varsity news

Durham Lords Media Release
Friday, April 03, 2009

Thiebaud, Doris and Visser named Durham College Athletes of the Year

Oshawa, Ont. - Durham College baseball standout Jonathan Thiebaud (Whitby, Ont.), OCAA women’s volleyball record breaker Mandi Doris (Ajax, Ont.) and women’s soccer/basketball veteran Ashley Visser (Uxbridge, Ont.) were named the 2008-09 Durham College Athletes of the Year. The announcement was made on Friday, April 3 at the 39th Annual Durham College Athletic Banquet with over 200 people in attendance at the Trillium Trails banquet hall in Oshawa.

Thiebaud, a fourth year criminology major, helped the Lords win their fourth straight Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association (CIBA) Ontario Championship this past season. His abilities in the field and at the plate were recognized provincially and nationally. Ge was awarded all-star status as well as being named a CIBA All-Canadian at the national championship in Montreal, Quebec. The Lords finished fourth place in Canada, matching their highest ranking since 1994 when they won bronze. Thiebaud was very productive at the plate as he finished first in the nation in runs (22), fourth in walks (13) and fifth in RBI’s (13). The men’s baseball team also won the overall team of the year award.

Doris, a fourth year student currently studying office administration, had a record breaking season on the court with the Lords women’s volleyball team. Doris set the OCAA mark for most blocks in a season with an astounding 80 on the year. She also broke the OCAA all-time career blocking record, as she finished the year with 156 career blocks, smashing the previous record of 147. Doris led the Lords to a 15-5 conference record, and finished in the final eight in Ontario. She was recognized provincially as she was named an OCAA league all-star as well as the all-star game MVP. Doris also took home the women’s volleyball team leadership award at the athletic banquet.

Visser, a fifth year criminology major, capped off a decorated collegiate career at Durham College as a two-sport athlete. Her outstanding season in goal led the women’s soccer team to a final four appearance in Ontario. As a result, she was named an OCAA league all-star as well as being selected as the OCAA’s top goalkeeper. She also led Durham to the Central East Indoor soccer crown, allowing only one goal in four games at the regional championship. On the hardcourt, Visser was the leader of the women’s basketball team earning the leadership award on Friday night. She averaged a career high 8.4 points per game while leading the team in rebounds with 92 on the year.

Visser becomes the fourth consecutive women’s soccer athlete to be named the college’s athlete of the year following Katie Szeghalmi (2008), Amanda Durno (2007) and Nicole Stephens (2006).

It was a night of celebration as the college took some time to look back and reflect on another successful year. There were plenty of special presentations made over the course of the evening including honouring the special achievements of all of the student-athletes.

SIRC Chief Operating Officer David Roberts was on hand to honour the record breaking eight Durham College CCAA Academic All-Canadian Award winners as well as presenting Durham College with the SIRC/CCAA Academic All Canadian Recognition Award for having the most recipients of any institution across the country.

Other big winners on the night included Erin Dewey (Port Hope, Ont.) and Eric Smith (Ajax, Ont.) who took home the Freshman Athlete of the Year awards.

Dewey, a member of the women’s fastball team made an immediate impact for the Lords, helping the team to a perfect 12-0 conference record and a silver medal at the provincial championship. In her first year at Durham College, Dewey was named the OCAA Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, a league all-star and the league batting champion.

Smith emerged as an immediate leader on the men’s basketball team. He was named an OCAA East Region second team all-star as well as a member of the East Region all-rookie team. He was an impact player for the Lords all season long as he led the entire OCAA freshmen class in scoring (18.6 PPG), rebounds (197) and points (372). Smith had a big role in the Lords resurgence this year, finishing with ten double-doubles while leading Durham to a 16-4 record.

The Bonnie Ginter-Brown Leadership Award was presented to the overall male and female athletes who best exemplify outstanding leadership in the pursuit of excellence. The honour went to Ian Parker (Port Hope, Ont.) of the men's golf team and Jodi Den Bok (Oshawa, Ont.) of the women’s soccer team.

Earning the Bert Dejeet Memorial Scholastic Award for having the Top Overall GPA in the program was Nick Zdravkovski (Bowmanville, Ont.) of the men’s soccer team and Sarah Ducasse (Whitby, Ont.) of the women’s basketball team. Overall, Durham College won a record breaking 22 OCAA All-Academic Awards for their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom and in athletics.

