Athletes of the year

Jamie Searle and Tasia McKenna did not deliver national championships to the Thunderdome.

But the duo did lay the groundwork for years to come, helping Lakehead University shed its culture of losing on the basketball court, turning the men’s and women’s teams into what school officials hope to be perennial contenders.

On Monday the student athletes were rewarded for their efforts, taking home the university’s male and female athlete of the year awards.

For McKenna, it was her third straight trophy, a fitting end to a career that earlier this year saw her become Lakehead’s all-time leading scorer, erasing Kathy Harrison’s mark that stood for nearly two decades.

“It feels really nice to cap off my career with an honour such as this. I know there are several female athletes that are just as deserving of this, so it’s a privilege,” said McKenna, who has every intention of being behind the bench next season to pass along her wisdom to the next generation Thunderwolves.

McKenna averaged 14.3 points a night in her final season, leading her team to a second straight postseason berth.

Along the way she set the club’s all-time single-game point standard, scoring 35 in remarkable 71-66 comeback win over McMaster on the road.

She was the third-leading three-point shooter in the nation and finished in the top 15 in both free-throw shooting and assists.

If McKenna’s play was inspiring, Searle’s was downright superhuman.

The Belleville, Ont. native ran the court for the Thunderwolves, showing leadership beyond his years in leading the club back to the national championship for a second straight year and capturing an unprecedented OUA title along the way.

Searle, named playoff MVP for an LU team that finished fifth at nationals, said he couldn’t ask for a better way to go out.

“It would have been nice to get that red banner, but it’s a long road. We finally got that little white OUA championship. That’s what I told coach that we needed to do when I came. That was nice, and this is just icing on the cake,” said Searle, who led the Wolves with 13.8 points a night, while averaging 5.4 rebounds an outing.

Searle also picked up the Argus Award, presented to a graduating athlete for their outstanding contribution to LU’s athletic programs.

Hockey’s Mike Quesnele and skiing’s Andrea Lee captured the male and female rookie-of-the-year awards respectively.

Quesnele’s teammate Jordan Smith, earlier named his team’s most valuable player, also grabbed the prestigious Hank Akervall Memorial award for excellence in athletics and outstanding community involvement.

Smith, who lost an eye and subsequently his NHL dream while playing in the American Hockey League, was a force on and off the ice for Lakehead and purchased season tickets each season for underprivileged children, called it a huge honour.

“It’s definitely one that means a lot to me. When you get honoured in that regard, and after Hank, it certainly is a big honour. I know our former captain Andrew Brown won it. I’m just excited. It was a great day today,” said Smith, who plans to explore playing professionally in Russia or possibly return to school for his teaching degree next fall.

Here’s a summary of all the awards presented at Monday’s afternoon ceremony. 
 

HOCKEY 
Rookie of the Year – Mike Quesnele
Most Improved Player – Mike Thibert
Best Work Ethic – Andrew Wilkins
Best Defensive Player – Mitch Maunu
Most Valuable Player – Jordan Smith
 
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Rookie of the Year – Nicole Vercaigne
Coaches Award – Karla Brayshaw
Corrine Kollman Award – Sarah Reid
Most Improved Player – Kristina Visser 
Most Valuable Player – Vanessa Chokawy
 
CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING
Most Valuable Runner – Female – Tess Naroski
Most Valuable Runner – Male – Alastair Brown
 
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Most Valuable Runner – Female – Heather Maxfield
Most Valuable Runner – Male – Alastair Brown
Eron Williams Spirit Award – Sara McCallum
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 
Rookie of the Year – Darcy Zinck
Most Improved Player – Ayse Kalkan
Best Defensive Player – Tasia McKenna
Amanda Nesbitt Award – Tasia McKenna
Most Valuable Player – Tasia McKenna
 
NORDIC SKIING
Rookie of the Year Female - Andrea Lee
Rookie of the Year Male – Ben Jones
Most Valuable Skier Female – Daphne Haggarty
Most Valuable Skier Male – Greg Kilroy
Sportsperson of the year – Nordic Skiing – Katherine Hall
 
WOMEN’S WRESTLING
Rookie of the year – Karleah Bonk
Most Improved Wrestler – Alexi Kreps
Most Valuable Wrestler – Nicole Plummer
 
MEN’S WRESTLING
Rookie of the year – Nikkilas Wilson
Most Improved Wrestler – Jason Bresele
Most Valuable Wrestler – Gaston Tardif
Frank Schaller Memorial Award – Colten Woznow
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Most Improved Player – Matthew Schmidt
Best Defensive Player – Greg Carter
Most Valuable Player – Jamie Searle