(SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont.): On Friday, March 21st, the Algoma University Thunderbirds held their annual varsity banquet to celebrate the scholarly and athletic achievements of its student-athletes for the 2024-25 season. Kaila Fong (Women's Basketball) took home top honours as the 2024-2025 Female Student Athlete of the Year after placing top 15 in six OUA categories and top 3 in three USPORTS categories - a feat unmatched in program history. While Jaden Timmis (Men's Soccer) was recognized as the 2024-25 Male Athlete of the Year after being named an OUA Second-Team All Star - the second athlete in Algoma history to earn such an honour. Neveah Pine (Women's Wrestling) was recognized as the Lukenda Award Winner for her advocacy work for MMIWG2S. The Thunderbirds Staff Service Award was presented to Head Athletic Therapist, Courtney Tomkins.
Inducted into the Thunderbird Wall of Fame were the 2006-07 OCAA silver medal winning Algoma University Women's Curling team, consisting of Cassie Heppner (Skip), Andrea Boyd, Kelsey Janveau, Stephanie Sammon and Head Coach Wayne Heppner, along with the 2007-08 OCAA silver medal winning Algoma University Women's Curling team featuring Stephanie Sammon (Skip), Jamie Sammon, Andrea Boyd, Amy di Nardo and Head Coach Bob Lewis.
USPORTS ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIANS
SOCCER
Peter Alexandrakis
Olivia Bernard
Carly Coccimiglio
Dhiraj Joshi
Berlyn Killoran
Haley McFarlane
Samantha Mazzuca
Ethan Mendes De Franca
Alexa Naslovar
Thiery Nsega
Maddi Rouleau
Taya Shackleton
Jaden Timmis
BASKETBALL
Riya Donnelly
Kaila Fong
Brooke Gruhn
Mercedes Mazzuca
Sage Steadman
WRESTLING
Kira Buck
Lilah Fraser
Mel Morrish
CURLING
Ashley Campioni
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION AWARDS (TOP SCHOLAR ON EACH TEAM):
Brunel Kumbu Ki Lutete - Men's Basketball
Riya Donnelly - Women's Basketball
Jaden Timmis - Men's Soccer
Abigail Macknight - Women's Soccer
Kyle Batman - Men's Wrestling
Rebecca Gutteridge - Women's Wrestling
Keon Shafiee - Men's Nordic Skiing
Anna Reich - Women's Nordic Skiing
Dylan Garson - Men's Cross Country Running
Ella Haas - Women's Cross Country Running
Marius Klein - Men's Curling
Lisa Brisson - Women's Curling
THUNDERBIRD AWARD (GRADUATING STUDENT-ATHLETES)
Sage Steadman - Women's Basketball
Kaila Fong - Women's Basketball
Johan Germain - Men's Basketball
Austin Nzige-Nyambok - Men's Basketball
Jenna Nicholson - Women's Curling
Ashley Campioni - Women's Curling
Hiroki Wada - Men's Soccer
Peter Alexandrakis - Men's Soccer
Darius Bailey - Men's Soccer
Ruby Cheeseman - Women's Nordic Skiing
Tea Lane - Women's Nordic Skiing
Anna Reich - Women's Nordic Skiing
Mel Morrish - Women's Wrestling
Oumar Abdoulahi - Men's Wrestling
Individual Sport Awards
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Most Valuable Player - Kaila Fong
Most Dedicated - Riya Donnelly
Defensive Player of the Year - Brook Gruhn
Rookie of the Year - Bernadette Maranan
Most Improved - Sage Steadman
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Most Valuable Player - Johan Germain
Coaches Award - Tyson Francisco
Defensive Player of the Year - Adong Dut
Rookie of the Year - Ibrahima Yansane
Most Improved - Jean-Luc Cubahiro
CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING
Most Valuable Runner - Dylan Garson
Coaches Award - Trysten Kahtava
Most Improved - Noah Missere
WOMEN'S CURLING
Most Valuable Curler - Lisa Brisson
Coaches Award - Delaney Schumacher
MEN'S CURLING
Most Valuable Curler - Ben Miskiw
Rookie of the Year - Cameron Clark
Most Improved - Marius Klein
NORDIC SKIING
Most Valuable Skier - Ruby Cheeseman
Coaches Awards - Keon Shafiee & Tea Lane
Rookies of the Year - Trysten Kahtava & Emma Malone
Most Improved - Tori Grasley
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Most Valuable Player - Taya Shackleton
Coaches Award - Maddi Rouleau
Captain's Award - Tori Carbone
Defensive Player of the Year - Samantha Mazzuca
Rookie of the Year - Yvonne Barnes
MEN'S SOCCER
Most Valuable Player - Jaden Timmis
Coaches Award - Elliot Swenarchuk
Captain's Award - Samuel Babalola
Defensive Player of the Year - Joshua Bondoc
Rookie of the Year - Samuel Babalola
WOMEN'S WRESTLING
Most Valuable Wrestler - Rebecca Vann
Coaches Award - Lilah Fraser
Rookie of the Year - Becca Gutteridge
Most Improved - Nevaeh Pine
MEN'S WRESTLING
Most Valuable Wrestler - Anthony Nighbor
Coaches Award - Jace Anderson
Rookie of the Year - William Mitchell
Most Improved - Clayton Johnson
Congratulations to all of our athletes!
