Male Athlete of the Year Christian Zeppieri, Men's Soccer	Complete List
Zeppieri is the third straight soccer player to garner male athlete of the year honours. He made his presence felt on the OUA pitch almost immediately, scoring the lone Lions goal in his OUA debut, a 1-1 draw with the Laurier Golden Hawks. That moment was the catalyst for an MVP season for the Maple, Ont., native, as he captured the OUA West MVP Award, was an OUA first-team all-star and a U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian. He finished second on the team in goals with four, three of which either tied matches or gave the Lions the lead. He parlayed his excellent season into a selection by York United in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft.

 

Female Athlete of the Year Kaitlin Brooks, Track & Field

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Brooks is the second track & field athlete in the last three years and the 17th all-time to win the female athlete of the year award. Brooks wrapped up her Lions career in style, winning six medals during in-season competition, including a gold in shot put at the McGill Team Challenge and a bronze in weight throw on home turf at the York Open in February. The Barrie, Ontario native continued hunting hardware at the OUA championships, where she took home a shot-put silver, before following that up with a bronze in shot put at the U SPORTS championships in Winnipeg. With those OUA and U SPORTS medals in tow, Brooks finishes her tenure in red and white with seven provincial and nationsal medals to her credit, among them two U SPORTS silvers (2018, 2022), two U SPORTS bronze (2019, 2023) and an OUA gold (2022).

         

Outstanding Male Graduate Award Michael Douglas (Hockey), Philip Costa (Track & Field)

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From arriving at York as a walk-on to graduated and playing professionally for the ECHL's Evansville Thunderbolts in Evansville, Indiana, Douglas was a pillar of community involvement over his time as a Lion. He is the creator of the LionsHeart Initiative, which saw he and his Lions teammates visit various retirement and assisted living facilities and the Jane & Finch Boys & Girls Club among several other causes. He also pioneered 'Colt's Crusade,' an annual theme game dedicated to local para hockey player Colton Hagarty, whom Douglas befriended while serving Colt and his family at a local restaurant. He has continued his community work in his new home of Evansville. Costa has been an exemplary student-athlete over his time at York, being the only five-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian of this undergraduate cycle. He serves as a peer tutor for kinesiology & health science students, while also tutoring high school math and science students. The York men's track & field captain since 2020, Costa also serves as a PAWS mentor for fellow student-athletes.

     

Bryce M. Taylor Award Lexi Hannah, Field Hockey

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Hannah is the second straight field hockey player to take home the Bryce M. Taylor Award and the 11th ever. Hannah is a four-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian and has given much of her time over her undergraduate degree to the betterment of Athletics & Recreation. She serves as a PAWS mentor, has been a Lions Summer Camp lead and has served as a fitness attendant, and outdoor recreation lead. Additionally, Hannah has been an active member of Sport Council, first as field hockey team representative, then as an executive member, and, from 2021-2023, York Sport Council President. She was the 2022-23 recipient of the annual Sport Council Award.

 

Lions Legacy Awards Natalie Winter (Field Hockey), Ava Ricker Singh (Women's Hockey), Agostino Principato (Men's Soccer) Evan Shadkami (Men's Basketball), Michael Douglas (Men's Hockeyy), Philip Costa (Men's Track & Field), Lexi Hannah (Field Hockey)	Complete List
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Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy Tyler Pryce, Men's Basketball

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Pryce becomes the second consecutive men's basketball player to take home the Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy, following in the footsteps of former teammate Prince Kamunga. Pryce has been a tireless leader on and off the court in his six seasons as a Lion, and has greatly improved his defensive game under head coach Jermain Holness. He is an excellent teammate and has shown a great deal of dedication to the program over his tenure at York. Pryce is respected by teammates, opponents and officials alike, always conducting himself with a high degree of sportsmanship and love for the game of basketball. In addition to his leadership skils on the floor, he has transferred those skills to youth athletes, serving as a Lions Summer Camp leader, dedicating his time to basketball, volleyball, swimming and recreational camps. He also works within Athletics & Recreation as a client services representative, he often the first face you see upon entry to Tait McKenzie Centre or York Lions Stadium.

