April 7, 2008

LENNOXVILLE, April 7, 2008 – Jamall Lee (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) and Chelsea-Lyn Aboud (Oakville, Ont.) were named the Bishop's University Athletes of the Year at the annual awards gala held last night in Sherbrooke. Also winning major awards were Josh Crone (Cambridge, Ont.) and Jessy Roy (Val d'Or, Que.), who were named Freshmen of the Year. Eddie Pomykala, the Gaiters' outgoing Men's Basketball Head Coach, was awarded the prestigious Ray Almond Award for his contributions to Bishop's Athletics. At the gala, 40 awards were presented across all nine Gaiters sports, and a full list of winners follows this release.

Male Athlete of the Year - Jamall Lee, Football
Lee, a third-year running back, becomes the first repeat winner of the Male Athlete of the Year award since current Gaiters head football coach Leroy Blugh took the honours in 1988 and 1989. This year, Lee led the Gaiters to their best season in ten years, while turning the school and league record books into his own personal scratch pad. He was the QUFL’s most valuable player, a unanimous league All-Star and a First-Team All-Canadian. This year Lee ran for 1464 yards, the fifth-highest total in CIS history, smashing the former league record of 1050 yards, held by ex-Gaiter Larry Smith. He also set league records with 181 carries and 1533 all-purpose yards, and he led the league with 12 touchdowns. After only three seasons, Lee is already the Gaiters’ all-time leading rusher and all-time leader in touchdowns.

Female Athlete of the Year - Chelsea-Lyn Aboud, Soccer
Aboud has been a pillar of strength for the women’s soccer team in all four of her years at Bishop’s. She was originally recruited to Bishop’s as a midfielder, but immediately stepped into the goalkeeper position and never looked back. She is the leader of the Soccer team, and was recognized this year as the Quebec conference’s Most Sportsmanlike Player. Aboud led the Gaiters to a historic shutout of McGill, at the time ranked No. 5 in Canada, as she made 12 saves to give the Gaiters their first ever clean sheet against the Martlets. She also made seven saves in the Gaiters’ win over UQTR. Throughout the season, Aboud, who was the team’s captain for three years, was responsible for keeping the Gaiters in many games, whether by making spectacular saves, directing the young Gaiters’ defenders, or jumpstarting the counterattack.
 

Female Freshman of the Year – Jessy Roy, Basketball

Roy, 20, walked away with Freshman of the Year honours after a season that saw her named to the QUBL First All-Star Team and All-Rookie team. The 5’8” point guard finished the year with an average of 3.75 assists per game, the highest of any CIS rookie, and led the team with 2.0 steals per game. She took on the challenge of moving to an unfamiliar position, and quickly developed into an elite point guard.

Male Freshman of the Year – Josh Crone, Lacrosse/Basketball

Crone, 19, becomes the first lacrosse player ever to be named Male Freshman of the Year. Crone was a starter on the lacrosse team’s first midfield line, and played on the power play from the beginning of the season. His 25 points in seven regular season games was 15th overall in league scoring, a list usually dominated by attackmen. Once the lacrosse season was over, Crone changed into a different pair of shorts, as he joined the men’s basketball team. On the hardwood, he played seven games after Christmas, showing the potential to become a true two-sport star.

Ray Almond Award (Contribution to Bishop’s Athletics) – Eddie Pomykala
The Ray Almond Award is given annually to a dedicated member of the Bishop’s Athletic Community who rises above the expected to deliver an invaluable service for Gaiters Athletics.  Eddie Pomykala has done that and more in his 24 years with the Gaiters Men’s Basketball team. He built the basketball team from obscurity in 1984 to the pride of the community that it is today. Under his watch, men’s basketball made 18 playoff appearances. He is a four-time Quebec Champion and a six-time league Coach of the Year. In 1997-98, the Gaiters went 30-and-6 on their way to the 1998 National Championship, and Pomykala was named CIAU Coach of the Year.

His commitment to the Gaiters and to Bishop’s goes much the wins and losses that each winter brings. Pomykala felt that it was important to contribute to the department, the university and the community. He has served on numerous committees, both inside and outside of athletics, and has always been an excellent ambassador for Bishop’s, going beyond the call of duty to promote Bishop’s and the Gaiters.

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2007-2008 Bishop’s Gaiters Athletic Awards