Abbotsford – Basketball standouts Kayli Sartori and Kevon Parchment were named the University of the Fraser Valley’s 2015-16 athletes of the year on Tuesday evening, as the Cascades athletic department held its annual awards banquet at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre.
Sartori, a fourth-year guard/forward out of W.J. Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford, averaged 18.4 points per game to win the Canada West women’s basketball scoring title. She also ranked among the league leaders in rebounding (7.7 per game, 11th), assists (4.5 apg, fourth), blocks (1.5 bpg, fourth) and steals (2.3 spg, eighth), and was subsequently named a Canada West first team all-star and a CIS second team All-Canadian.
Parchment, a fifth-year guard from Scarborough, Ont., led the Cascades men’s basketball team and finished 10th in Canada West in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. Like Sartori, he boasted a well-rounded statistical profile with impressive totals in assists (5.2 apg, second in Canada West), rebounds (9.1 rpg, sixth), blocks (1.2 bpg, 10th) and steals (1.6 spg, 17th). Parchment earned Canada West first team all-star and defensive player of the year honours, and became the first UFV men’s basketball player to be named a CIS second team All-Canadian.
The female athlete of the year finalists included Sartori, Tristan Corneil (women’s soccer) and Hannah Dirksen (women’s golf). Joining Parchment as male athlete of the year finalists were Adam Chaplin (men’s volleyball) and Connor O’Dell (men’s golf).
The rest of the major award recipients are as follows.
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Finalists: Taylor Claggett (WBB), Gurneet Dhaliwal (WSOC), Kara Williams (WVB)
Claggett and Dhaliwal were co-winners of the female rookie of the year award, after both put up huge numbers as first-year players in the Canada West conference.
Claggett was a conference all-rookie selection after finishing among the Canada West leaders in rebounding (8.7 rebounds per game, seventh) and field goal percentage (52.4, fifth). The forward from Mission averaged 11.7 points per game, good for third on the Cascades, and set new team rookie records for points, field goals made, field goal percentage, free throws attempted and made, offensive rebounds, and minutes.
Dhaliwal, a striker from Surrey, was an offensive dynamo for the women’s soccer team. She burst onto the scene with a two-goal performance against Simon Fraser University during exhibition play, and went on to tie for fifth in Canada West in goals with six, and 14th in assists with four. She also earned a Canada West second star of the week award in September.
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Finalists: Nathan Bahnman (MGOLF), Connor Pruim (MVB), Brady Weir (MSOC)
Weir, a left back with the men’s soccer team, made an impressive transition from the youth soccer ranks to the CIS en route to winning the Cascades’ male rookie of the year award. The Pitt Meadows product brought an attacking mindset and strong ball skills to the UFV backline, and scored the first goal of his university career in a win over the UNBC Timberwolves.
PRESIDENT’S SHIELD – TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD
In keeping with tradition, UFV president and vice-chancellor Dr. Mark Evered presented the team academic award. It went to the Cascades women’s basketball team, which posted a collective 3.0 grade point average in the fall semester.
FEMALE INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC AWARD
The individual academic awards recognize the athletes who posted the top grade point averages in the fall semester. Amelia Worrell, a guard with the women’s basketball team in her second year of eligibility, was the female recipient. Worrell, who was born in Liberia, Costa Rica, is in the Bachelor of Business Administration program and earned a 4.22 GPA.
MALE INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC AWARD
Nick Bruce, a third-year outside hitter with the men’s volleyball team, was the Cascades’ top male academic, posting a 3.91 GPA in the fall semester. The Surrey product is in the Bachelor of Science program.
JEN SIMPSON LEADERSHIP AWARD
Riley Dueck was the recipient of the Jen Simpson Award, which honours leadership in three areas: on an athletic team, in academics and involvement at UFV, and in the community.
Dueck is a third-year rower who competes in the No. 2 seat in the Cascades’ outstanding coxed men’s four-plus boat. He brings an inspirational and encouraging leadership style to the team, and is a great ambassador for the sport – last fall, he produced a documentary on the UFV rowing program. Riley also leads the Athletes in Action club on campus, and volunteers regularly at his former high school, Pacific Academy in Surrey. He was recently invited to be a guest speaker on the topic of sportsmanship. Dueck is also an excellent student, currently carrying a 3.45 grade point average.
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY AWARD
Risa Venuto (women’s soccer) and Hailey Kendall (women’s basketball) were named co-winners of the community athlete of the year.
Venuto, a third-year goalkeeper from Langley, is involved in a wide variety of community endeavors including training young goalkeepers, coaching at the Cascades’ soccer camp, mentoring first-year sciences students on the women’s soccer team, and serving as head chef as the Cascades prepared and served a meal for people in need in December.
Kendall, a third-year guard from Abbotsford, has taken on a number of student leadership roles. She’s helped lead the student athlete committee, and spearheaded the athletic department’s annual Halloween Walk and Knock which sees the Cascades go door-to-door soliciting donations for the Abbotsford Food Bank. She was also the lead organizer for the UFV women’s basketball team’s annual Shoot for the Cure breast cancer fundraiser, which generated over $4,600 this year.
