Algoma U Male Student Athlete of 2019 Nathan Riley

Supplied by Algoma University…
(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – March 23, 2019): Tonight, Algoma University and the Algoma University Thunderbirds Varsity Athletics Program recognized the hard work, dedication, skill, and academic achievements of their student-athletes at their annual varsity Athletics Banquet.

Riley Tubaro, a second-year member of the Algoma Wrestling program from Tecumseh Ontario, was awarded the distinguished honour of Female Student-Athlete of the Year. This past season, she represented Algoma U at the 2019 OUA Championships, bringing home a silver medal, and in February she finished fifth at the U Sports National Championship held in Calgary, Alberta. Tubaro competed in the women’s 51-kilogram weight class and was ranked in the top six in the country for the entire year.

On the men’s side, Nathan Riley earned the prestigious title of Male Student-Athlete of the Year. From Kitchener, Ontario, Riley had his best performance this season in the past four years of playing for the Thunderbirds men’s basketball team. His achievements this year included: First Defensive Rebounds, Fourth in Total Rebounds, Second in Steals, Seventh in Blocks, Sixteenth in Points per Game; all in the OUA. He was also ninth in Total Rebounds and fourth in Total Steals Nationally. He was also awarded OUA Athlete of the Week this past January and was featured in the OUA Plays of the Week.

The 2006-2007 OCAA Silver Medalist Women’s Basketball Team was inducted into the Thunderbird Wall of Fame in the athlete category. Kristy Aloe, Miranda Chaimbrone, Kristen Conway, Danielle D’Ettorre, Abby DiDonato, Alicia Miller, Jennifer Arbour (Muio), Jessica King, Megan Turcotte (Petingalo), Lara Stilin, and Melissa Turgeon (Stumpo) studied at Algoma University in competed in OCAA competition. The team championed by Head Coach Ed Green and Assistant Coaches Ken Hamilton and Robbie Green earned the title of West Region Champions and a trip to the Provincial playoffs where they defeated the Humber Hawks 50-47 in the Quarterfinals and the Algonquin Thunder 69-66 in the semi-final. The team was up against the Seneca Sting in the OCAA finals and lost 75 to 56 but earned the first OCAA Provincial Silver Medal for Algoma University. Danielle D’Ettorre was named OCAA and CCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year as well as CCAA All Canadian. She also won OCAA west regional and league scoring title (26 ppg an OCAA record which still stands today). Danielle and Lara Stilin are named OCAA West Region First Team All-Stars for Women’s Basketball.

The following awards were also handed out:

OUA All-Academic and U SPORTS Academic All Canadian Awards for the 2017-2018
Anik Graves – Women’s Curling and Nordic Skiing
Natasha Doroodian – Women’s Wrestling
Marissa Ditoro – Cross Country Running and Nordic Skiing
Karina Cole – Women’s Basketball
Rebecca Wylie – Women’s Basketball
Makenna Wiebe – Women’s Soccer
Rafael Valentini – Men’s Soccer
Riley Tubaro – Women’s Wrestling and Women’s Soccer
Talyn Tait – Cross Country Running
Julia Simon – Women’s curling
Stephen Kreyenbuhl – Men’s Wrestling
Keiko Larocque – Women’s Curling
Lucia Luciani – Cross Country Running
Kelsey Ochman – Cross Country Running
Skyler Perron – Women’s Wrestling
Noodin Shawanda – Men’s Wrestling

Dr. Lukenda Thunderbird Service Award
Marissa Ditoro

Women’s Basketball
Coach’s Award – Karly Fracalanza
Most Improved – Rebecca Wylie
Best Defensive Player – Darryn Lindquist
Rookie of the Year – Aimee Garland
MVP – Karina Cole & Dionne Martin

Men’s Basketball
Coach’s Award – Nicola Zorcic
Most Improved – Nick Gehlen
Best Defensive Player – Elijah Butler
Rookie of the Year – David Bokanga
MVP – Nathan Riley

Cross-Country Running
Coach’s Award – Marissa Ditoro
Most Improved – Taylor Dewling
Rookie of the Year – Avery Litke
MVP – Lucia Luciani & Nick Keenan

Women’s Curling
Coach’s Award – Julia Simon & Keiko Larocque
Most Improved – Anik Graves
MVP – Erin McLean

Men’s Curling
Coach’s Award – Marc Orlando
Most Improved – Jared Kelly
MVP – HR Mandiv

Nordic Skiing
Coach’s Award – Marissa Ditoro
Most Improved – Rebekah Gwynn
Rookie of the Year – Andrew Arndt

Women’s Soccer
Coach’s Award – Alexis Trigiani-Kirkwood
Most Improved – Bailie Malmloff
Rookie of the Year – Linsay Horton
MVP – Makenna Wiebe

Men’s Soccer
Coach’s Award – Yahaya Alphonse
Most Improved – Yakabu Ishaku
Rookie of the Year – Simon Bobok
MVP – Tanner Wilden

Women’s Wrestling
Coach’s Award – Natasha Doroodian
Most Improved – Skyler Perron
Rookie of the Year – Willow Morton
Most Outstanding Wrestler – Riley Tubaro

Men’s Wrestling

Coach’s Award – Bryce Davis
Most Improved – Miisheen Shawanda
Rookie of the Year – Graham Slater
Most Outstanding Wrestler – Brody Collison

Thunderbird Award (to graduating student-athletes)

Mohammed Alqarni – Men’s Soccer
Elijah Butler – Men`s Basketball
Karina Cole – Women’s Basketball
Natasha Doroodian – Women`s Wrestling
Michael Heptbourne – Men’s Basketball
Keiko Larocque – Women`s Curling
Jermaine Lyle – Men’s Basketball
Erin McLean – Women’s Curling
Marc Orlando – Men’s Curling
Victor Rodriguez – Men`s Soccer
Julia Simon – Women`s Curling
Nikola Zorcic – Men’s Basketball