Pronghorns hand out year-end awards

By Lethbridge Herald on April 8, 2022.

University of Lethbridge

For the first time in two years, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns were able to host their Blue and Gold banquet on Wednesday.

The Lethbridge Sandman Signature hosted nearly 200 student athletes, coaches, support staff and special guests to honour achievements from the 2021-2022 season.

Male Athlete of the Year

To say Apollo Hess had an impressive season is probably an understatement. In his first year in Canada West his list of achievements is long. He is the current holder of 10 University of Lethbridge swim records. He was named a Canada West first team all-star, the Canada West Rookie of the Year, and the Canada West Male Swimmer of the Year. At the Canada West Championships, he and his teammates won bronze in the 4×100 medley relay and silver in the 4×100 free relay. Individually, he won silver in the 100-metre breaststroke, and gold in the 50-metre and 200-metre breaststroke, setting Canada West records in both events.

At the national level, he was named the U SPORTS Male Rookie of the Year and a first team All-Canadian. He and his teammates won silver in both the 4×100 medley relay and the 4×100 free relay. Individually, he won silver in the 100-metre breaststroke, and gold in the 50-metre and 200-metre, setting a U SPORTS record in the 50-metre breaststroke but not just at U SPORTS…his 26.65 time in the 50-metre breaststroke is the new Canadian senior record, previously established by Paul Kornfeld in 2009.

Female Athlete of the Year

Another first-year Pronghorn, Jinaye Shomachuk served notice that she will be a force for years to come in the throwing events. She threw 16.63 metres in weight throw at the Canada West Championships, claiming bronze en route to shining on the national stage. Sitting in the bronze medal position and with one throw to complete, she threw a new personal best by over a metre to win the U SPORTS silver medal. Her best throw of 18.00-meters clipped the thrower from the Calgary Dinos by one centimeter for the silver medal. For her win, she was also named a U SPORTS second team All-Canadian.

Pronghorn Community Service Awards

Pronghorn Athletics created four community service awards given to two female and two male Pronghorn Athletes. These athletes have demonstrated outstanding community involvement in volunteering and providing community service within the most recent academic year. The Pronghorn women’s community service awards are sponsored by Lethbridge Fire Safety Services Limited, while the men’s awards are sponsored by Lethbridge Fasteners & Tools Limited

Not new to this award, Madeline Szabo continues to set the bar of what it means to be a Pronghorn student-athlete. She continues to be a leader when it comes to community service among Pronghorn Athletes. She maintains a rigorous training schedule while carrying a full academic course load, and hours of weekly volunteer work. She volunteers with Alberta Health Services at the hospital, is part of the school mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters, participates in the Keep In Touch program that checks in on lonely seniors in the community, sits on the Pronghorn Student Athlete Council and Pronghorn Leadership Academy, to name a few. The full list of her extra-curricular activities is extensive.

Keegan Brantner, also a member of the Pronghorn Student Athlete Council and Pronghorn Leadership Academy. She also sits on the Canada West Student-Athlete Engagement Council. She was named a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian for the 2020 and 2021 school years. She is the key driver in the Plasma Playoffs campaign helping to recruit plasma donors for Canadian Blood Services.

David Musk is completing his fourth year and is set to graduate this fall with a degree in environmental science with a minor in political science. He plans to return to complete a second minor in philosophy. He is notoriously known for volunteering his time in any community and volunteer activities he can. He is a regular donor at Canadian Blood Services and also coordinates and encourages his teammates to donate as well. He is a frequent volunteer at the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, volunteering every Tuesday morning. He volunteers weekly at Our Lady of Assumption School and with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

David Awosoga also holds an extensive list of volunteer activities. Another member of the Pronghorn Student Athlete Council and Pronghorn Leadership Academy, he has been integral in shaping the University of Lethbridge’s image in the community. He volunteers with Love Lethbridge Youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters, peer tutoring services, and Lethbridge Bible Quizzing to name a few. He is also a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada National Youth Mentoring Advisory Council.

Alumni Leadership Award

 The Alumni Association Leadership Award is presented annually to the student athletes who best exemplify a career long dedication to fair play, strong athletic ability, community service; while demonstrating a concerted commitment to leadership on and off the playing field. The recipient of this award receives a scholarship from the Alumni Association.

Jitse van den Hadelkamp of men’s soccer has been heralded by his teammates as the best leader in their program. As captain, he ensured his teammates were staying in shape through the season interruptions and analyzing game film every week for both his team and their opponents, he has also stepped in to lead the team during a trying time.

Ellie Kabayama, captain of the women’s soccer team, leads by actions garnering the respect from her teammates and coaching staff. She is always there to help anyone both on and off the field. She works in respite care and is involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. As her coach says, “she is the face of U of L women’s soccer and her presence will sorely be missed as she graduates and moves on to the next phase of her life.”

 Mahon Family Sport Awards

Created by University of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon and his family, each Pronghorn Athlete selected receives a scholarship from the Mahon Family.

 2021-22 Mahon Family Sport Award recipients

Men’s Soccer – David Musk

Women’s Soccer – Tory Clements

Women’s Rugby – Keegan Brantner

Women’s Swimming – Sophie MacLean

Men’s Swimming – Raine Arden

Women’s Basketball – Jessica Haenni

Men’s Basketball – Chad Oviatt

Women’s Track – Caitlyn Bailes

Men’s Track – Xavier Crosby

Team MVPs

Women’s Track – Jinaye Shomachuk

Men’s Track – Andreas Troschke

Women’s Swim – Hunter Stewardson

Men’s Swim – Apollo Hess

Women’s Soccer – Lucy Mundy

Men’s Soccer – Nolan French

Women’s Rugby – Abby Duguid

Women’s Basketball – Jessica Haenni

Men’s Basketball –Angelo Mbituyimana