The Brock Badgers didn't let the cancellation of their annual awards gala stop them from celebrating their student-athletes.

On Wednesday, March 25, the Badgers took to social media to hold a virtual gala, hosted by Matt Bonomi of Brock TV, in order to recognize and pay tribute to Brock's outstanding 2019-20 season.

"This was an exceptional year for Brock Sports, and there is no way we were going to miss recognizing our student-athletes' achievements," said Brock Sports Associate Director Emily Allan. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get to hold our banquet, but we felt this would be a fun way to get everyone excited, despite the circumstances. It's extremely important to recognize the efforts of everyone, and even more so at a time like this."

National gold medalists Hannah Taylor (women's wrestling) and Clayton Pye (men's wrestling) are Brock University's 2019-20 Female and Male Athletes of the Year.

Taylor is the third consecutive women's wrestler to win Brock's Female Athlete of the Year award, and 11th overall. Pye is the second straight men's wrestler to win the award, and 22nd all-time.

"To end with this season on a positive is hard to put into words. This was a season of ups and downs," said Taylor. "It was a season that many athletes can relate to. Winning this award is not only exciting, but also motivating for me next season. I look to improve on my results for my final year at Brock."

Taylor, a Sport Management student from Summerside, PEI, captured back-to-back gold medals in the 63-kilogram weight class at both the provincial and national wrestling championships. Taylor didn't allow a point scored against her en route to winning gold at the OUA Wrestling Championships and the U SPORTS Wrestling Championships.

It was Taylor's third straight U SPORTS gold medal as she helped the Badgers win their seventh consecutive overall national title, and ninth consecutive women's banner. She earned First Team All-Canadian honours. At the provincial level, Taylor helped the women's team win their sixth consecutive title when she won her fourth straight OUA gold.

Her season was also highlighted by a second-place finish at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Niagara Falls in December where she defeated a World Champion on her way to the finals. Taylor was also slated to serve as an Olympic alternate for the 2020 Summer Olympics before the International Olympic Committee postponed the Games to 2021. Before the start of the varsity wrestling season, Taylor brought home a bronze medal from the 2019 U23 World Championships.

Pye, a fourth-year Psychology student from Ingersoll, Ontario, won his second national gold medal at the 2020 U SPORTS Wrestling Championships on home soil. He now has a total of five U SPORTS medals. Pye entered the 2020 Championships having won the Olympic Trials in Niagara Falls in December.

"This season was a great way to close out my varsity experience. I reached heights in wrestling that I only previously dreamed of," said Pye. "Throughout my years at Brock I've been fortunate to have a team that I could rely on to motivate me, lift me up and keep me humble. This award is as much theirs as it is mine."

He helped the Brock men's wrestling team win their seventh-straight national title, and 20th men's title overall, with a gold medal in the men's 100kg class. Pye was named a First Team All-Canadian for his efforts.

At the OUA Championships, Pye helped the men's team win their fifth consecutive title with a gold-medal performance in the men's 100kg division.

A total of 78 Brock Badger student-athletes received Academic All-Canadian awards. Academic All-Canadians are those exceptional student-athletes who achieve an academic standing of 80 per cent or better while playing a U SPORTS sanctioned sport.

Women's basketball head coach Mike Rao earned the Wally Barrow Memorial Coach of the Year Award.

Rao guided the women's basketball team to its first provincial title since 1983 and drew up an offence that overwhelmed opponents on the perimeter and inside the paint as they marched their way to the national championship's gold-medal game for the first time in school history. Earlier this season, Rao was named the OUA Coach of the Year and U SPORTS Coach of the Year.

The Female Team of the Year went to the women's basketball team.

In just two seasons, the women's basketball team went from a sub .500 record to competing for a gold medal at the U SPORTS national championships. Their historic campaign included national rankings, monumental comebacks and a collection of 'firsts' as they packed their trophy case with a national silver medal and their first provincial championship title since 1983.

The men's wrestling team won the Male Team of the Year for a second consecutive year.

The men's wrestling team were heavy favourites to repeat as U SPORTS champions and they didn't disappoint. Despite having a target on their backs, these Badgers are synonymous with the word 'dynasty' as they won their seventh-straight national title, and 20th overall. At the OUA level, the men's wrestling team won their fifth consecutive championship while winning 10 medals in 11 events.

