KELOWNA, B.C. — UBC Okanagan hosted the 10th annual Heat Athletics Awards Banquet at the Coast Capri Hotel Tuesday night in Kelowna. The 2017/18 season’s standout performers were honoured as a range of awards, both academic and athletic, were given out throughout an evening that highlighted the campus’ vibrant student athlete community.
Hosted at a familiar locale, the grand ballroom of the Coast Capri Hotel played host to the event once again, as the room was filled to capacity with close to 250 student-athletes celebrated the achievements of their friends, teammates and fellow Heat athletes.
At the end of the night, the Outstanding Athlete of the Year was nearly a repeat performance of last year as both Veronika Fagan and Mitch McCaw followed up with a second straight award. On the men’s side McCaw shared his award with golfer James Casorso, the first time that award had been shared on the men’s side.
The women’s award has been shared twice before, back in 2012-13 Jen Woods and Roz Huber a golfer and basketball player shared the school’s top athletic achievement. In 2004-05 volleyball teammates Hailey Bauer and Jackie Wong shared the award.
Sharing an award spread to the Graduating Athlete of the Year on the women’s side as teammates Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Michelle Jakszuk shared the end of career honour.
Lars Bornemann, the fifth year captain of the men’s volleyball team needs to add a shelf or two to his award cabinet as the all-time UBC Okanagan’s kill maker took home three of the six major awards. More amazingly three of the four awards he could actually win – Lars was not eligible as Rookie of the Year and Single Semester Provost Award.
The student MC’s from the women’s soccer team, Cassie Bratton and Francesca Balletta, kept the night light and moving along and the two put the coaching staff on notice that they may be ready for coaching positions one day as they ‘coached’ the crowd on when to ‘clap’, ‘laugh’, and ‘awww’ on command with appropriate signage.
The over 25 graduating athletes were given a chance to speak and once again those that stepped up and added to the night did a great job on capturing how special and fats the time is while you are here competing for the Heat. Notably all of the graduates to speak made reference on how they now have a ‘Heat family’ and two women’s rugby players really connected with the room when speaking. Hayley Fiebelkorn explained that “Sport is so much more then winning and glory, even though that may be why you came to university,” Hayley finished saying “She came here for the winning but will leave with a family.”
Her teammate Lauren Klassen expended on Hayley’s word adding that the experience and the Heat family that she found here at UBC Okanagan makes her proud to say to anybody that will listen that she went to UBCO and played here.
Women soccer’s Emma Nelsen sent in a video message while her teammate’s Cassie Bratton and Susan Traynor addressed their peers. Darrell Plantz was the lone male speaker on the night as the long time member of the men’s soccer team closed the speeches.
Lars Bornemann’s win of the Male Student Athlete of the Year award was his third straight, while Siobhan Fitzpatrick took home the award on the women’s side won her second straight.
The rookies of the year were swept by the two indoor teams as Caleb Funk, men’s volleyball, and Kate Johnson, women’s basketball, took home the awards for their respective genders.
Female Award Winners for the 10th Annual Athletics Awards Banquet


Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year – Veronika Fagan (Cross Country)
Fagan becomes just the fourth athlete in the schools history to win the award in back-to-back years thanks to an individual national title at the CCAA Championship along with a team bronze medal. The CCAA All-Canadian won three of the four races on the season and was able to set a course record in all three of her wins this season. Fagan was also named the CCAA Women’s Runner of the Week for November 8th and November 15th thanks to her strong finish to the season.

Student Athlete of the Year – Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Volleyball)

Graduating Player of the Year –
Michelle Jakszuk & Siobhan Fitzpatrick (Volleyball)
Both Jakszuk and Fitzpatrick have had nothing but success since joining the Heat volleyball program at the beginning of the 2013-14 season. The two have made the Canada West playoffs in every season they’ve been with the team including a national bronze medal during the 2015-16 season. Jakszuk finished her Heat career with 584 kills along with 502 digs and 200 total blocks and was named a second-team all-star in the Canada West this season. Fitzpatrick has been the definition of a student-athlete throughout her time with the Heat as she has been named an academic All-Canadian in every season and is a two-time Female Student Athlete of the Year. On the court the Kelowna product finished with over 500 kills in her career (548) along with just under 500 digs (472).

