Shannon And Luchese Named Athletes Of The Year
(FREDERICTON, NB) Lexie Shannon, of the women’s track and field team, and Eduardo Luchese, of the men’s volleyball team, were named the UNB REDS women’s and men’s athletes of the year on Monday night.
Shannon, who won the gold medal in the women’s triple jump at the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships, in Saint John, was awarded the Colin B. MacKay Shield, while Luchese, who was a 1st Team RSEQ All-Star, took home the James Downey Shield.
“Lexie and Eduardo are deserving recipients of these awards,” said John Richard, UNB’s Director of Athletics. “Both of them have proven their ability to compete, to lead, and to inspire teammates. Both are tremendous ambassadors for the REDS and worthy of this recognition.”
The winners were announced during Monday’s 2022 REDS Awards, UNB’s first in-person athletic awards ceremony since 2019.
“It was special to have our group together again, even if it was under strict protocols,” said Richard. “Our student-athletes sat with their teammates, by team, and there was no interaction on stage with anyone outside of their team bubble. We’ve put the safety of our student-athletes above everything else throughout the season, and tonight was no different.”
Payton Hargreaves, of the women’s hockey team, and Jared Howse, of the men’s track and field and cross-country teams, were named the REDS female and male rookies of the year, while Sarah Hilworth earned the Dean’s Award for the REDS Coach of the Year.
Jana Headrick, of the women’s hockey team, was named winner of the Garnet Copeland Award, as the best all-round student-athlete.
Headrick, pursuing a Masters degree while helping the REDS to the first Atlantic University Sport title in program history, also developed and led a program that provided First Nations girls in the Fredericton area with an introduction to hockey. That introduction included on-ice skills sessions, a complete set of equipment for each participant and the covering of registration fees for those that wanted to continue.
“Jana is an exceptional student and a tremendous athlete, and played a critical role in UNB winning the AUS title this season,” said Richard. “On top of that, her efforts to diversify hockey and expose First Nations youth to the opportunities that sport provides, especially as we all seek to fulfill the goals of reconciliation, are truly commendable. She’s giving back in ways that we’ve never seen here before.”
Long-time track and field coach Mark Sheehan was presented with the James Born Award, for significant contributions over an extended period of time.
INDIVIDUAL TEAM AWARDS
TEAM ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RED & BLACK MVP
M Basketball Norm Burry Sterling Simpson Ibrahima Doumbouya
W Basketball Katie Butts Bailey Black Katie McAffee
M Cross Country William Boyle Chance Blackstone Jared Howse
W Cross Country Emily Trites Hannah Haynes-MacDonald Ivy Bialowis
M Curling James Larlee Parker MacFayden Dylan MacDonald
W Curling Carly Smith Jenna Campbell
M Hockey Austen Keating Joe Gatenby Samuel Dove-McFalls
W Hockey Payton Hargreaves Jana Headrick Kendra Woodland
M Soccer Simon Bisaillon Olivier Menard Mathew Quigley
W Soccer Aurora Hughes-Goyette Brynn Nash Jesse Bellamy
M Swimming Josh Kennedy Matthew Croft Blake Kingston
W Swimming Sophie Casey Sarah Kelly Jennifer Moore
M Track & Field Oliver Arnfast Bailey Ferguson Jared Howse
W Track & Field Shelby MacIsaac Mira Alexander Lexie Shannon
M Volleyball Scott Mann Erik Kodrič Eduardo Luchese
W Volleyball Emma Burns Katie MacDonald Kristen Burns
PHOTOS BY: Cameron Fitch/UNB Media Services