Celine Funk and Gokhan Bozyigit of the Brock men's and women's swimming teams were awarded the David S. Howes Spirit of Brock Awards, which are named after Howes for his commitment to Brock University and the community of Niagara. These awards are presented annually to a student who best embodies the spirit of Sir Isaac Brock: leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community service.

Women's volleyball outside hitter Darby Taylor and Men's rugby prop George Bocock secured the Surgite Awards. Bocock earned the R.M. Davis Surgite Award and Taylor was awarded the David Atkinson Surgite Award. These are awarded each year to a current male and female student-athlete who excel both academically and athletically.

Damian Ksenych and Sean Sabbatini were given the Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award of Excellence. These two Student Therapists have been outstanding members of Brock Sports Medicine. Ksenych has been a rare gem that has shown growth and maturity through his two years with the men's rugby team as he impressed the Lead Therapy staff with his willingness to lend a helping hand at any event. Sabbatini has been a professional, organized, calm and selfless individual working with the baseball team and the men's and women's wrestling teams. Sabbatini has earned a great deal of respect from athletes, coaches, therapists and Lead Athletic Therapists alike.

The Brock Sports Performance Awards went to James Watt (BSP Student Intern of the Year) and Abby Bolton (BSP Impact Award). Watt not only survived the rigorous BSP intern process, but excelled and raised the bar. His energy, athleticism and work ethic had an impact on the men's basketball team and BSP staff. Bolton embodies the BSP Impact Award as she 'left the program better than she found it'. She is a staple among BSP's Community programs and has set the bar for what it means to carry a mentorship role and to serve as the lead strength and conditioning coach for an OUA team.

Caroline Hicks-Casey was bestowed the one-time Brock Sports Medicine Outstanding Achievement Award.

Hicks-Casey's attention to detail and work ethic as a student therapist has no bounds. Her dedication and enthusiasm made a difference in the recovery of our student-athletes.

Associate Director of Brock Sports Performance Steve Lidstone wrote: 'It's obvious to everyone that she genuinely cares for the athletes, and enjoys helping others. She has been a huge asset to our Sports Medicine program at Brock.'

The Marilou Iusi Memorial Service Award went to Mackenzie Gerry. This award recognizes an individual for their tireless dedication to Brock University Athletics. All previous award recipients have made a significant contribution to the department of Brock Sports and went above and beyond their standard call of duty to make the department and the experience for our student athletes a positive one.

Gerry's tireless work ethic over the past four years has gone above and beyond expectations. As a sports photographer, she goes out of her way to ensure those Badger moments are captured and shared with as many student-athletes as possible. She's also helped shape Brock's Basketball social media and helped the Badger brand grow with endless energy and willingness to take on new challenges as a workhorse content creator.

Gerry wears many hats including Social Media, Game Day promotions, Photography, Videography, Brock Press and Anthem Singer. Whether the game is at Bob Davis Gym, George Taylor Field, Seymour-Hannah, all the way in Halifax or Ottawa, Mackenzie will be there.

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Female Athlete of the Year: Hannah Taylor (Women's Wrestling)

Male Athlete of the Year: Clayton Pye (Men's Wrestling)

Coach of the Year: Mike Rao (Women's Basketball)

Female Team of the Year: Women's Basketball

Male Team of the Year: Men's Wrestling

David S. Howes Spirit of Brock Awards: Celine Funk (Women's Swimming) and Gokhan Bozyigit (Men's Swimming)

David Atkinson Surgite Award: Darby Taylor (Women's Volleyball)

RM Davis Surgite Award: George Bocock (Men's Rugby)

Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award: Damian Ksenych and Sean Sabbatini

BSP Student Intern of the Year: James Watt

BSP Impact Award: Abby Bolton

Brock Sports Medicine Outstanding Achievement Award: Caroline Hicks-Casey

Marilou Iusi Memorial Service Award: Mackenzie Gerry

ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIANS FOR 2018-19

Lindsay Appleton (Women's Soccer)

Andrew Baldin (Men's Soccer)

Amarije Barnes (Women's Rugby)

Samantha Bayer (Women's Soccer)

Annie Berg (Women's Hockey)

Monica Binotto (Women's Track & Field)