AWARD WINNERS

Overall Athletes of the Year
Jonathan Thiebaud, Men’s Baseball
Mandi Doris, Women’s Volleyball
Ashley Visser, Women’s Soccer & Basketball

Freshman Athletes of the Year
Eric Smith, Men’s Basketball
Erin Dewey, Women’s Fastball

Team of the Year
Men’s Baseball

Bonnie Ginter-Brown Leadership Award
Ian Parker, Golf
Jodi Den Bok, Women’s Soccer

Bert Dejeet Memorial Scholastic Award (Top Overall GPA)
Nick Zdravkovski, Men’s Soccer
Sarah Ducasse, Women’s Basketball

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

Four Year Award
Jonathan Thiebaud, Men’s Baseball
Craig Megill, Men’s Baseball
Vick Warya, Men’s Basketball
Trevor Delpippo, Men’s Soccer
Jason Walker, Men’s Soccer
Jodi Den Bok, Women’s Soccer
Kristen Conner, Women’s Volleyball
Mandi Doris, Women’s Volleyball

Five Year Award
Anthony Batchelor, Men’s Basketball
Ashley Visser, Women’s Soccer & Basketball

Robert Burnett Memorial Scholarship Award
Evan Browne, Men’s Basketball

Joy Hercia Memorial Award
Carolyn Moore, Women’s Fastball

Optimist Club Bursary
Katie Watts, Women’s Soccer
Derek Kyle, Men’s Soccer

Durham Region Soccer Association Bursary Presentation
Andrew MacLeod, Men’s Soccer
Alyssa Best, Women’s Soccer

OCAA All-Academic Award
Vick Warya, Men’s Basketball
Anthony Batchelor, Men’s Basketball
Jill Leistra, Women’s Basketball
Sarah Ducasse, Women’s Basketball
Samantha Jansen, Women’s Basketball
Jessica Newton, Women’s Basketball
Michael Goulding, Men’s Volleyball
David McMann, Men’s Volleyball
Mandi Doris, Women’s Volleyball
Kerri Fotherby, Women’s Volleyball
Julie Hakkesteegt, Women’s Volleyball
Amanda Gruning, Women’s Fastball
Chantal James, Women’s Fastball
Shannon Stewart, Women’s Fastball
Jocelyn Hiddink, Women’s Fastball
Kylie Bracken, Women’s Soccer
Erin Bodashefsky, Women’s Soccer
Jennifer Michalicka, Women’s Soccer
Pamela Ogle, Women’s Soccer
Rafael Desouza, Men’s Soccer
Nick Zdravkovski, Men’s Soccer
Robert Lewis, Golf

CCAA Academic All-Canadian Award
Samantha Jansen, Women’s Basketball
Jessica Newton, Women’s Basketball
Erin Emery, Women’s Basketball
Ashley Visser, Women’s Soccer & Basketball
Anthony Batchelor, Men’s Basketball
Rob Lewis, Men’s Golf
Jamie Mayer, Men’s Volleyball
Mandi Doris, Women’s Volleyball

*Durham College received the SIRC/CCAA Academic All-Canadian Recognition Award for having the most recipients of any institution across the country.

TEAM-BY-TEAM AWARDS

Men’s Baseball
 Top Pitcher – Gary Rose
Rookie of the Year - Jareth Vallier
MVP - Jonathan Thiebaud
Leadership Award – Gary Rose
Top GPA Award – Gary Rose

Women’s Fastball
Top Pitcher – Karie Neddo & Danielle Smith
MVP – Erin Dewey
Rookie of the Year – Erin Dewey
Leadership Award – Jodi Lang
Top GPA Award – Chantal James

Golf
Rookie of the Year – James Hoffman
MVP – Rob Lewis
Leadership Award – Ian Parker & Matiss Mazutis
Top GPA Award – Rob Lewis

Women’s Soccer
Rookie of the Year – Katie Watts
MVP – Ashley Visser
Leadership Award – Jodi Den Bok
Top GPA Award – Jennifer Michalicka

Men’s Soccer
Rookie of the Year – Jordan Sutherland
 MVP – Jason Walker
Leadership Award – Benn Vander Eyken
Top GPA Award - Nick Zdravkovski

Indoor Soccer
Women’s MVP – Krista Metcalf & Jennifer Michalicka
Men’s MVP – Andrew MacLeod

Women’s Basketball
Rookie of the Year – Jessica Newton
MVP – Erin Emery
Leadership Award – Ashley Visser
Top GPA Award – Sarah Ducasse

Men’s Basketball
Rookie of the Year – Eric Smith
MVP – Anthony Batchelor & Eric Smith
Leadership Award – Courtney Small
Top GPA Award – Anthony Batchelor

Women’s Volleyball
Rookie of the Year – Melissa Reinhardt
 MVP – Mandi Doris & Kristen Conner
Leadership Award – Mandi Doris
Top GPA Award - Julie Hakkesteegt

Men’s Volleyball
Rookie of the Year – Kevin Horne
MVP – Jamie Mayer
Leadership Award – Jeff Torraville
Top GPA Award - Michael Goulding

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca