NEWS RELEASE
GEORGIAN GRIZZLIES
*************************
The Georgian College Athletic Department recognized the tremendous achievements of their student-athletes at the first ever Georgian College Varsity Athletic Virtual Awards Banquet.
This year would have been the 50th Annual Awards Banquet but due to the current pandemic the awards presentation was moved all online to the Georgian Grizzlies social media channels.
The Georgian Grizzlies varsity sports programs are comprised of nearly 200 student-athletes, coaches and staff spread across 13 men’s and women’s varsity teams that compete annually across the province in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association and nationally in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.
In her first year at Georgian, Rachael Rier made an immediate impact on Georgian’s golf team on way to winning the Greer Trophy as Georgian’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Rier had a tremendous OCAA debut winning the first invitation golf tournament she competed in during the Fanshawe Invitational, which she won by two strokes. The Hanover native also had a second-place individual finish at the Niagara Invitational, a third-place finish at the Georgian Invitational and a third-place finish at the Lakehead-Orillia Invitational.
At the OCAA Championships, along with teammate Kristen Butterfield, Rier earned a bronze medal as a team while also finishing in fourth place individually. At the CCAA National Golf Championships in Quebec, Rier and Butterfield finished in fourth place as a team, while Rier also finished in eighth place in Canada.
With this year’s banquet being virtual, Rier had the unique opportunity to have the award presented by one of her idols, LPGA golf superstar Lexi Thompson. The video can be seen here.
Men’s rugby player Tennyson Brown capped off an incredible season by winning the Cloutier Cup as Georgian’s male athlete of the year. Brown emerged as one of the OCAA’s dominant players in men’s rugby this season. The dynamic wing led his team in tries scored with eight in six regular season games, which ties him for most in the OCAA. His 40 points scored during the regular season put him seventh overall in OCAA scoring.
Brown was instrumental in leading the Grizzlies to a perfect 6-0 record and their fifth straight OCAA west division title. He was named an OCAA west division all-star.
During the championship final, the Alliston native really displayed his incredible skills scoring all three of Georgian’s tries in the game as the Grizzlies came away with a silver medal. It was Brown’s second straight season earning a silver medal along with his team. He was also named a championship game all-star.
The accolades continue to grow for Brown as last year he was named Georgian’s male rookie of the year while also being an OCAA west division rookie of the year and OCAA west division all-star.
The male athlete of the year award was presented by retired professional rugby player and celebrity superstar James Haskell. His video can be seen here.
A total of 33 student-athletes received an OCAA All-Academic Award for achieving an average of at least 80% or higher in their program while also representing Georgian in their respective sport.
Women’s badminton player Jessica Maher (Tottenham) won the Female Academic & Athletic Excellence Award for the second straight year after an incredible year. She finished third in women’s singles at the OCAA Regionals hosted by Georgian to qualify for the provincial championships for the second straight year, where she finished fourth.
She also achieved a remarkable 97.8 per cent average in the Honours Bachelor of Science – Applied Life Science Degree with Biotechnology-Health Diploma offered through the Lakehead-Georgian program. The highest average of any Georgian College student-athlete.
Cross country runner Michael MacInnes (Barrie) won the Male Academic & Athletic Excellence Award after he finished as Georgian’s top runner at the OCAA Championships while also earning an incredible 91.3 per cent average in the Massage Therapy program at Georgian College. The highest average of any male student-athlete.
Other major award winners included men’s volleyball player Kaelan Kloetstra (London) and women’s volleyball player Carina Brooks (Caledon) who were named the male and female rookies of the year. Men’s basketball player Tyler Vanessen (Whitby) was presented the McKillican Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to the Georgian Athletic Department and men’s rugby player Jordan Gray (Brampton) was presented the Howard/Belcourt Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship, Dedication, Commitment, Attitude and Leadership.
A full list of winners from the Virtual Banquet can be seen through any one of the Georgian Grizzlies social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
*************************