Carley Blomberg (Women's Hockey)

Torrence Bostock (Women's Rugby)

Bailey Brooks (Women's Hockey)

Alexander Brooks-Potts (Men's Hockey)

Ana Caldeira Rua (Women's Basketball)

Baelie Campbell (Women's Basketball)

Victoria Carroll (Women's Volleyball)

Malcolm Cavanagh (Men's Cross Country)

Cassidy Collicutt (Women's Soccer)

Kaitlyn Colonna (Women's Hockey)

Allison Columbus (Women's Basketball)

Kyle Cooper (Men's Basketball)

Sofia Croce (Women's Basketball)

Hannah Davenhill (Women's Volleyball)

Joseph Dick (Men's Soccer)

Rebekah Feld (Women's Hockey)

Vincent Ferro (Men's Swimming)

Marcus Fogh (Men's Cross Country)

Celine Funk (Women's Swimming)

Leonardo Giron (Men's Soccer)

Marissa Graham (Women's Hockey)

Skylar Grote (Women's Wrestling)

Emmanuel Harawa (Men's Track)

Amanda Hendriks (Women's Swimming)

Katelyn Heyens (Women's Rugby)

Cassandra Hinz (Women's Cross Country)

Laura Kirk (Women's Soccer)

Anthonie Korstanje (Men's Swimming)

Noah LaPierre (Men's Basketball)

Erin Laughlin (Women's Cross Country)

Yihang Liang (Men's Curling)

Emma Loeschnik (Women's Swimming)

Umberto Lopardo (Men's Cross Country)

Sarah Maddock (Women's Swimming)

Cassidy Maplethorpe (Women's Hockey)

Spencer Maves (Men's Curling)

Jessica Morris (Women's Basketball)

Marcelo Muniz Correa (Men's Volleyball)

Brenna Murphy (Women's Hockey)

Holly Murphy (Women's Rugby)

Jensen Murphy (Women's Hockey)

Mark Naqvi (Men's Volleyball)

Bobby Narwal (Men's Wrestling)

Shannon Northey (Women's Basketball)

Brett Parent (Men's Cross Country)

James Parkinson (Men's Volleyball)

Jessica Patterson (Women's Cross Country)

Julia Pettella (Women's Hockey)

Megan Piche (Women's Swimming)

Alyssa Point (Women's Track & Field

Michaela Point (Women's Track & Field)

Samantha Romano (Women's Wrestling)

Emily Schaefer (Women's Wrestling)

Peter Schnabel (Men's Volleyball)

Paulina Sergnese (Women's Cross Country)

Melodie Shantz (Women's Rugby)

Maggie Smith (Women's Swimming)

Miia Sorra (Women's Rugby & Basketball)

Felipe Souza da Costa (Men's Volleyball)

Maggie Spratt-Mallick (Women's Hockey)

McKenzie Streefkerk (Women's Cross Country)

Darby Taylor (Women's Volleyball)

Mitchell Taylor (Men's Volleyball)

Tegan Teeple (Women's Rugby)

Douglas Thomson (Men's Curling)

Jacques Tiessen (Men's Cross Country)

Jennifer Todd (Women's Volleyball)

Sihan Wang (Women's Curling)

Terri Weeks (Women's Curling)

Elizabeth Wheadon (Women's Swimming)

Jason Yeung (Men's Volleyball)

Jessi Zandbelt (Women's Rugby)


2019-20 TEAM AWARDS

Brock Sports Medicine

Damian Ksenych (Joseph P. Kenny Award)

Sean Sabbatini (Joseph P. Kenny Award)

Caroline Casey-Hicks (BSM Outstanding Achievement Award)

Brock Sports Performance Centre

James Watt (Student Intern of the Year)

Abby Bolton (Impact Award) 

Baseball

Connor Humphrey (MVP)

Ashton Feijo (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Basketball

Daniel Cayer (MVP)

Women's Basketball

Melissa Tatti (TJ Kearney Award, MVP)

Kyanna Thompson (Rookie of the Year)

Cheer

Sabrina Trolio (MVP)

Isabella Pucci-Schaefer (Most Improved Cheerleader)

Alexis Sykes (Most Improved Cheerleader)

Shannan Hickey (Most Improved Cheerleader)

Natasha Fortuna (Most Spirited Cheerleader)

