[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Athletic awards07.jpg” caption=”The Major Athletic Award winners and Team MVPs were announced at the 83rd Annual Athletic Awards Celebration on March 22. Photo courtesy of Athletics & Recreation.”]McMaster University announced the Major Athletic Award winners and Team MVPs at the 83rd Annual Athletic Awards Celebration, held in the new David Braley Athletic Centre on March 22.

For the first time in history, McMaster presented the Dr. Mel and Marilyn Hawkrigg Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards.

The awards are named in honour of and generously supported by McMaster Chancellor Dr. Mel Hawkrigg and his wife Marilyn.

The winners of the inaugural award were Mike Matunin (Unionville, Ont.) from the Golf Team, and Stephanie Sun (Trenton, Ont.) from the Swim Team.

Matunin was the top golfer all season. At the OUA Championship, he errantly signed his card showing a lower score (77 vs. 78) and voluntarily disqualified himself from the tournament.

Stephanie Sun helped shape the personality of a team that had 95 per cent of their student-athletes swim personal best times.

The other nominees for the Dr. Mel and Marilyn Hawkrigg Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards were Cam Mitchell (Rugby), Dan Smedley (Volleyball), Cheryl Kemsley (Ice Hockey) and Carly Welch (Volleyball).

The Female Athlete of the Year was Lindsay Degroot (Thedford, Ont.) from the McMaster Women's Basketball Team.

DeGroot earned First team All-Canadian Honours, becoming McMaster's second women's basketball player in school history to earn this distinction. (Heather McKay was named to the CIS First team in 1989/1990.)

Degroot averaged 18.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game in her first full season as a Marauder to lead McMaster to a CIS Number One ranking for ten consecutive weeks enroute to an OUA West Championship. At the CIS Championship, Degroot had three double-double performances, scoring more than 30 points in back-to-back games.

The other nominees for Female Athlete of the Year were Carly Cermak (Swimming), Stephanie Howorun (Wrestling) and Sarah Van Hoof (Rugby)

The Ivor Wynne Trophy award for the Male Athlete of the Year was presented to Mike Pletch (Lucan, Ont.). Pletch is the first McMaster Rugby player to be named McMaster Male (or Female) Athlete of the Year.

Pletch was the captain of the team, leading the Marauders to their fourth OUA Championship title in the past five years. He was named the OUA West Division MVP and OUA Trillium Award recipient as the best all-around contributor both on and off the field. He arrived home today from the West Coast, where he is training with the National team.

The other nominees for the Ivor Wynne Trophy were Martin Ajayi (Basketball), Scott Chester (Swimming), Sheldon Francis (Wrestling), Matt Miller (Wrestling) and Jason Wellings (Golf).

The Dr. Edna Guest Award for the Graduating Senior that Radiates the Spirit of McMaster was Jane Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) from the Swim Team.

Wilkinson was the team co-captain and a three-time OUA All-Star, Marauder Scholar and Academic All-Canadian. She finished her fourth year by swimming to lifetime best performances in every event she competed in at the CIS Championship. Wilkinson was also a student-athlete tutor and co-ordinated the Swim Team Terry Fox Run, raising more than $4,000

The other nominees for the Dr. Edna Guest Award were Mel Berry (Rugby) and Linda Zelek (Volleyball).

The Dr. Ray Johnson Award for the Graduating Senior that Radiates the Spirt of McMaster was Adam Steiner (Dundas, Ont.) from the Basketball Team.

Steiner is a three-time OUA All-Star. In 2006/2007, he was the OUA West Division nominee for the Ken Shields award presented to the student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding success in basketball, academics and community involvement. He was the 2006 recipient of the Dr. Jack Kennedy award for Top Male Marauder Scholar, and earned Academic All-Canadian honours for the past four years. Steiner has been a CIS student committee member and is a member of the McMaster Judicial Review committee.

The other nominees for the Dr. Ray Johnson Award were Paul Hrkal (Volleyball) and Natan Reiter (Cross Country, Track & Field).

The Les Prince Award winner of the Individual Community Service was Shawn Benninger (Hornepayne, Ont.) from the Cross Country and Track and Field Team.

Benninger serves as a local organizer for the “Raise the Roof” national campaign to bring awareness and raise funds for homelessness. He also founded and directs the “Old Shoes for Bare Feet” program that collects footwear for Africa.

The other nominees for the Les Prince Award were Nate Finlay (Football) and Carly Moore (Soccer).

The Joyce Wignall Award for Team Community Service was presented to the Gymnastics Team, who spent numerous hours volunteering at Homestead Christian Care, an organization providing housing and rehabilitation to those in the community with mental illness.

The team also played a large role in the organization of Living Rock's Annual Hungry for Challenge Charity Dinner which helps support Hamilton street youth. Tomorrow evening the team, along with several other teams, will participate in the Relay for Life, an overnight team running event that benefits the Canadian Cancer Society. The team has set a goal of raising $1,000 for cancer research.

The other nominees for the Joyce Wignall Award were the Fastpitch, Field Hockey, Rowing and Swimming Teams.

The Bruce Cochraine Award for Support Staff including assistant coaches was presented to student-therapist Megan Deffett (Caledon, Ont.).

Deffett has provided outstanding care to student-athletes for the past two years. She played a key role in providing sport medicine coverage for football and was instrumental in the overall set-up and daily operations of the Sport Medicine Bracing and Retail store.

The other nominees for the Bruce Cochraine Award were Rob Ashwood (Operations and Scramble Crew) and Lieran Docherty (Operations).

To read about the Team MVPs, please click here.