WOLFVILLE – Acadia University's Department of Athletics celebrated the 2023-24 season on Wednesday night at the annual Fred G. Kelly Awards Night, hosted in Andrew H. McCain Arena.
Fourth-year swimmer Gordon Shortt (Simcoe, Ont.) and second-year swimmer Ella Collins (Halifax, N.S.) concluded the evening as recipients of the 2023-24 male and female athletes of the year awards.
Collins had a record-setting season for the Axewomen, breaking two AUS records in the 50m and 200m breaststroke event, both records that had stood for 11 years. She also broke two Acadia Axewomen records.
Nationally she had three top 10 finishes at the U SPORTS championship, ranking sixth, seventh and seventh in her respective events. This was a first for an Axewomen swimmer, qualifying for three A finals at a single national championship. Her performances also qualified her for the Olympic trials in May in Montreal.
At the conference level she won four gold medals and was named an AUS all-star.
Collins was also Acadia’s James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award nominee.
Shortt was a five-time AUS medalist and AUS all-star this season in the water for the Axemen, breaking two AUS records along the way in the 50m breaststroke and 200 IM events, one of which stood for 12 years. On top of setting the Acadia records for those events, he broke one more school record.
At the national level he was a four-time finalist after qualifying for five events. His success on the national stage also qualified him for the Olympic trials this spring.
Hockey's Thomas Couture (Levis, Que.) was named this year's outstanding first-year male athlete of the year.
In his rookie season with the Axemen, Couture was named an AUS first team all-star and to the conference’s all-rookie team. He started 21 games for the Axemen, finishing third in save percentage at .915 and fourth in goals against average at 2.76. He also played the third most minutes amongst AUS goaltenders this season, topped in playing time by only StFX’s Joseph Raaymakers and Moncton’s Olivier Adam.
During the season, he also received AUS athlete of the week recognition, which then earned him U SPORTS men’s hockey player of the week honours. That week he picked up his first career AUS shutout in a 2-0 victory over Saint Mary’s at home, following it with a 21-save performance and perfect shootout on the road against UPEI for a weekend sweep to open 2024.
The outstanding first-year female athlete of the year award was won by volleyball's Allison Van Zeumeren (Brampton, Ont.).
In her first year at Acadia, Van Zeumeren was part of the historic team that won the Axewomen their first AUS women’s volleyball title. Prior to the championship season she was named to the AUS all-rookie team for her contributions on the court this season.
She finished her rookie campaign with 1.03 kills per set, five aces, four block assists and 1.2 points per set.
This year's female community engagement award was shared by soccer’s Leah Adams (Truro, N.S.) and is basketball's Ryan George (Moncton, N.B.). The male community engagement award was awarded to football's Spencer Richard (Wolfville, N.S.).
The President's award was established in recognition of Acadia's 175th Anniversary. Individuals chosen for this award have displayed the highest standard of leadership and will be known as builders because of the impact they have had on their teams.
This year's female president's award winner is volleyball's Rebecca Dorsey (Toronto, Ont.), while hockey's Reilly Webb (Stoney Creek, Ont.) is the male recipient.
This year's Acadia Student Union Jimmy Atomate Award winner is swimmer Victoria Flowerday.
The award is dedicated in the memory of Jimmy Atomate who died at the young age of 18 and who was an active participant in intramural sports. The award is given annually to a varsity athlete who made an exceptional effort to connect with students and fans, and who enhances the wider campus experience.
2023-24 ACADIA ATHLETICS AWARDS
MAJOR AWARDS
Athenaum Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year – Gordon Shortt
Jean Marsh Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year – Ella Collins
Outstanding First-Year Male Athlete of the Year – Thomas Couture
Outstanding First-Year Male Athlete of the Year – Allison Van Zeumeren
President’s Award – Reilly Webb, Rebecca Dorsey
Community Engagement Award – Spencer Richard, Leah Adams, Ryan George
DEPARTMENT RECOGNITION AWARDS
Performance Intern of the Year – Matt Holmes
Athletic Therapy Option Student of the Year – Madison Higgins
ASU’s Jimmy Atomate Award – Victoria Flowerday
APA Spirit Award – Kosta Zannis
Distinguished Service Award – Ella Keefe
TEAM AWARDS
Women’s Basketball
MVP – Elizabeth Iseyemi
Rookie of the Year – Iris Leuschner
Coaches Award – Ryan George
Defensive Player of the Year – Elizabeth Iseyemi
Most Improved – Jewel Woolfitt
Men’s Basketball
MVP – Glen Cox
Rookie of the Year – Samou Kone
Coaches Award – Ryan Munro
Culture Award – Seth Blundell
Most Improved – Erik Hayden
Cross Country
MVP – Ava Stefanovich-Thomson
Rookie of the Year – Clementine MacLeod
Coaches Award – Ella Campbell
Football
MVP – Jack Malo
Rookie of the Year – Max Ramirez
Defensive Player of the Year – Kyle Chappus
Lineman of the Year – Nick Pilichos
Kristin Pipe Award – Graham Nightingale
Most Improved – Graham Nightingale
Men’s Hockey
MVP – Thomas Couture
Rookie of the Year – Thomas Couture
Top Scorer – Brady Burns
Defensive Player of the Year – Hudson Wilson, Morgan Nauss
Randy Dean Ferris Memorial Award – Reilly Webb
Paul McFarland Award – Morgan Nauss
Most Improved – Brendan Sellan
Women’s Rugby
MVP – Sara Grant
Rookie of the Year (Overall) – Sarah Williston
Rookie of the Year (Backs) – Sarah Williston
Rookie of the Year (Forwards) – Brielynn Murrant
Coaches Award – Juliette Matsukubo
Women’s Soccer
MVP – Mya Harnish, Sydney Kennedy
Rookie of the Year – Daniella Kidston
Coaches Award – Isabella Barbieri, Georgia Hamnett
Most Improved – Lauren Clarke, Abby Girard
Men’s Soccer
MVP – Anderson Peters
Rookie of the Year – Naoya Yokota
Coaches Award – Matthew McKinnon
Most Improved – Akuzike Chipudhla
Women’s Swimming
MVP – Ella Collins
Rookie of the Year – Julia Hussey
Peer Award – Eliza Stokesbury-Price, Julia Hussey
Most Improved – Sara Bennett
Men’s Swimming
MVP – Gordon Shortt
Rookie of the Year – Nate Thompson
Peer Award – Myles McTavish
Most Improved – Alex Glenn
Women’s Volleyball
MVP – Wesley-Ann Bailey
Rookie of the Year – Allison Van Zeumeren
Impact Award – Charlotte Dean
Teammate Award – Erica Fisher