Rookie of the Year – Kate Johnson (Basketball)

Provost Award for Excellence (one semester) – Rachel Garrett (Cross Country)
Garrett put her work ethic on display throughout the year in the classroom as she thrived in the human kinetics program leading to one of the highest averages in the faculty. The third year student also was a member of the travelling team that captured a bronze medal at the CCAA National Championship in November.

Provost Award for Excellence (two semester) – Skye Thompson (Volleyball)
The 2016-17 academic All-Canadian continued her success in the science program this year as she finished with an average in the 90’s. One of the hardest working students around, Thompson did a great job balancing her studies along with being apart of the Heat volleyball program that made the National Championship.
Male Award Winners for the 10th Annual Athletics Awards Banquet


Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year – Mitch McCaw (Soccer) & James Casorso (Golf)
McCaw becomes the first male in the schools history to win the award in back-to-back years. The netminder would lead the conference in save percentage (.877) and finish second in goals against average (.64) but perhaps the most impressive stat of the season was that he did not allow a goal for 685 minutes which set a new Canada West record.
Casorso led the way for the Heat golf team this season as his individual silver medal performance at the CCAA National Championship helped propel the team to their first national medal ever on the mens side. The 2016-17 All-Canadian would finish with a scoring average of 72.50 for the 2017-18 season which helped him also earn a PACWEST individual bronze medal.

Student Athlete of the Year – Lars Bornemann (Volleyball)
The fifth year engineering student won the award for the third consecutive season thanks to his superb play on the court along with his Dean’s list academic average in the classroom. The outside hitter was named a second team all-star in the Canada West thanks to a career-high 339 kills on the seasons along with 136 digs and 20 service aces. Bornemann has consistently been a pillar of the UBCO community within and outside of his commitments to the volleyball program.

Graduating Player of the Year – Lars Bornemann (Volleyball)
The most prolific hitter in Heat volleyball history, Bornemann finished his Heat career with a school-record 1275 kills during his five year run with the team along with 591 digs and 87 service aces. The Victoria product has also been a model student-athlete throughout his career with UBCO as he has been named an academic All-Canadian during every season with the Heat along with being a three-time winner of the UBC Okanagan Male Student Athlete of the Year.

Rookie of the Year – Caleb Funk (Volleyball)
The 6’7″ middle was named to the Canada West All-Rookie team thanks to his superb play throughout the season for the Heat. The Strathmore, AB product played in every single conference match and led the team in all blocking categories along with having 81 kills to lead all rookies on the Heat.

Provost Award for Excellence (one semester) – Cole Kingzett (Soccer)
Its the second straight year that the fourth year science student has captured the award thanks to his hard work in the classroom that led to one of the top ranked averages in his program. On the field, Kingzett started 12 of 15 ganes for the Heat tallying one goal and one assists.

