The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns hosted the 57th Blue and Gold Awards ceremony on April 9, 2024. (Photo: University of Lethbridge Pronghorns)

By Christian Oldale

Pronghorns announce athletes, coach of the year

Apr 11, 2024 | 1:38 PM

LETHBRIDGE AB – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns hosted the 57th Blue and Gold Awards ceremony on April 9, 2024 celebrating the achievements of student-athletes during the 2023-24 season.

Among the awards presented at the ceremony were the Pronghorns’ athletes of the year. Swimmer Delaney Lehman was named the female athlete of the year, while Chris Alexander, another swimmer was named the male athlete of the year.

Lehman shined brightly at the Canada West Championships, securing a silver medal in the 50m Breaststroke and a bronze in the 400m Freestyle relay, all while emerging as the highest point scorer for the team. Lehman also broke six Pronghorn Swimming records, two of which were individual records in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke, and the remaining four in relay events.

Alexander has a very successful season as well, as he claimed gold in the 50m Backstroke for the second consecutive year at U Sports. He continued his dominance at Canada West Championships, earning the gold in 50m backstroke there as well, and the silver in 100m back. Alexander ends his time with the Pronghorns as the highest decorated Pronghorn Swimmer of all-time, earning 6 U Sports medals and 10 Canada West medals.

In addition to the athletes of the year, the Pronghorns also gave out the inaugural Coach of the Year award to women’s basketball coach Dave Waknuk. Waknuk took over head coaching duties of the team in the 2018-19 season, and has overseen lots of success in the role, reaching the playoffs in 4 of 5 seasons.

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In 2023-24, the Pronghorns finished seventh in the 17 team conference with a 12-8 record, and had a nine-game winning streak during the season. They made the playoffs but lost to the University of Victoria in the first round.

The full list of award winners were as follows:

Pronghorn Citizenship Awards:

• Parker Allen, Track and Field
• Kimoya Edwards, Track and Field
• Laura Pizzaro, Track and Field
• Teagan Viney, Women’s Rugby

Pronghorn Community Service Awards:

• Tom Denness, Men’s Soccer
• Kennedy Blaskin, Women’s Basketball

Alumni Leadership Awards:

• Shae Gibb, Men’s Basketball
• Dani Nadeau, Women’s Basketball

Mahon Family Sport Awards:

• Kymani Pollard, Men’s Basketball
• Dani Nadeau, Women’s Basketball
• Will Hughes, Men’s Soccer
• Hailey Slobodian, Women’s Soccer
• Molly Aellen, Women’s Rugby
• Tristan Bennett, Men’s Swimming
• Makena Wood, Women’s Swimming
• Lauchlan Irish, Men’s Track and Field
• Kimoya Edwards, Women’s Track and Field

Team MVP Awards:

• Jack-Henry Fox-Grey, Men’s Basketball
• Tobore Okome, Women’s Basketball
• Will Hughes, Men’s Soccer
• Lucy Mundy, Women’s Soccer
• Jada Holtkamp, Women’s Rugby 15s
• Kenya Richards, Women’s Rugby 7s
• Chris Alexander, Men’s Swimming
• Ryenne Katterhagen, Women’s Swimming
• Lauchlan Irish, Men’s Track and Field
• Kimoya Edwards, Women’s Track and Field

Read more local sports at Lethbridge News Now.

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