THUNDER BAY -- A year ago Kevin Tree was out of the country and unable to accept his first Lakehead University male athlete of the year in person.
He got a second chance on Saturday.
Tree, who last month competed at the World University Cross Country Championships in Cassino, Italy, where he was the top Canadian, once again earned the schools top individual honour.
Skier Allyson Marshall took home the female athlete of the year award.
Tree, who plans to return to Lakehead next fall to continue his scholastic and running careers, said it was a great way to cap off the season.
“It was a phenomenal year, right from the get go it was clicking really well. It’s just really nice to see it all cumulate into this,” he said.
He wasn’t about to miss the chance to walk up on stage and collect the accolade a second time.
“It’s pretty special. It’s nice to see that the school recognized me for the hard work and not just the work that I’ve put in, but the coaches and teammates as well all along the way. Really it’s just about the support system that’s brought me this far.”
Tree, a silver medalist at the CIS cross-country championships, edged out basketball’s Bacarius Dinkins and skier Chris Hamilton for the award. He also won the Argus Award for his contributions to Lakehead athletics.
For Marshall it may be a one-and-done season.
The Nordic skier is trying to get into medical school later this year, having arrived in Thunder Bay to join her fiancé at Lakehead this past fall.
She had no idea she’d wind up being the female athlete of the year when she landed in Northwestern Ontario.
“This is my first year at Lakehead University so I didn’t even know what to expect this evening and winning the athlete of the year was a big surprise,” said Marshall, who took home the individual title last month, leading the school to yet another national women’s Nordic crown.
Also nominated were basketball's Jerika Baldin, volleyball's Vanessa Masters and wrestler Emma Horner.
The men’s rookie of the year trophy went to hockey’s Billy Jenkins, who led the team in points in his freshman season while being named the OUA West’s most sportsmanlike player. Alyssa Genereux, who joined the women’s volleyball team this season, was named the woman’s rookie of the year.
Thunder Bay’s Alex Robichaud, a mainstay of the men’s basketball team, earned the Hank Akervall Award, given the senior varsity student-athlete who best exemplifies great dedication, commitment, community involvement, and leadership.
School athletics director said the annual award ceremony, held this year at the former Port Arthur Collegiate Institute, is a great way to cap another successful varsity season.
“I think our athletes are so important to our university,” Warden said. “They’re so important to what we do as a school and what our plan is as far as grassroots programming. And these kids, you know what, spend a lot of time in the gym working out, on the mat and they should be honoured.”
Awards
Female Athlete of the Year - Alysson Marshall
Male Athlete of the Year - Kevin Tree
Female Rookie of the Year - Alyssa Genereux
Male Rookie of the Year - Billy Jenkins
Hank Akervall Award - Alex Robichaud
Argus Award - Kevin Tree
Team Awards
Nordic Skiing
Rookie of the Year - Gavin Shields
Men's Most Valuable Skier - Chris Hamilton
Women's Most Valuable Skier - Alysson Marshall
Sportsperson of the Year - Bryana van Leeuwen and Lucas Shewen
Cross Country/Indoor Track
XCR Women's Most Valuable Runner - Marla Keyes
XCR Men's Most Valuable Runner - Kevin Tree
Track - Women's Most Valuable Runner - Kayla Gallo
Track - Men's Most Valuable Runner - Kevin Tree
Erron Williams Memorial Spirit Award - Callie Roelfsema
Wrestling
Women's Rookie of the Year - Dana Campbell
Men's Most Valuable Wrestler - Kevin Leatherdale
Women's Most Valuable Wrestler - Kelsey Dayler
Frank Schaller Award - Drew Anderson
Women's Volleyball
Rookie of the Year - Leah Mousseau and Alyssa Genereux
Coaches Award - Olivia Bowman
Corrine Kollman Award - Kailan Robinson
Most Improved Player - Rachel Moore
Most Valuable Player - Vanessa Masters
Women's Basketball
Rookie of the Year - Rachel Webber
Most Improved Player - Bridget O'Reilly
Best Defensive Player - Gillian Lavoie
Amanda Nesbitt Award - Essa Jacobsen
Most Valuable Player - Jerika Baldin and Katelyn Andrea
Men's Hockey
Rookie of the Year - Jake Ringuette
Best Offensive Player - Billy Jenkins
Most Valuable Player - Cody Alcock
Best Work Ethic - Justin McDonald
Best Defensive Player - Devin Green
Men's Basketball
Rookie of the Year - Darnell Curtin and Kache Kopec
Best Defensive Player - Alex Robichaud
Most Improved Player - Henry Tan
Most Valuable Player - Bacarius Dinkins