Provost Award for Excellence (two semester) – Lars Bornemann (Volleyball)
After being a finalist for this award the last three years, the fifth year engineering student was able to finally capture the Provost award thanks to his hard work in the classroom that led to the highest average among male athletes over two semesters.
Departing Student Athlete Appreciation
Fifth Year Athlete Appreciation (These athletes have used their five years of Athletic Eligibility): |
|
Shenelle Tamminen | Women’s Basketball |
James Casorso | Men’s Golf |
Mitch McCaw | Men’s Soccer |
Darrell Plantz | Men’s Soccer |
Andrea Stinson | Women’s Soccer |
Brittany Wheeler | Women’s Soccer |
Lars Bornemann | Men’s Volleyball |
Joshua Harvey | Men’s Volleyball |
Michelle Jakszuk | Women’s Volleyball |
Erin Drew | Women’s Volleyball |
Graduating Athlete Appreciation (These athletes have finished school but have not used their five years of Athletic Eligibility): |
|
Carly Corrado | Women’s Basketball |
Camille Galloway | Women’s Cross Country |
Julianna Neudorf | Women’s Cross Country |
Emily Adams | Women’s Golf |
Kai Duchnycz | Men’s Rugby |
Dan Haynes | Men’s Rugby |
Lucas Isola | Men’s Rugby |
Bryce Stirling | Men’s Rugby |
Trevor Yip | Men’s Rugby |
Hayley Fiebelkorn | Women’s Rugby |
Lauren Klassen | Women’s Rugby |
Ryan Jerry | Men’s Soccer |
Cassie Bratton | Women’s Soccer |
Lauren Candelario | Women’s Soccer |
Emma Nelsen | Women’s Soccer |
Susan Traynor | Women’s Soccer |
Siobhan Fitzpatrick | Women’s Volleyball |
Conference Recognition
Team Performances Provincially in the PACWEST Conference |
||
Team | League Finish | Provincial Championships |
Women’s Golf | 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd | Second Place Overall |
Men’s Golf | 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd | Second Place Overall |
PACWEST Provincial All-Stars |
|
James Casorso | Men’s Golf |
PACWEST Coach of the Year |
|
Cass Hritzuk | Golf |
PACWEST Provincial Academic Excellence Awards(80% average and above (27 credit min.) while competing on a team in the PACWEST) |
|
Derek Graham | Men’s Golf |
Team Performances in Canada West |
||
Team | League Finish | Canada West Playoffs |
Men’s Basketball | (2-18) 17th Place | Did not qualify |
Women’s Basketball | (0-20) 17th Place | Did not qualify |
Men’s Soccer | (5-6-4) 6th Place * Pacific | Did not qualify |
Women’s Soccer | (2-9-3) 8th Place * Pacific | Did not qualify |
Men’s Volleyball | (5-19) 11th Place | Did not qualify |
Women’s Volleyball | (19-5) 3rd Place | Semi-finalists |
Canada West Athlete of the Week (3 Stars) |
||
Name | Sport | Week Ending |
Mitch McCaw | Men’s Soccer | September 26th (Week 5) Second Star |
Mitch McCaw | Men’s Soccer | October 3rd (Week 6) Second Star |
Mitch McCaw | Men’s Soccer | October 10th (Week 7) First Star |
Sara McCreary | Women’s Volleyball | October 24th (Week 7) First Star |
Canada West All-Rookie Team |
|
Caleb Funk | Men’s Volleyball |
Sam McDonald | Men’s Soccer |
Canada West All-Stars |
|
Mitch McCaw | Men’s Soccer (2nd Team) |
Hamish Walde | Men’s Soccer (1st Team) |
Lars Bornemann | Men’s Volleyball (2nd Team) |
Michelle Jakszuk | Women’s Volleyball (2nd Team) |
Aidan Lea | Women’s Volleyball (1st Team) |
National Recognition
Team Performances Nationally | Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) |
||
Team | Rankings* | National Championships |
Men’s Cross Country | 8, 9, 10 | 10th place |
Women’s Cross Country | 2, 5, 5 | National Bronze Medalists |
Men’s Golf | NR,4,5 | National Silver Medalists |
Women’s Golf | NR, 10, 7 | 5th place |
CCAA National Individual Champion |
|
Veronika Fagan | Women’s Cross Country |
CCAA Individual Silver Medalist |
|
James Casorso | Men’s Golf |
CCAA All-Canadians |
|
Veronika Fagan | Women’s Cross Country |
CCAA Fair Play Award |
|
Emily Adams | Women’s Golf |
CCAA Athletes of the Week |
||
