Lauryn Bons, Thomas Reid named this year’s Arthur Cup recipients
Despite the absence of a 202021 U Sports season, Trent University honoured its top student-athletes in a virtual ceremony Friday night.
“Each year, the Excalibur Awards banquet provides an opportunity to bring together our varsity student-athletes and coaches, and show appreciation for all of your hard work and dedication,” president Leo Groarke stated in a video message.
“While you were not able to officially compete with the Trent green and white this year, you found other ways to come together.”
Lauryn Bons (rugby) and Thomas Reid (soccer) are this year’s Arthur Cup recipients, Trent’s most prestigious athletic award goes to graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding contribution, sportsmanship, participation and leadership.
“The Arthur Cup celebrates student-athletes who excel in sport, contribute to the community while achieving academic success,” said athletic director Deborah Bright-Brundle.
“Lauryn and Thomas have been exemplary representatives of Trent Excalibur, who have demonstrated leadership in this very different year. They have demonstrated leadership for their team and for Trent Athletics overall. Both Lauryn and Thomas are also founding members of the 1EX StudentAthlete Council.”
Bons, of Trenton, has been a tremendous presence on and off the field as a versatile player and natural leader. The School of Education student played an instrumental role in the establishment of the 1EX Council – a student-athlete leadership council dedicated to enhancing the overall experience of Excalibur athletes.
She was also involved in the development and delivery of the Open, Aware and Engaged Mental Skills program, created to support Excalibur studentathletes in the unique 2020-21 season. In 2019-20, Bons was the recipient of the OUA Community Service Award for women’s rugby for her outstanding commitment to extracurricular activities.
Reid, from Orillia, has a record of high-achievement academically and athletically. An impact player, he was named rookie of the year in his first year with the Excalibur men’s soccer program before taking the lead in the role of captain in his upper years.
A leader not only on the field, Reid played an active role within the broader Trent community volunteering with orientation week, open houses and the University Soccer Showcase tournaments, as well as leading initiatives through the soccer program and 1EX student-athlete council.
Pursuing a joint-major in biology and psychology, Reid has been an academic all-Canadian and a member of the dean’s honour roll in each of his four years.
Varsity women’s rowing student-athlete Abigail Sibbald (Guelph) was awarded the prestigious Gary Wolff Leadership Award presented each year to a student-athlete who has demonstrated determination and leadership through balancing sport, community involvement and academic performance.
Sibbald has been on the rowing team for five years where she’s taken progressive leadership roles with the Trent rowing club spending the past year as president helping the team navigate the pandemic. Sibbald is a high-achieving teacher education graduate student with strong ties to the broader community as a literacy tutor, coordinator of the Peterborough Rows initiative, volunteer coach with the Peterborough Rowing Club and Upper Canada College Rowing.
This year, Trent Athletics presented the men’s and women’s rowing teams with the Community Betterment Award.
Although Head of the Trent was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the spirit of Trent rowers couldn’t be stifled. With leadership from Sibbald the team hosted a HOTT49.5 merchandise sale maintaining important relationships with community partners to ensure the success of Head of the Trent in future years and preserving the legacy of the Excalibur rowing program for the next generation of Excalibur rowers.
In addition, the following students were honoured with the University Athletic Award presented to students who have demonstrated a significant contribution to the varsity and campus recreation programs.
Cam Smeed-Griffiths (Cross Country), Rachel Gilham (Fencing), Isaiah Hippel (Volleyball), Gabe Charlebois (Rugby), Aidan Labossiere (Volleyball), Megan Black (Cross Country), Leah Michel (Lacrosse),
Haymish McMaster (Rugby), Tucker King (Lacrosse).
The following varsity athletes were also honoured for outstanding commitment and dedication to their sports.
Rowing: Brianna Tombs (Chris Leach Award), Abigail Sibbald (Rob DeJong Award).
Men’s Curling: Gregory Koebel (Rookie of the Year), Lucas McLennan (Coach’s Award).
Women’s Curling: Lauren Hart (Rookie of the Year), Emily Parish (Coach’s Award).
Men’s Lacrosse: Fletcher Backshell-Jones (Rookie of the Year), Curtis Romanchynch (Coach’s Award).
Women’s Lacrosse: Mackenzie Manuliak (Rookie of the Year), Emily Vandamme, Cassidy Assinck (Coach’s Award).
Men’s Rugby: Kalin Sager (Rookie of the Year), Gabe Charlebois (Coach’s Award).
Women’s Rugby: Michelle Hopkins (Rookie of the Year), Lauryn Bons (Coach’s Award).
Men’s Soccer: Thomas Reid (Coach’s Award).
Women’s Soccer: Imogen Bellinger (Rookie of the Year), Alexis Wilson, Tori Chia (Coach’s Award).
Men’s Volleyball: Ethan Earle (Rookie of the Year), Isaiah Hippel (Coach’s Award).
Women’s Volleyball: Annie Whelan (Rookie of the Year), Genna Saunders, Heidi Hayes (Coach’s Award).
Men’s Cross Country: Aric Olsen (Rookie of the Year), Nathan O’Keeffe (Coach’s Award).
Women’s Cross Country: Laura Page (Rookie of the Year), Megan Black (Coach’s Award).
Fencing: Rachel Gilham (Coach’s Award).