Dalhousie's Department of Athletics recognized inspirational athletes, committed coaches and incredible volunteers at the 64th Annual Black and Gold Athletic Awards Banquet.
This season, Dalhousie celebrated eight AUS championship titles, five U SPORTS all-Canadian awards, 38 major AUS and U SPORTS awards, 56 AUS all-stars, one U SPORTS medal and volunteered over 4,000 hours of community service. Matthew Coolen, of the men’s track and field team, earned his first Climo (male athlete of the year) award and volleyball player Courtney Baker was named the Class of ’55 winner (female athlete of the year).
A third-year sprinter on the men’s track and field team, Matthew Coolen had a tremendous season on the track. An AUS all-star for the third-straight year, Coolen won two gold and one silver at the AUS championships. Two weeks later, he went on to win the 60m event on day one of the U SPORTS championships, earning U SPORTS first team all-Canadian honours. The next day, he narrowly missed the podium in the 60m hurdles, crossing the line in fourth, just 0.01 seconds behind third.
Courtney Baker had an outstanding year on the court, leading the Tigers to their sixth-consecutive AUS championship title. In just her third season with the Tigers, she was named the conference’s most valuable player and was selected as an AUS first team all-star for the second-straight year. She led the AUS in assists per set and was fourth in the country. An AUS championship all-star, Baker earned recognition on the national stage as a U SPORTS first team all-Canadian.
Complete list of major award winners:
Team Most Valuable Player Awards:
Basketball
(M) Sven Stammberger
(W) Robertha Charles
Cross Country
(M) Cal DeWolfe
(W) Savanna Jordan
Hockey
(M) Corbin Boes
(W) Lisa MacLean
Soccer
(M) Freddy Bekkers
(W) Taylor Goodwin
Swimming
(M) Alec Karlsen
(W) Isabel Sarty
Track and Field
(M) Matthew Coolen
(W) Lorena Heubach
Volleyball
(M) Matthew Donovan
(W) Courtney Baker
Manager of the Year:
Andrea Plato, Men’s Basketball
Volunteer Awards:
Larry Cass, Men’s Soccer
Barrie Woodworth, Swimming
Beate Hartlen, Volleyball
Tigers Assist (five years of service as an assistant coach):
Men's Basketball: Chad Wadden & Anton Berry
Women's Basketball: Leah Martin
Cross Country: Evan Bezanson
Women's Hockey: Shauna Neary & Joe Johnston
Track & Field: Simon Watts
Sandy Young Award (for great contributions to sport in Nova Scotia):
Diane Bell
Trainers of the Year:
Declan O’Brien, Men’s Soccer
Lori Ellis, Men’s Basketball
Eye of the Tiger (focused in the face of adversity):
Michelle Reddy, Cross Country /Track & Field
Harrison Callaghan, Men's Volleyball
Rookies of the Year:
(M) Hudson Grimshaw-Surette, Track & Field
(W) Savanna Jordan, Cross Country
(W) Kate Fines, Soccer
(W) Isabel Sarty, Swimming
(W) Julie Moore, Volleyball
Coach of the Year:
Rich Lehman, Men’s & Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field
President’s Award for academics, athletics, leadership and community service:
(M) Sven Stammberger, Basketball
(W) Mieke DuMont, Volleyball
Climo Award - Male Athlete of the Year:
Matthew Coolen, Track & Field
Class of ’55 Award - Female Athlete of the Year:
Courtney Baker, Volleyball