Name | Sport | Week Ending |
Michael Mitchell | Men’s Cross Country | Nov. 8, 2017 |
Veronika Fagan | Women’s Cross Country | Nov. 8, 2017 |
Veronika Fagan | Women’s Cross Country | Nov. 15, 2017 |
CCAA National Scholar Award – Done (Fall 2015 – Winter 2016 Academic Year): |
|
Camille Galloway | Women’s Cross Country |
Alexis Gee | Women’s Cross Country |
Derek Graham | Men’s Golf |
Cailan Libby | Men’s Cross Country |
Anna Merino | Women’s Cross Country |
Michael Mitchell | Men’s Cross Country |
Rachel Parker | Women’s Cross Country |
Lauren Siemers | Women’s Golf |
Jacob Stewart | Men’s Golf |
Alea Stockton | Women’s Cross Country |
Cael Warner | Men’s Cross Country |
Team Performances Nationally | U SPORTS |
||
Team | Rankings* | National Championships |
Men’s Basketball | Not ranked | Did not qualify |
Women’s Basketball | Not ranked | Did not qualify |
Men’s Soccer | HM / September 5 -12 | Did not qualify |
Women’s Soccer | Not ranked | Did not qualify |
Men’s Volleyball | HM 2 x (Nov 22 & 29) | Did not qualify |
Women’s Volleyball | 1st for 3 wks | 16 of 16 | Lost in the consolation semifinal |
*<highest spot in ranking><# of weeks at High Spot><Total # of weeks ranked out of number of rankings > U SPORTS is top 10 |
U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians (Fall 2016 – Summer 2017 Academic Year): |
||
Maya Bandy | Soccer (F) | Science |
Lars Bornemann | Volleyball (M) | Applied Science |
Vanessa Botteselle | Basketball (F) | Arts |
Lauren Candelario | Soccer (F) | Management |
Christopher Cuthill | Soccer (M) | Human Kinetics |
Bret Depner | Soccer (M) | Applied Science |
Claire Elliott | Basketball (F) | Science in Nursing |
Ally Ferronato | Soccer (F) | Human Kinetics |
Megan Festival | Volleyball (F) | Management |
Siobhan Fitzpatrick | Volleyball (F) | Science |
Devon Fleming | Soccer (F) | Arts |
Rhys Flett | Volleyball (M) | Applied Science |
Liam Foulger | Soccer (M) | Human Kinetics |
Ethan Freund | Volleyball (M) | Science |
Cameron Friesen | Basketball (M) | Human Kinetics |
Sophia Furlan | Volleyball (F) | Human Kinetics |
Riley Gallant | Soccer (M) | Management |
Kaitlynn Given | Volleyball (F) | Arts |
Mitchell Goodwin | Basketball (M) | Human Kinetics |
Ryan Jerry | Soccer (M) | Human Kinetics |
Olivia Johnson | Basketball (F) | Management |
Emma Johnson | Basketball (F) | Science in Nursing |
Emma Jonas | Basketball (F) | Fine Arts |
Jeevin Kang | Soccer (M) | Management |
Cole Kingzett | Soccer (M) | Science |
Joella Koblischke | Soccer (F) | Human Kinetics |
Katinka Krahn | Volleyball (F) | Arts |
Triston Matthews | Basketball (M) | Science |
Emma Nelsen | Soccer (F) | Management |
Emily Oxland | Volleyball (F) | Human Kinetics |
Tyler Shalansky | Soccer (M) | Human Kinetics |
Grant Sonnenberg | Volleyball (M) | Applied Science |
Andrea Stinson | Soccer (F) | Human Kinetics |
Alex Swiatlowski | Volleyball (M) | Science |
Shenelle Tamminen | Basketball (F) | Education |
Skye Thompson | Volleyball (F) | Science |
Susan Traynor | Soccer (F) | Human Kinetics |
Buzz Truss | Basketball (M) | Education |
UBC Okanagan Academic Awards
UBC Okanagan Heat Scholar-Athlete Awards (In order to receive this award, student-athletes must have maintained a minimum cumulative average of 80% over at least 27 credit hours while competing on a varsity team.): |
||
Vanessa Botteselle | Women’s Basketball | Arts |
Carly Corrado | Women’s Basketball | Arts |
Emma Johnson | Women’s Basketball | Science in Nursing |
Emma Jonas | Women’s Basketball | Media Studies |
Michael Mitchell | Men’s Cross Country | Applied Science |
Camille Galloway | Women’s Cross Country | Science in Nursing |
Rachel Garrett | Women’s Cross Country | Human Kinetics |
Julianna Neudorf | Women’s Cross Country | Applied Science |
Matthew Clarke | Men’s Rugby | Arts |
Kai Duchnycz | Men’s Rugby | Arts |
Adam Fischer | Men’s Rugby | Applied Science |
