunction with the Human Kinetics department. Shane helped coach minor basketball in Antigonish and served as the co-president of the Student Athlete Leadership Team where he played a key role in organizing the annual X Athletes for Charity event. He is a member of the StFX Service Learning Society, and over his time at X has also volunteered with X-Out Bullying, Halloween Safe Crossing, Best Buddies, Literacy Week and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Rob Slaney is a four year Human Kinetics student from Portugal Cove, NF who skated with the X-Men for the past two seasons, this last year as their captain. The recipient of the AUS Godfrey Award for community service, Rob was involved with the Human Kinetics Fit 4 Life and Fit 4 Tots programs, served on the Student Athlete Leadership Team, helped organize the X Athletes for Charity event and took part in the CACL Classic fundraiser hockey game. He was a volunteer tutor for numerous students in various subjects, coached with a local pee wee AAA hockey team, was a Best Buddies participant and served as an emergency room volunteer at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. Rob was also involved in organizing the Coady Institute ‘on-ice’ event for international students who never skated before.
Tommy MacDonald, arena and pool operator at StFX University, was honored as the recipient of the StFX Athletics ‘X-Ceptional Award,’ which recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to contribute in a positive manner to StFX Athletics. With over 37 years of service to the university, MacDonald first worked at the old Memorial Rink and more recently has been the ‘keeper of the ice’ at the Charles V. Keating Centre. He has set a high standard of keeping the ice surfaces in top condition and takes pride in doing so, something that does not go unnoticed by the StFX coaches, staff and athletes. MacDonald goes out of his way to help the X-Men and X-Women hockey athletes with anything they need, always willing to lend a hand and greet everyone with a friendly hello. He never misses a varsity hockey game, even on the evenings he isn’t assign to work, and StFX Athletics appreciates his extra effort.
Mike Cavanagh was named the winner of the StFX Coach of the Year award. In his 16th season behind the helm, Coach Cavanagh led the X-Women rugby team to the CIS national championship title, their fourth in team history. His X-Women were also AUS champions for the 17th consecutive season and Coach Cavanagh was named the AUS Coach of the Year, the eighth time he has received that honor. His team was 11-0 in AUS and CIS regular season and playoffs.
Three StFX varsity teams, one track and field relay team, and four individual track and field athletes received their traditional varsity ‘X’s in honor of their AUS championships from this past season. AUS championship teams included the X-Women rugby, X-Men cross country and X-Women hockey teams, along with the AUS champion X-Women 4x400m track and field relay team. Individual AUS champions honored were track and field athletes Hailey Pollock (shot put), Hayley Wilson (60m), Scott Donald (1500m), and Mackenzie Munroe (600m). The CIS national champion X-Women rugby team received their championship rings.
X-Men and X-Women student-athletes who received AUS and CIS accolades were recognized for their achievements as StFX Athletics produced 45 AUS all-stars, three AUS all-rookies, 14 AUS major awards winners, five CIS all-Canadians, four CIS tournament all-stars and one CIS tournament MVP this past varsity season. All student-athletes who consumed their first year of eligibility received their traditional StFX varsity pins.
Student therapists and student managers from all StFX varsity teams were presented with plaques of appreciation for their contributions to the 2014-15 varsity season, with StFX soccer manager Javier Ballve and X-Women hockey manager Hanna Nathanson receiving the male and female student-manager of the year awards.
Individual awards for each varsity team were handed out by StFX coaches to the athletes in the categories as listed below.
2015 StFX Athletic Awards Gala – Individual Award Winners
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Rookie of the Year – Samantha Robertson
Coach’s Award – Shannon Hatch
Most Valuable Player – Lindsay Lessard
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Rookie of the Year – Leah Gouthro
Coach’s Award – Kendra MacNeil
Runner of the Year – Liz MacDonald
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Rookie of the Year – Nicole Halladay
Coach’s Award – Chloe Allen
Most Valuable Player (co-awarded) – Alex Normore and Sojung Shin
WOMEN’S RUGBY
Duffley Rookie of the Year – Joanna Alphonso
Birks Coaches Award – Catharine MacKeigan
Most Valuable Player – Emma Taylor
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Rookie of the Year – Erin Visser
Coaches Award – Maris Miller
Most Valuable Player – Bobbie Martin
WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
Rookie of the Year – Hayley Wilson
Coach’s Award – Candace Cruickshank
Track Athlete of the Year – Eilish MacQuarrie
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Rookie of the Year – Roydell Clarke
Most Improved Player – Davonte Provo
Most Valuable Player (co-awarded) – Julius Antoine & Cameron Walker
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Rookie of the Year – Nick Favero
Coach’s Award – Bryden Tate
Runner of the Year – Scott Donald
MEN’S FOOTBALL
Rookie of the Year – Andrew Smith
Best Defensive Player – Tivon Cook
Best Offensive Player – Ron Omara
Most Valuable Player – Demetrius Ferguson
MEN’S HOCKEY
Rookie of the Year – Eric Locke
Melanson Top Scorer Award – Michael Kirkpatrick
Unsung Hero Award – Zach MacQueen
Most Valuable Player – Drew Owsley
MEN'S SOCCER
Rookie of the Year – Liam Elbourne
Coaches Award – Mitchell George
Most Valuable Player – Ryan Ashlee
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
Rookie of the Year – Alex Cyr
Coach’s Award – Jake McKenna
Track Athlete of the Year – Mackenzie Munroe
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