Top Marauders recognized at Athletic Awards

All-star cross-country runner Jessica Pearo has capped off a perfect season with her
second consecutive Therese A. Quigley Award for Female Athlete of the Year.

The award was one of many handed out April 4 at the University's 87th annual Athletic
Awards Ceremony, held in the Burridge Gymnasium.

Pearo ran her way to a perfect season, winning both the OUA and CIS Championships,
defeating her field by at least 10 seconds in both events. In addition to winning the
major competitions, Pearo also took the number one spot at the Western International,
the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago and the University of Rochester
Invitational. For all of her achievements, Pearo was named a CIS All Canadian, the OUA
Women's Cross Country MVP, OUA First Team All-Star, a two-time OUA Athlete of the
Week, and a four-time McMaster Athlete of the Week.

The Ivor Wynne Male Athlete of the Year trophy was presented to men's volleyball
standout Tyler Santoni.

Santoni, a two-time captain of the Marauder volleyball squad, powered McMaster to its
third OUA championship in the past five years. In addition to being named a first-team
OUA all-star for the second-time, Santoni was named the Player of the Match in the
OUA Championship final, and was named the MVP of the OUA Championship
tournament. The fifth-year commerce major completed the 2010/11 season on top of
the CIS in both kill-percentage and total blocks.

The Dr. Ray Johnson Award, presented to the graduating male student-athlete that
exemplifies the “spirit of McMaster” while showing noteworthy athletic ability, was
presented to swimmer Nathan Cox.

An OUA medalist as part of the freestyle relay, the fifth year electrical engineering
student also qualified for the CIS championships. An outstanding student, he was also
recognized for having the highest grades of any McMaster student-athlete. Along with
team outreach programs, Cox has volunteered for such events as the Relay for Life, the
Good Sheppard clothing drive, the Kidney Run, and the Great Canadian Shoreline
Clean-up.

The Dr. Edna Guest Award, presented to the graduating female student-athlete that
exemplifies the 'spirit of McMaster' while showing noteworthy athletic ability, was
presented to volleyball player Larissa Puhach and ice hockey player Kaley Veerman.

Puhach, a two-time all-star, has been a crucial member of the McMaster women's
volleyball team and was part of McMaster's first OUA championship team in 2008.

Veerman, team captain and club president for the past three years and team MVP for
the last two seasons, has been the primary organizer of the ice hockey program,
handling all administrative tasks with boundless energy and enthusiasm.

Award winners

The Mel & Marilyn Hawkrigg Outstanding Rookie Awards, presented to the male and
female student-athletes in their first year of post-secondary eligibility that
demonstrate outstanding athletic performance as a varsity team member, were
presented to swimmer Erin MacFadyen and rugby player Andrew Ferguson.

The Les Prince Award, presented to the student-athlete that best combines leadership
with community service through participation in an outreach program was presented to
wrestler Kevin MacLellan and basketball player Hailey Milligan.

The Bruce Cochrane Award, presented to the student who best demonstrates
unwavering dedication and service to their team, club, or group, was presented to co-
recipients Ryan Loveday and Laura Reitmuller.

The Joyce Wignall Award, presented to the McMaster team that best demonstrates
teamwork, friendship, loyalty and community involvement, was presented to the
McMaster fencing team.