Mount Allison University honours its top Mounties

(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - Mount Allison University held its annual "Night of the Mounties" on Thursday, March 21 to honour its athletes and their special "Mountie Moments" over the past season.

It was another good year for Mountie athletics. Mount Allison Athletic Director Pierre Arsenault summarized the successes, saying, "The 2012-2013 season produced some tremendous moments for Mountie athletics. Our teams are winning games and accomplishing things that we haven't done in the past 10 years, and it's fantastic to see the results that are coming as a result of our renewed commitment to preparation. This is about permanence and about building a program that represents the excellence that is associated with Mount Allison University. With our successes this year, we have moved much closer to fully delivering on this objective."

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Major awards of the evening were presented to standout Atlantic University Sport (AUS) swimmer MITCHELL PETERS, Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) basketball MVP, BEN CHISHOLM, and AUS soccer and hockey all-star EMILY VAN DIEPEN. The three were named Mount Allison's male and female Athletes of the Year.

Mounties' swim team MVP for the fifth consecutive year, Peters put in a seven-medal performance at his last AUS championships where he clinched golds in the 100-metre freestyle and 4X100 free relay, and qualified for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national standards. Medalling in each of his events entered, he was also a member of both the silver medal-winning 4x100-metre medley team and the bronze 4x200-metre free relay team. Individually he also took silver in the 200 free, and two bronzes in the 50 free and 100 fly.

Peters has been named an AUS all-star 10 times over the past five seasons since 2008-09. This year he was a three-time University Athlete of the Week, Athlete of the Month for October and November, and has broken every Mount Allison University freestyle time in the record books. Peters went on to the national championships in Calgary in February where he set another new Mount Allison record in the 50-metre free event. He won the 10,000K Around the Sound Open Water Swim in Bermuda earlier in the year for a second straight time.
A resident of Sackville, NB, Peters is a former provincial record holder from Tantramar High School, and a past eight-time MVP with the Sackville Swim Club, where he was coached by his father and current Mounties' coach, John Peters. Mitchell is also a former eight-time provincial all-star swimmer for New Brunswick, and a past 2005 and 2009 Canada Games competitor. He captained the recent NB Canada Games team that competed in Prince Edward Island. University Rookie of the Year in 2008-09 and now a four-time University Athlete of the Year, Mitchell is enrolled in fifth-year Arts and majors in anthropology and history.

The other Male Athlete of the Year, Ben Chisholm had a fantastic season, taking MVP honours of the conference and finishing the year first in league rebounds (10.10 RPG) and second in scoring (18.65 PPG). Leading his team to the playoffs, Chisholm was an ACAA first-team all-conference player and was also selected as a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian. The 6'5" forward is the total player and can do it all on the hard court. A two-time ACAA player of the week, a CCAA Athlete of the Week, a two-time University Athlete of the Month, and a three-time Mount Allison Athlete of the Week, Chisholm led by example through his own hard work and desire to improve.

A resident of Fall River, N.S., he is a past Lockview High School all-star, and is in his fourth year of Commerce and was the Mounties' MVP and conference all-star in 2011.

After winning Mount Allison Rookie of the Year honours last season, Emily van Diepen followed up with a successful sophomore year, contributing heavily to both her playoff-bound hockey and soccer teams. The five-foot-six defensive standout helped to lead the Soccer Mounties to their first playoff appearance in 12 years, and in hockey, she was selected as a second-team all-star player. Van Diepen comes from Morell, PEI, and is a former hockey and soccer star with Ridley College in St. Catharines, ON. Last year with Mount Allison, van Diepen was the Soccer and Hockey Mounties' Rookie of the Year, a University Rookie of the Year, and was also a member of the AUS All-Rookie hockey team. Playing in the AUS finals last season as well, she also made the championship's all-star hockey team. Van Diepen is currently enrolled in second-year Science and majors in biology. Her future plans include medical school.

OUTSTANDING SENIOR SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Winning the Outstanding Senior Scholar Athlete Awards this year were Soccer Mountie EMMA YOUNG and Badminton Mountie ERIC FREEMAN.

A four-year Dean's List student and Academic All-Canadian, Young is in fourth-year psychology and finished her final season with the Mounties, leading them with confidence and character to their first playoff appearance in 12 years. A Kentville, NS resident, she was one of the Mounties' hard-working captains and an unsung hero throughout her university soccer career. Maintaining an average well over the required 3.5 she is a past Athlete of the Year and star from Northeast Kings Education Centre.

Freeman had a very successful season winning the ACAA men's doubles championships, as well as competing at the CCAA nationals as a member of the Atlantic men's doubles team. With a GPA over 4.0, and a Dean's List status in every one of his seasons, he has been a vital part of the Mounties' badminton successes over the past four years, and has represented Mount Allison at the nationals twice. In his fourth year of the international relations program, Freeman comes to Mount Allison from Kingston, ON. The 2009-10 Badminton Rookie of the Year is a former athlete from Loyalist Collegiate Vocational Institute.

OUTSTANDING SENIOR ATHLETES
Selected as the Outstanding Senior Athletes were Hockey Mountie MEGHAN CORLEY-BYRNE and Football Mountie JUSTIN RICHARD. This award recognizes the four-year achievements of outstanding Mounties who are in their graduation year.

Corley-Byrne is in fifth-year English and has been a tower of strength between the pipes for the Mount Allison Hockey Mounties for five consecutive seasons. One of the top goalies in the conference, over her Mount Allison career she has been her team's Rookie of the Year, an AUS second-team all-star in 2009-10, and a first-team star in 2010-11.

