Lancers honour cream of the crop
Balkwill, Moate named top athletes during annual Evening of Excellence
Kelsey Balkwill and John Moate were the big winners on Thursday at the University of Windsor Lancers annual awards banquet, dubbed the Evening of Excellence, at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. The duo were multiple-award winners at the event, topped by Balkwill winning the Banner Shield as the top female studentathlete and Moate capturing the Olympic Shield as the top male student-athlete.
“Every year we have plenty to celebrate, and this year is no exception,” Lancers athletic director Mike Havey said.
“The women’s track and field team was back on the medal podium nationally and the men’s volleyball team winning a (conference) medal and going to nationals for the first time.” Balkwill played a big part in the success of the women’s track and field team and Moate was a key leader for a men’s volleyball team that reached new heights. An Essex high school product, Balkwill is a Masters student in Human Kinetics after competing for the University of Miami. She was named OUA track MVP and led the Lancers to a silver medal in the team competition with two individual gold medals and two relay silver medals. After competing for Canada at the world indoor track and field championships, she returned to help the Lancers win a team bronze medal with two individual golds, a relay gold as well as a relay silver medal, while being named U Sports’ most outstanding female performer.
“Kelsey Balkwill had an outstanding year and has shown she’s a high-performance athlete,” Havey said. “We’re fortunate to have her back in Windsor for two years.” Moate was named an OUA firstteam all-star after leading the conference in blocks per set and finishing the season with 135 kills, a .249 hitting percentage, 87 blocks and 206 points in 17 games. Windsor won its first OUA medal in school history and advanced to the national championship for the first time, while the third-year middle blocker went on to become just the second Lancer to earn allCanadian status.
“He’s a fantastic kid and an outstanding (engineering) student,” Havey said.
Mike Rocca, from the men’s basketball team, won the male DeMarco Award for combining academic achievement with athletic prowess for a second straight year while Sarah Mitton, from the track and field team, took the award on the women’s side.
The Gino Fracas coach of the year award went to men’s volleyball head coach James Gravelle after guiding his team to an OUA bronze medal and the team’s firstever trip to the national championship.
The Captain’s Trophy, for leadership on and off the field, went to Blake Blondeel from the men’s hockey team and Emily Prevost from the women’s basketball team. Rookie of the year honours went to women’s volleyball outside hitter Paige Phills and men’s hockey goalie Jon Reinhart.
Kelly Hodgins, from women’s track and field, and Pierce Johnson, from men’s volleyball, won super sophomore awards.
‘A’ Awards that are given to those making major contributions to Lancer Athletics went to photographer Gerry Marentette and broadcaster Brett Hedges.