LENNOXVILLE, Que. – Shawn Gore (Toronto, Ont.) and Katy Germain (Val d’Or, Que.) were named the Bishop’s University Athletes of the Year at the annual awards gala held tonight in Sherbrooke. Also winning major awards were Jacquie Laidler (Anmore, B.C.) and Onnex Blackwood (Scarborough, Ont.), who were named Freshmen of the Year, while Robyn Wilson and Stefan Lemieux (both of Vancouver, B.C.) were named the inaugural winners of the Academic Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Bill Rourke, a longtime manager with the Gaiter football team, was awarded the prestigious Ray Almond Award for his contributions to Bishop's Athletics. At the gala, over 40 awards were presented across all nine Gaiters sports, and a full list of winners follows this release.

Male Athlete of the Year – Shawn Gore, Football
Gore, a fourth-year receiver, had a breakout season in 2009, becoming “Mr. Everything” for the Gaiters. After an injury-shortened 2008, Gore returned to lead the Gaiters with 32 catches for 496 yards and five touchdowns, highlighted by a career-long 73-yard catch on September 27 at Laval. In the Gaiters’ last regular-season game; he became the first Gaiter since 2003 to make two touchdown catches in a single game, and he extended his pass-catching streak to 21 games. Gore, who was also named the winner of the Prix Excellence Sportive Sherbrooke, was a force on special teams, recording a career-high seven special teams tackles (5 solo, 4 assisted) in eight games.
 

Female Athlete of the Year – Katy Germain, Basketball
Germain, a fourth-year swingman, continued to be one of the most potent scorers in the Quebec University Basketball League. She was fifth in the QUBL with an average of 12.1 points per game, third in the league with 2.1 three-pointers made per game, and seventh with 30.4 minutes played per game as she earned her second straight First Team All-Star award. Defensively, she finished third in the league with 1.8 steals per game and led the Gaiters with 4.3 rebounds per game. She is a tenacious competitor, whose drive to win showed on every possession, every quarter, and every game.
 

Female Freshman of the Year – Jacquie Laidler, Rugby
Laidler, 19, is the first rugby player to be named Female Freshman of the Year since Jessica Little in 2002. Laidler came to Bishop’s as a highly-regarded front row player, having played national-level rugby for her home province of British Columbia. Soon after coming here, she was asked to assume a new position, outside centre, and immediately became a pillar of the Gaiters’ back line. She scored her first career try on October 18 at Sherbrooke. In the winter, she was named to Rugby Canada’s national women’s Under-20 team, and she made her first international appearance on January 16 vs. the USA Under-20 team.

Male Freshman of the Year – Onnex Blackwood, Basketball
Blackwood, 18, had an outstanding rookie season for the Gaiters from start to finish. In his first university game he led the Gaiters in scoring, and he continued to impress as the season went along. He finished third in the Quebec University Basketball League with 15.7 points per game, and led the Gaiters with 5.8 rebounds per game. He was the first rookie named to the QUBL First All-Star Team in three years, and only the third rookie this decade to average at 15 points and five rebounds per game.

Male Academic Student-Athlete Award – Stefan Lemieux, Rugby
Lemieux, a fourth year flanker, had an outstanding season in the classroom and on the pitch. The Business Administration major has averaged 83% over the past two years. He led the Bishop’s University team to a victory in the Network of International Business Schools’ annual case competition in Denmark. A recipient of multiple scholarships and awards, Lemieux has been named to the Academic Honour Roll twice, and is a member of the Golden Key Honour Society. On the field, he had an excellent season at flanker, and was named a Quebec University Rugby Union All-Star for the first time in his career.

Female Academic Student-Athlete Award – Robyn Wilson, Basketball
Wilson, a fifth-year forward, closed out her career going from strength to strength. The Honours student in International Political Economy has averaged 84% over the past two years. She is a three-time Academic All-Canadian, a three-time member of the Academic Honour Roll and a member of the Golden Key Honour Society. She is currently with the Bishop’s University Model United Nations Team on their annual simulation in New York City. On the court, she is a two-time winner of the Nancy Knowlton Team Award, was one of only two players to start all 26 games for the Gaiters this season and led the team with 4.3 rebounds per game overall.

