NEWS: Gee-Gees Varsity Annual Award Finalists Announced
The Gee-Gees are happy to introduce the finalists for the major awards for 2021-2022, each in alphabetical order within their categories. Winners will be announced on April 8, in addition to team MVPs, True Sport Award recipients, and the Career Achievement award recipient.
TOP 8 NOMINEES FOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR:
Emma Lefebvre (soccer) – led the OUA in goals scored with a career high of 12 and was named OUA East Most Valuable Player. Her goals per game of 1.20 ranked second in team history, and she ranked third in U SPORTS in points scored. The fifth-year forward was selected as a First Team All-Canadian.
Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu (basketball) – led OUA East in scoring with a career high of 16.4 points per game and established a career high in rebounding with 9.7 per game. Was named the OUA East Most Valuable Player and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. The fourth-year forward also received the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney Award and OUA Joy Bellinger Award for her outstanding achievements in athletics, academics, and community engagement.
Alexandra Ondo (rugby) – led RSEQ in tries scored with a career high of nine, and also ranked second in the league in points scored. Named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and a U SPORTS National Championship Tournament All-Star, and helped the team capture a U SPORTS silver medal. The fifth-year wing also won the RSEQ Leadership and Community Engagement Award.
Sydney Smith (track and field) – established new Gee-Gees records in the 500m and the 600m to begin the season. Won OUA gold in the 600m and helped the 4x400m relay team to a fourth place finish. At the U SPORTS National Championships, she placed fourth in the 600m.
Jamie Armstrong (rugby) – led RSEQ in points scored and established a Gee-Gees team record for points in a season with 56. The second-year fly half was named the RSEQ Most Valuable Player and a RSEQ First Team All-Star.
Nicolas Mattinen (hockey) – was named the U SPORTS Defenceman of Year and a First Team All-Canadian. Won the OUA East/Far East Most Valuable Player and Defenceman of the Year awards. Tied for the team lead with six goals, and was second on the Gee-Gees with 13 points in 18 games.
Zachary Pelehos (football) – was named an OUA First Team All-Star and team Most Valuable Player. Anchored the offensive line which opened large running lanes for the running backs while personally surrendering zero sacks. Was invited to the CFL National Combine.
Guillaume Pépin (basketball) – was named an OUA East First Team All-Star after leading the Gee-Gees in scoring with a career high 15.8 points per game. The third-year forward displayed a strong overall game, adding 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 5.1 rebounds per game.
TOP 8 NOMINEES FOR PRESIDENT'S AWARDS:
Anna Dodge (rugby) - a Health Sciences student and two-time Academic All-Canadian in her third year of eligibility, Dodge was named a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian and a U SPORTS National Championship Tournament All-Star for her stellar play in the front row.
Malorie Kanaan (swimming) – a Master's of Laws student, Kanaan is a two-time Academic All-Canadian. She was named the U SPORTS Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner as well as the RSEQ Leadership and Community Engagement award winner this season.
Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu (basketball) – a Psychology student and three-time Academic All-Canadian in her fourth year of eligibility, Lefebvre-Okankwu was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and the OUA East Most Valuable Player after posting career highs in points and rebounds.
Hailey Walsh (soccer) – a versatile member of the Gee-Gees midfield, Walsh is a Psychology student in her fourth year of eligibility. A two-time Academic All-Canadian, Walsh potted two goals and two assists this season and showed her ability to attack or defend successfully as needed.
Wahid Hamidi (rugby) – an RSEQ First Team All-Star at flanker, Hamidi is completing his research thesis as a Postdoctoral student in Human Kinetics. On the field, the long-time team member and multiple-time Academic Merit notched two tries in the regular season.
Jean-Robin Mantha (hockey) – an Academic All-Canadian in 2020-21, Mantha is in his first year of a Bachelor of Education. In his third year of eligibility, Mantha recorded a career high of six points including five assists in his twelve games played.
Cole Newton (basketball) – named to the OUA All-Rookie team in his first season of play following a red-shirt season in 2019-20, Newton was a key member of the Gee-Gees bench and also started three games. A Health Sciences student, Newton was an Academic All-Canadian in 2020-21.
Alexandre Perreault (swimming) – a U SPORTS bronze medallist and RSEQ gold medallist, Perreault was a powerhouse for the Gee-Gees this season. Academically, he is pursuing a Master's of Health Sciences in Physiotherapy and was an Academic All-Canadian in 2020-21.
TOP 8 NOMINEES FOR ROOKIES OF THE YEAR:
Nadine Katumbayi (basketball) – named to the OUA East All-Rookie team, Katumbayi was a force at both ends of the floor for the Gee-Gees. She started all thirteen games she played in and was third on the team in scoring and minutes.
Ngozi Mosindi (rugby) – an important player for the Gee-Gees throughout the playoffs, Mosindi started at centre in all playoff and national championship tournament games.
Mahika Sarrazin (hockey) – named to the RSEQ All-Rookie team, Sarrazin made four starts in goal during the regular season, posting a 3-1 record and a .936 save percentage which ranked fourth in RSEQ. She earned a shutout in the RSEQ semifinals.
Sadie Sider-Echenberg (soccer) – named an OUA East All-Star, Sider Echenberg started all ten regular season games. With her two goals and four assists, she led the team in assists and was fourth in points.
Hugo Lemesle (swimming) – a U SPORTS bronze medallist and five-time RSEQ medallist, Lemesle established new Gee-Gees team records in the 50m and 200m breaststroke. He won two RSEQ gold medals and three silver medals.
Quincy Louis-Jeune (basketball) – named to the OUA East All-Rookie Team, Louis-Jeune led the Gee-Gees in three-point shooting and was third on the team in points with 11.1 per game. He was a starter in nine regular season games and the playoffs.
Thomas Sénéchal-Becker (track and field) – an OUA silver medallist who also won the McGill Open and Windsor Challenge high jump events, his season-best jump of 2.05m ranks second in Gee-Gees program history. He also had a team-best 6.43m long jump.
Yenam Zouzoua (rugby) – named the RSEQ Rookie of the Year and an RSEQ First Team All-Star, Zouzoua had a huge season at the number eight position for the Garnet and Grey. His impact includes three tries in the regular season.
TOP 4 NOMINEES FOR GEE-GEES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD
Malorie Kanaan (swimming) – the recipient of the U SPORTS Student-Athlete Community Service Award and the RSEQ Leadership and Community Engagement Award, Kanaan's community impact includes on-campus efforts and sport-based efforts, alongside her research contributions. Her research efforts and membership in academic organizations focussed on social justice range from homelessness, racial profiling in the justice system, and feminism.
Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu (basketball) – the recipient of the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney Award and the OUA Joy Bellinger Award for outstanding achievements in athletics, academics, and community engagement. Lefebvre-Okankwu is the secretary of the Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council.
Borys Minger (basketball) – a finance student and Academic All-Canadian, Minger is the co-president of the Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council. He was a primary point of contact for Varsity Athletics during the development of the Anti-Racism plan, and is also a leader at the non-profit organization Campus Rush. Minger is also a teaching assistant for the course Social Context of Business, within the Telfer School of Management.
Nathan Walker (football) – a Master's student in Human Kinetics, Sports Management and an Academic All-Canadian, Walker is the Event Officer for the Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council. He was instrumental in organizing the inaugural Black Excellence Gala, as well as the Hoops for Heritage and Ice Out Hate game events, creating spaces for Black culture and people to be celebrated.
For a list of historical Gee-Gees Annual Award winners, please visit this page.