Tim Tollestrup Leadership Student-Athletes of the Year recipient Olivia DePasquale (middle). (Photo supplied by Lethbridge College, Emmerson Reyes)

By Justin Goulet

Kodiaks announce winners of 2022 KODI Awards

Apr 13, 2022 | 10:55 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Student-athletes at Lethbridge College have been recognized for their dedication.

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks hosted the annual KODI Awards on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The event returned to an in-person format for the first time since 2019. This past season saw every Kodiaks team qualify for their respective Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) championships.

Manager of Athletics for the Kodiaks, Todd Caughlin said planning, getting ready to and competing in the 2021-22 transition season was a tough challenge.

“We were able to do it because of the resilience, patience and commitment of our student-athletes and coaching staffs. I’m so incredibly proud of this Kodiaks group and wouldn’t have wanted to work with any other group of people during such a challenging time.”

KODI Awards are selected by members of the Kodiaks Athletics administration team and factor in the results of a public vote that had nearly 500 participants, setting a new record. Voting was also steered by the three pillars of Kodiaks Athletics – academic accountability, athletic excellence and the student-athlete experience.

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The men’s indoor track team was named the Val and Flora Matteotti Kodiaks Team of the Year, capping a year that saw them capture a bronze medal at the ACAC championships. The team was led by Aden Germain, who won bronze in the men’s 300-metre dash and was part of two silver medal winning relay squads.

Two soccer and futsal players were recognized with major awards. Olivia DePasquale and Jaden Veluw were named Tim Tollestrup Leadership Student-Athletes of the Year.

DePasquale earned the female award following a strong soccer season. She was named to the ACAC All-Conference team after scoring nine goals in six games. Additionally, she led the Kodiaks women’s futsal team to a bronze medal.

Veluw is a fifth-year student-athlete from Lethbridge and won on the men’s side. He finished his collegiate career on a high note and was named an ACAC All-Conference defense player for his successful soccer season, and an ACAC tournament all-star at the futsal championships. His goal scoring skills help the Kodiaks men’s futsal team capture an ACAC bronze medal.

Tim Tollestrup Leadership Student-Athletes of the Year recipient Jaden Veluw (middle). (Photo supplied by Lethbridge College, Emmerson Reyes)

Ken McMurray was named the Electrical Solutions Inc. Kodiaks Coach of the Year in his first full season as head coach of the women’s basketball team. He led the club to a second-place finish in the ACAC south division.

Cross country and indoor track athlete Justin Fisher and basketball player Montana Berezay were named the winners of the Calgary Flames Foundation Leadership Scholarships, recognizing student-athletes who excel in leadership, community involvement and academics.

The full list of winners is below:

KODIs major awards

• Tim Tollestrup Leadership/Athlete of the Year (Male) – Jaden Veluw (men’s soccer/futsal)
• Tim Tollestrup Leadership/Athlete of the Year (Female) – Olivia DePasquale (women’s soccer/futsal)
• Val and Flora Matteotti Team of the Year – Men’s indoor track
• Electrical Solutions Inc. Kodiaks coach of the year – Ken McMurray (women’s basketball)
• Calgary Flames Foundation Leadership Scholarship (female) – Montana Berezay (women’s basketball)
• Calgary Flames Foundation Leadership Scholarships (male) – Justin Fisher (men’s cross country/indoor track)
• Best championships performance – Women’s volleyball defeating SAIT in the opening round of the ACAC postseason
• Best upset – Men’s volleyball defeating nationally number two ranked Briercrest in a 3-2 comeback
• Best comeback – Men’s volleyball coming back from down 2-0 to defeat nationally number two Briercrest in a five-set thriller

KODIs special awards

• Alvin Tietz/Knud Petersen Award for soccer – Caleb Parenteau and Ambreah Kelly
• Alvin Tietz/Knud Petersen Award for futsal – Julio Vega and Kaleigh Stock
• Haylie Shoults Memorial Award – Malorie Hanson
• Gerry and Brian Stewart Memorial Award for cross-country – Rosie Bouchard and Reggie Williams
• Fire Safety Award for cross-country and indoor track – Maria Boix-Frias and Gunnarr Gibb
• Emmalee Cherweniuk Memorial Award for women’s volleyball – Alyssa Pavka
• Alvin Tietz/Knud Petersen Award for volleyball – Claire Armstrong and Michael Kindley
• 1981 Alberta Summer Games Athletic Award for volleyball – Colby Lindseth
• John Jasiukiewicz Award for men’s basketball – Jackson Kasko
• John Jasiukiewicz Award for women’s basketball – Kirsten Barwegen

KODIs pillar awards

• Men’s soccer
  • Pillar award: Chris Anton
  • Outstanding player: Ben Knight
  • Newcomer: Vincent Dyck
• Women’s soccer
  • Pillar award: Meaghan Welby
  • Outstanding player: Olivia DePasquale
  • Newcomer: Megan Morrison
• Men’s futsal
  • Pillar award: Dan Okpala
  • Outstanding player: Jaden Veluw
  • Newcomer: Ben Cull
• Women’s futsal
  • Pillar award: Ashley Sazalski
  • Outstanding player: Jayna Timinski
  • Newcomer: Jordan Quinn
• Men’s cross-country
  • Pillar: Cristobal Catalan
  • Outstanding runner: Reggie Williams
  • Newcomer: Carter Van Roon
• Women’s cross-country
  • Pillar: Kayla Munro
  • Outstanding runner: Rosie Bouchard
  • Newcomer: Maria Boix-Frias
• Men’s indoor track
  • Pillar: Kurt Caballo
  • Outstanding runner: Aden Germain
  • Newcomer: Gunnarr Gibb
• Women’s indoor track
  • Pillar: Leah Gibbings
  • Outstanding runner: Maria Boix-Frias
  • Newcomer: Hailie Arenas
• Men’s volleyball
  • Pillar: Malcolm Fisher
  • Outstanding player: Nolan Moes
  • Newcomer: Cameron Piers
• Women’s volleyball
  • Pillar: Mack Lewicki
  • Outstanding player: Jamie Brown
  • Newcomer: Eryka Woods
• Men’s basketball
  • Pillar: Chris Schlauwitz
  • Outstanding player: Orin Porter Jr.
  • Newcomer: Paycen Blackmore
• Women’s basketball
  • Pillar: Montana Berezay
  • Outstanding player: Matlin Jacobs
  • Newcomer: Courtney Deemter

Photos from the awards ceremony can be seen on the Kodiaks Flikr page.

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