2009-2010 Bishop’s Gaiters Athletic Awards

• Female Athlete of the Year: Katy Germain (Basketball)
• Male Athlete of the Year: Shawn Gore (Football)
• Female Freshman Athlete of the Year: Jacquie Laidler (Rugby)
• Male Freshman Athlete of the Year: Onnex Blackwood (Basketball)
• Female Academic Student-Athlete Award: Robyn Wilson (Basketball)
• Male Academic Student-Athlete Award: Stefan Lemieux (Rugby)
• Ray Almond Award: Bill Rourke

EXTERNAL AWARD WINNERS:

• Prix Excellence Sportive Sherbrooke: Shawn Gore (Football)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

• Most Valuable Player: Katy Germain & Mélanie Ouellet-Godcharles

• Rookie of the Year: Bethan Chalke

• Most Improved Player: Annick Stephanny Charles

• Nancy Knowlton Team Award (Leadership & Dedication): Robyn Wilson

MEN’S BASKETBALL:

• Most Valuable Player: Tim Hunter

• Bradley L. Jones Newcomer of the Year Award: Onnex Blackwood

• Michel Fontaine Memorial Award (Most Improved Player): Jeremy Leonard-Smith

• Garth Smith Award (Leadership & Dedication): Damon Thomas-Anderson

FOOTBALL:

• Most Outstanding Player: Shawn Gore

• Newcomer of the Year: Matt Burke

• Brian Morley Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Rigg

• Offensive Player of the Year: Jesse Andrews

• Lineman of the Year: Mike Berta

• Special Teams Player of the Year: Steven Turner & Kyle Exume

• Marcel Lebrun Award (Dedication, Perseverance & Courage): Jermaine Lewis-Parris

GOLF: 

• Most Valuable Player: Olivier Audette-Genier

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY:

• Most Valuable Player: Emilee Walker

• Rookie of the Year: Sacha Vanasse-Gouchie

• Most Improved Player: Corrina Reid

• Charles Chapman Award (Leadership): Kaila Ezard

LACROSSE:

• Most Valuable Player: Keegan Durovick

• Rookie of the Year: Andre Laleune

• Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Kingston

WOMEN’S RUGBY: 

• Most Valuable Player: Meredith Evans & Sue Magwood

• Rookie of the Year: Jacquie Laidler

• Most Valuable Forward: Heather Paul

• Most Valuable Back: Susan Magwood

• Most Improved Player: Nicole Henshaw

• Women’s Rugby Team Award: Katie Allen

• Miriam Cozen-McNally Memorial Award (dedication, perseverance & courage): Sue Magwood

MEN’S RUGBY:

• Most Valuable Player (A Team): Ryan Ozeroff

• Rookie of the Year: Black McGregor

• Best Forward: Ryan Lethbridge

• Best Back: Pierrick Milhorat

• Most Valuable Player (B Team): Victor Chatain

• Cody Triggs Leadership Award: Kyle Barlow

• Coach’s Award: Jamie Le Huquet

WOMEN’S SOCCER:

• Most Valuable Player: Katie Montelpare

• Rookie of the Year: Frédérique CLoutier

• Most Improved Player: Samantha Juraschka

2008-2009 ACADEMIC ALL CANADIANS:

• Katelin Allen, Women’s Rugby

• Sophie Bass, Women’s Soccer

• Kristy Benz, Women’s Rugby

• Melanie Black, Women’s Rugby

• Laura Bowie, Women’s Soccer

• Alexandra Eastland, Women’s Rugby

• Katy Germain, Women’s Basketball

• Samantha Juraschka, Women’s Soccer

• Marie-Ève Lemoine, Women’s Basketball

• Tegan Maharaj, Women’s Rugby

• Laure Pitfield, Women’s Basketball

• Susanne Raupach, Women’s Soccer

• Julie Snooks, Women’s Rugby

• Robyn Wilson, Women’s Basketball