Brianne Arnold (Most Spirited Cheerleader)

Vanessa Grassa (Most Spirited Cheerleader)

Sally Bellevue (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Cross Country

Jeremy Mol (Runner of the Year)

Nikhil Lew (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Cross Country

Paulina Sergnese (Runner of the Year)

Men's Curling

Nicholas Lemieux (Curler of the Year)

John McCutcheon (Rookie of the Year)

Dylan Sipura (Spirit of Curling)

Women's Curling

Marcia Richardson (Curler of the Year)

Grace Cave (Rookie of the Year)

Cassandra Barnard (Spirit of Curling)

Women's Fencing

Glena Hussein (Douglas Trophy)

Sara Fellman (Rookie of the Year)

Amber Briar (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Fencing

Logan Wilford (Douglas Trophy)

Mark Montesino (Rookie of the Year)

Gregory Landry (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Golf

Nolan Vonkalckreuth (Golfer of the Year)

Mitchell Beaubien (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Golf

Lauren Hines (Golfer of the Year)

Ava Iannou (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Hockey

Skylar Pacheco (Ed Davis Award, MVP)

Jordan Sambrook (Denholm Award, Rookie of the Year)

Women's Hockey

Jensen Murphy (MVP)

Emma Irwin (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Lacrosse

Kurtis Woodland (MVP)

Nathan Braniff (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Rowing

Thomas Markewich (Oarsman of the Year)

Erin Corkery (Oarswoman of the Year)

Men's Rugby

Adam Melia (Clubman of the Year)

Myles Maloney (Rookie of the Year)

Mitch Wilson (Most Improved)

Women's Rugby

Sara Shaw (MVP)

Daniella Michaud (Rookie of the Year)

Niamh Haughey (Character Award)

Men's Soccer

Jared Agyemang (MVP)

Eric Robinson (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Soccer

Samantha Bayer (MVP)

Ivana Kanisek (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Squash

Vincenzo Prior (MVP)

Cory Monterosso (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Squash

Andrea Chaves (MVP)

Valerie Pagnotta (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Swimming

Gokhan Bozyigit (Joe Kerkhoven Award, MVP)

Julien Legault (Herb deBray Progressive Award)

Women's Swimming

Maggie Smith (Joe Kerkhoven Award, MVP)

Ashley Falconer (Herb deBray Progressive)

Women's Volleyball

Laura Condotta (MVP)

Samantha Casey (Rookie of the Year

Men's Volleyball

Logan House (MVP)

Saulius Lianga (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Wrestling

Ligrit Sadiku (Wrestler of the Year)

Clayton Pye (Wrestler of the Year)

Qasim Khan (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Track and Field

Monica Binotto (MVP)

Paulina Sergnese (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Track and Field

Tyrell Smikle (MVP)

Caleb Crawford (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Lacrosse

Lindsey Highfield (MVP)

Riana Botnick (Rookie of the Year)

Figure Skating

Delaney Dunford (MVP)

Hayley Keith (Rookie of the Year)

Ringette

Karlee Sutton (MVP)

Samantha Hood (Rookie of the Year)

Softball

Madison Clinton (MVP)

Grace Blamauer (MVP)

Holly Hanchiruk (Rookie of the Year)

Ball Hockey

Chris Genier (MVP)

Tyler Gubesch (Rookie of the Year)

Equestrian

Megan Bush (MVP)

Zjaya Doman (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Ultimate Frisbee

Neelima Basra (MVP)

Haley Lang (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Ultimate Frisbee

Danny Collins (MVP)

Jacob White (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Powerlifting

Mackenzie Rose (MVP)

Caitlin Perry (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Powerlifting

Malcolm Sanderson (MVP)

Nicolas Sestili (Rookie of the Year)

Women's Tennis

Liana Biktimirova (MVP)

Nadine Klajman (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Tennis

Noah Stickney (MVP)

Nicholas Murdaca (Rookie of the Year)

Dance Pak

Shania Walden (MVP)

Lauren Burn (Rookie of the Year)

Dragon Boat

Remylee Agbuya (Women's MVP)

Ashley Clark (Women's Rookie of the Year)

Sean Sabbatini (Men's MVP)

Aws Al Jumaily (Men's Rookie of the Year)