ALGOMA UNIVERSITY
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On Saturday night, 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
About Algoma University
Algoma University was established in 1965 and is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Algoma University is a small, undergraduate, teaching-focused university that places an emphasis on serving the needs of Northern Ontario. Algoma University offers a wide range of degrees spanning the liberal arts, sciences, and professional disciplines. As a partner with Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, Algoma University has a special mission to cultivate cross-cultural learning between Indigenous populations and other communities. Algoma University also offers satellite programming in Brampton and Timmins. For more information, please visit our website.
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