Ellis Johnson | Men’s Rugby | Human Kinetics |
Trevor Yip | Men’s Rugby | Human Kinetics |
Janelle Garrett | Women’s Rugby | Science in Nursing |
Lauren Klassen | Women’s Rugby | Arts |
Élizabeth Martel | Women’s Rugby | Applied Science |
Jordanne Sulz | Women’s Rugby | Science in Nursing |
Bret Depner | Men’s Soccer | Applied Science |
Jeevin Kang | Men’s Soccer | Management |
Cole Kingzett | Men’s Soccer | Science |
Lauren Candelario | Women’s Soccer | Management |
Lars Bornemann | Men’s Volleyball | Applied Science |
Siobhan Fitzpatrick | Women’s Volleyball | Science |
Sophia Furlan | Women’s Volleyball | Human Kinetics |
Sara McCreary | Women’s Volleyball | Human Kinetics |
Skye Thompson | Women’s Volleyball | Science |
UBC Okanagan Female Provost Award for Excellence | Single Semester | Finalists |
||
Rachel Garrett – Winner | Women’s Cross Country | Human Kinetics |
Lauren Klassen | Women’s Rugby | Arts |
Elizabeth Martel | Women’s Rugby | Applied Science |
Julianna Neudorf | Women’s Rugby | Applied Science |
Andrea Stinson | Women’s Soccer | Human Kinetics |
UBC Okanagan Male Provost Award for Excellence | Single Semester | Finalists |
||
Bret Depner | Men’s Soccer | Applied Science |
Kai Duchnycz | Men’s Rugby | Arts |
Cole Kingzett – Winner | Men’s Soccer | Science |
Michael Mitchell | Men’s Cross Country | Applied Science |
Trevor Yip | Men’s Rugby | Human Kinetics |
UBC Okanagan Female Provost Award for Excellence | Two Semesters | Finalists |
||
Vanessa Botteselle | Women’s Basketball | Arts |
Siobhan Fitzpatrick | Women’s Volleyball | Science |
Emma Johnson | Women’s Basketball | Science in Nursing |
Emma Jonas | Women’s Basketball | Media Studies |
Skye Thompson – Winner | Women’s Volleyball | Science |
UBC Okanagan Male Provost Award for Excellence | Two Semesters | Finalists |
||
Aldrich Berrios | Men’s Basketball | Human Kinetics |
Lars Bornemann – Winner | Men’s Volleyball | Applied Science |
Adam Kern | Men’s Volleyball | Science |
Jason Scott | Men’s Volleyball | Arts |
Triston Matthews | Men’s Basketball | Science |
UBC Okanagan Athletic Awards
UBC Okanagan Female Rookie of the Year | Finalists |
|
Lizzy Gotuaco | Women’s Rugby |
Kate Johnson – Winner | Women’s Basketball |
Erica Lampert | Women’s Soccer |
Sadie Taylor-Parks | Women’s Volleyball |
UBC Okanagan Male Rookie of the Year | Finalists |
|
Caleb Funk – Winner | Men’s Volleyball |
Owen Harris | Men’s Cross Country |
Sam McDonald | Men’s Soccer |
Kyle Trembley | Men’s Rugby |
UBC Okanagan Female Graduating Player of the Year | Finalists |
|
Erin Drew | Women’s Volleyball |
Siobhan Fitzpatrick – Co-winner | Women’s Volleyball |
Michelle Jakszuk – Co-winner | Women’s Volleyball |
Andrea Stinson | Women’s Soccer |
UBC Okanagan Male Graduating Player of the Year | Finalists |
|
Lars Bornemann – Winner | Men’s Volleyball |
James Casorso | Men’s Golf |
Bryce Stirling | Men’s Rugby |
Trevor Yip | Men’s Rugby |
UBC Okanagan Female Student Athlete of the Year Award | Finalists |
|
Shenelle Tamminen | Women’s Basketball |
Siobhan Fitzpatrick – Winner | Women’s Volleyball |
Sarah McCreary | Women’s Volleyball |
Julianna Neudorf | Women’s Cross Country |
UBC Okanagan Male Student Athlete of the Year Award | Finalists |
|
Lars Bornemann – Winner | Men’s Volleyball |
James Casorso | Men’s Golf |
Bret Depner | Men’s Soccer |
Trevor Yip | Men’s Rugby |
UBC Okanagan Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award | Finalists |
|
Veronika Fagan – Winner | Women’s Cross Country |
Michelle Jakszuk | Women’s Volleyball |
Aidan Lea | Women’s Volleyball |
Emma Nelsen | Women’s Soccer |
Ann Richards | Women’s Volleyball |
UBC Okanagan Male Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award | Finalists |
|
Aldrich Barrios | Men’s Cross-Country |
Lars Bornemann | Men’s Volleyball |
James Casorso – Co-winner | Men’s Golf |
Mitch McCaw – Co-winner | Men’s Soccer |