 

Coach of the Year Jermain Holness, Men's Basketball

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In his first year as permanent head coach, Holness becomes the first men's basketball coach to win the York coach of the year award, and only the second basketball coach to ever win it, joining former women's coach Erin McAleenan in 2018-19. After having his interim tag removed last July, Holness completely revitalized the program, bringing in seven transfers, including team co-MVP's Josh Noton and Evan Shadkami. He led the team to its first postseason appearence since 2018-19, and its most wins since 2013-14. The most impressive of those came in the final game of the fall term on Dec. 2, when the Lions upset the Carleton Ravens on home court, beating Carleton for the first time since Feb. 5, 2010. The Lions won five straight games from Jan. 26-Feb. 10, with wins over Laurentian, Nipissing, Algoma, Guelph and Laurier, putting together the program's longest win streak since Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2006.

 

Male Rookie of the Year Arwin Mathivathanan, Track & Field

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Mathivathanan is the fifth track & field athlete to be named York men's rookie of the year, and first since David McKay in 2011-12. Mathivathhanan burst on the OUA scene, winning the OUA male rookie of the year award and earning a nomination for the U SPORTS male rookie of the year award. The Scarborough, Ontario native took home five medals in his rookie season, including a triple-jump silver at the OUA championships. His lone gold medal was a triple jump win at the McGill Team Challenge in Montreal. His winning jump of 15.12m jump set a personal best, automatically qualified him for the U SPORTS championships, and places him sixth all-time on York’s triple jump list.

 

Female Rookie of the Year Juliet Redelaar, Field Hockey

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Redelaar is the third field hockey player in school history to be named York female rookie of the year, and the first since Jaslin Stirling in 2017-18. Redelaar quickly became one of the players to watch on the field for the Lions last season. Her three goals and seven points led York rookies, and her phenomenal efforts on the field earned her the OUA rookie of the year award, becoming the first Lion derive that distinction since the aforementioned Stirling was also named the OUA's top rookie in 2017-18. In addition to her major awards, Redelaar was named the York, OUA and U SPORTS field hockey athlete of the week for the period ending Sept. 24.

 

Most Valuable Players (as chosen by each team)

Men's Basketball – Josh Noton & Evan Shadkami Women's Basketball – Kiara Leveridge Men's Cross Country – Abdullahi Abdullahi Women's Cross Country – Laura Peters Field Hockey – Lexi Hannah Football – Braden Hart Men's Hockey – Not Awarded Women's Hockey – Jillian Milligan Women's Rugby – Lynelle Vassell Men's Soccer – Christian Zeppieri Women's Soccer – Maia Torelli Men's Tennis – Alex Bodor Women's Tennis – Tamara Janev Men's Track and Field – Tamarri Lindo Women's Track and Field – Kaitlin Brooks Men's Volleyball – Dennis Cota Women's Volleyball – Jessica Reynolds Men's Wrestling – Stephan Niron Women's Wrestling – Erin Corrado

 

Sport Council Award Alyssa Brooks, Field Hockey	Complete List
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Most Improved Team Men's Basketball

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Led by York coach of the year Jermain Holness and co-team MVP's Josh Noton and Evan Shadkami, the York men's basketball team takes home the most improved team award for the third time in program history and first time since 2018-19. After winning just six times in 2022-23, the Lions nearly doubled that total, going 11-11 en route to their first playoff appearance since that 2018-19 campaign. Under the guidance of York coach of the year Jermain Holness, the program accomplished three things accomplished three things it hadn't done in at least a decade: win 11+ games (2013-14), win five straight games (2005-06) and beat the Carleton Ravens (2009-10).

 

Spirit Cup Football	Complete List
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Student Athletic Therapist of the Year Ardy Nejat, Men's Hockey
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York awards not presented in 2023-24:

DIA Roar For Change Award

Roar Cup