Posted on March 31: Student athletes honoured

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March 31, 2003

The 79th Annual McMaster Athletic Awards Banquet recognized the achievements of Marauder student-athletes in the 2002-2003 academic year.

Awards were handed out in a variety of areas. The recipients are:

  • Carla Cupido received the Les Prince Award. The member of the cross country and track program was involved in the Athletes Helping Athletes program and was president of the revamped outreach program for the past two years. During her past four years at McMaster, she has helped develop the Youth Leadership Symposium. This Les Prince Award is presented annually to a student athlete who has demonstrated leadership and outstanding community service through partnership in the Athletes Helping Athletes program. The award is in memory of the late Les Prince who was a founding board member of the AHA program.
  • Bridget Sheahan was presented the Bruce Cochrane Award. Sheahan finished ninth at the OUA championships in the 60m hurdles and last year competed in the women's 4x400m relay team that placed twelfth at the CIS championships. She finished sixth at this year's OUA championship by establishing a new school record of 9.15 seconds in the 60m hurdles. The co-president of the McMaster Athletic Council has sat on a number of forums. The award recognizes Bruce Cochrane, who retired in 1995 after 25 years of unwavering dedication and service to athletics programs.
  • Kipp Kaufmann received the Ray Johnson Award. Kaufmann won the 2003 OUA gold medal as part of the men's 4×200 freestyle relay. He was McMaster swimmer of the year in 2001, and has been a CIS finalist four times and athlete of the week in 2001. For the past three years he was captain of the men's swimming team and is co-president of McMaster's Athletic Council. Last year he was the swim team's outreach co-ordinator. The Ray Johnson Award honours the man who had a distinguished career as an athlete administrator, coach and faculty member until his retirement in 1993.
  • Katie Coulson received the Edna Guest Award. Coulson, a member of the women's basketball team for the past four years, was captain of the team twice, she won the OUA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice and has been an OUA All-Star. The honours' student is Outreach Program co-ordinator of the athletic council. The Edna Guest Award was first presented in 1931 to recognize health through sport. Recipients are chosen for their athletic ability, are graduating and have participated in sport each year while at McMaster.
  • Kyle Pyear was presented the Ivor Wynne Award. Pyear, who has been with the McMaster football team for the past four years, was the leading rusher in the country in 2002. He was honoured as a first-team OUA All-Star and a CIS All-Canadian, and this year was selected as homecoming MVP. The award recognizes Ivor Wynne, who served as director of physical education, dean of men and dean of students at McMaster from 1948-65. Established by the Alumni Club of Hamilton in 1971-72 and presented by the McMaster Lettermen's Association, the award is presented to an outstanding male intercollegiate athlete.
  • Pam Wilson was chosen Female Athlete of the Year. The wrestler won gold at both the OUA and CIS championships this year, and adds these medals to an impressive resume that spans 15 years. The Female Athlete of the Year award recognizes the athlete who has distinguished herself to the highest level of performance while representing McMaster in intercollegiate competition.
  • The women's and men's cross country teams were presented the Joyce Wignall Award. The cross country teams made an outstanding effort to connect McMaster teams and build a strong link to the community through the Big Brothers' organization. The team organized the golf, women's fast pitch and women's field hockey teams to take on the large task of redecorating the new Big Brothers' and Big Sisters' games area. Each team member devoted a minimum of four hours to strip, prime and paint the room, along with countless hours to co-ordinate this project. The teams made multiple visits throughout this week-long project to ensure the job was well done. Presented for the first time this year, the award recognizes Joyce Wignall, who during her 38-year tenure at McMaster embodied the values of the McMaster Athletic Council Outreach Program of teamwork, friendship, loyalty and community involvement.

    • For more details about the award winners, and to view the list of MVP award winners for the various varsity sports, visit http://www-athrec.mcmaster.ca/whatsnew/releases/2003_awards_dinner.htm

    Also see Mac celebrates big year in the March 28 issue of the Hamilton Spectator.