A Stittsville, ON resident, Corley-Byrne is a former student at South Carleton High, and was a standout with the Nepean Wild Cats.

Richard has been a leader for the Mounties from his first days on the field. A former Athlete of the Year from Tantramar High School, he was the Mounties' MVP (defence) last year, and over his five-year career he amassed 115 tackles, and in 2011-12 led the AUS conference in tackles. A resident of Sackville, NB, Richard finished his last season totaling 40 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles, for 52.5 total tackles, and three interceptions in eight games.

OVERALL UNIVERSITY ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
Overall University Rookie of the Year honours went to newcomers Soccer Mountie AMANDA VOLCKO from Halifax, NS and defensive back MICHAEL BOHAN of Sackville, NB, who is a former standout with the Tantramar Titans' high school program.

In addition to winning the University rookie honours, Volcko scored five goals this year and assisted on three. One of the league's top rookies as well, Volcko remained one of the top scorers for most of the season, and helped to lead her team to the AUS playoffs. She has been a most welcome addition for the Soccer Mounties and played a large role in her team's recent advancement up the rankings.

Volcko is a past standout with Halifax County United Senior Women and is also a former soccer and golf MVP and Athlete of the Year at Halifax Grammar High School

Bohan, a past high school athlete of the year, was also a three-time Eastern Conference all-star, and a two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Year.

At 6'1" and 180 pounds, Bohan is a versatile athlete, able to play any position. A tough player with good instincts, he started every game and tallied up 16 solo tackles, six assisted tackles, for a total of 19. He also recorded three fumble recoveries and one interception. He is currently enrolled in first-year Science.

GIGI HICKS & GILMOUR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
The women's and men's sportsmanship trophies were presented to a pair of fourth-year soccer players, DANICA LUNDY and CHRIS VIZENA. They were honoured with the Gigi Hicks and the Harvey Gilmour sportsmanship awards respectively.

A Salt Spring Island, BC resident, Lundy worked her way into a starter's role through hard work and a passion for the game. This season she led her team to a playoff position and secured herself a second-team all-star award at the mid field position. A former Gulf Islands Secondary player, Lundy has been an Academic All-Canadian every year of her Mount Allison career, and is currently enrolled in fourth-year Fine Arts.

Senior right back Vizena also provided steadfast leadership and enthusiasm over the season he played. He won the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award and was also honoured with the same award at the CIS national level. A skilled player from Osgoode, ON, Vizena is a past standout from Osgoode Township High School and is currently enrolled in fourth-year Science.

BUBSY GRANT AWARD
Winning the prestigious Bubsy Grant Award was former Football Mountie MARIO BASQUE. After battling with concussion injuries over recent seasons, Basque took to helping many of the athletics programs administratively over the past several years. An Athletics Centre student manager, and game-day coordinator of the recent AUS hockey championships, Basque is a fifth-year Commerce student, a graduate of Mathieu-Martin High School, and a resident of Dieppe, NB.

MANAGERS OF THE YEAR
Two volunteers were recognized as Managers of the Year this season. They were AINSLIE OLAND for the women's teams, and NICK MCDONALD for the men's teams.

Oland, from Rothesay, NB, is a fourth-year honours biology student, served as team trainer, manager, and administrative assistant of the women's basketball team. A former player and second-year manager, Oland took care of all the pre- and post-game duties, and is described by head coach Al Hart as the best and most capable "do-all" assistant that he has had.

A fourth-year Fine Arts major, McDonald has been with the Soccer Mounties for several seasons. A resident of Vancouver, BC, McDonald has been a manager with the men's team and comes from West Point Gray Academy.

BILLY JOHNSTONE MERIT AWARDS
Three others were recognized with Billy Johnstone Merit Awards, named in honour of the late Billy Johnstone, a great friend and supporter of Mount Allison athletics. Awards went to THE LOWER CANADA CONNECTION (funding support group from Quebec); ROB MURRAY, sports reporter for the Mounties and the Argosy; and long-serving fifth-year football manager WRAY PERKIN, who has been a Mounties' supporter and staff member for over 110 consecutive football games.

TRAINER WITH DISTINCTION
The Trainer with Distinction plaque was given to BRITTANY PEPPARD, a graduate of Sir James Dunn Academy and a resident of Saint Andrews, NB. The award recognizes her outstanding contribution to the Mount Allison Athletic Therapy Clinic. She worked countless hours in the clinic over the past season and showed great professionalism, determination, dedication, aptitude, and commitment to the football and men's basketball teams. She is enrolled in her fourth year of Science and majors in biology.

TEAM ROOKIES
Team Rookies of the Year were: Michael Miller (badminton); Gillian Tetlow (badminton); Kaleefah Henry (basketball); Michael Bohan (football); Cale Saunders (soccer), Amanda Volcko (soccer); Katie Lund (basketball); Sydney Umlah (volleyball); Kara Anthony (hockey); Joe Blackwood (swimming), and Zoee LeBlanc (swimming).

TEAM MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
Most Valuable team members were: Jordan Botel (football Overall MVP); Jordan Botel (football MVP Offence); Justin Richard (football MVP Defence); Patrick Burtt (soccer); Mitchell Peters (swimming); Ben Chisholm (basketball); Greg McGuire (badminton); Erica Cronkhite (volleyball); Marya Peters (swimming); Gillian Tetlow (badminton); Danica Lundy (soccer); Mackenzie Gray (basketball); and Emily van Diepen (hockey).