REDEEMER UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 2012-13 ATHLETIC AWARDS

Redeemer University College honoured its varsity athletes and coaches Saturday evening at the 26th Annual Athletic Awards Ceremony. It was quite an evening celebrating outstanding performances and team accomplishments as well as academic success. In total, 20 rookie of the year/most valuable player awards, five major awards (coach, scholars, and athletes of the year), 16 OCAA sport awards, 30 OCAA academic awards, and six CCAA sport awards were handed out. Two new members were also inducted into the Royal Road to Victory.

The Redeemer Royals had an impressive 2012-13 season. Thirty-seven athletes received academic awards proving that success in the classroom is just as important as success on the court or on the field. The Royals received provincial recognition this past year that exceeded anything before with record provincial rankings and OCAA awards including all-stars and player of the weeks. The Royals set new standards for national rankings and a total of six CCAA awards were handed out proving that, although small, Redeemer can be heard across the country. As a team Redeemer set new goals. As players, the Royals contributed performances that gave Redeemer new standards for excellence. And as a coaching staff, Redeemer brought about a level of competition and professionalism that has never been matched.

Women's volleyball player Curtiss Straatsma was named the Redeemer Female Athlete of the Year after her record-breaking season. Straatsma led her team in points and points per game, and set a new Redeemer record for points in a game and in a season. She also ranked highly in both the OCAA and CCAA individual statistical rankings this year. She was named a Redeemer Athlete of the Month, an OCAA First-Team All-Star as well as her team's Most Valuable Player.  Curtiss also set new standards for kills and kills per game in a season, was named an OCAA Women's Volleyball Player of the Week, and finished second in the OCAA in points, blocks and kills. Straatsma also led her team to a first round upset over the No. 1 team in the East Division at the provincial championship, helping them achieve Redeemer's highest placing in Division I OCAA women's volleyball.

Redeemer's Athletic Director, Dave Mantel, praised Curtiss for her impressive season.

"She is no stranger to strong performances", said Mantel. "The team quickly became depended upon for her strong performance in each and every competition of the year.  Although always an extremely talented athlete, over the course of this season, her competitive edge seemed to grow and develop."

Men's volleyball standout David Klomps was named the Redeemer Male Athlete of the Year. Klomps led his team on offence, on defence, and off the court. He was named a Redeemer Athlete of the Month, his team's Most Valuable Player, an OCAA First-Team All-Star, and an OCAA Championship All-Star. He helped his team to 14-4 regular season record, a national ranking as high as No. 2, and an OCAA bronze medal. His season ranks in Redeemer history as the second-most digs in a season, third-most points in a season, and fourth-most kills in a season.  He is a reliable passer with exceptional ball control and defensive presence.

Mantel was thrilled to present the award to Klomps saying "the most significant aspect of Dave is his focus and his vision for the team. Every day throughout the year, he continues to not allow the team's goals, or his personal goals to drop at all. The intensity of focus and work ethic make him a special athlete."

The men's volleyball coaching staff of Wayne Harris and Brad Douwes received the Redeemer Coach of the Year award for their impressive season. Coach Harris was also honored for being named the Canadian Colleges Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year. Harris and Douwes had an extraordinary season. They posted one of the highest winning percentages in history, competed in the most competitive division in the CCAA, achieved the highest national ranking in Redeemer history, and earned another league medal (bronze). They developed a team that arguably had an all-star at every single position on the floor. Their excellence was recognized by teams across the province and again by teams from across the country.

Mantel commented on the men's volleyball coaching staff saying "our men's volleyball coaches are two individuals with high knowledge for the game, and an even higher level of passion for it. They have a well defined approach to how to compete and win that is built on a solid team culture that is unflappable. They have trained the athletes in fundamental skills, team tactics, mental toughness, and Christian values."

A record five Redeemer Royals were named CCAA Academic All-Canadians. Rachel Passchier (women's soccer), Carly Voortman (women's soccer), David Klomps (men's volleyball), Taylor Kraayenbrink (cross country) and Joel Zondervan (men's soccer) were all awarded for being named to the Dean's Honours list as well as being named an OCAA All-Star in their respective sport.

Cross country runner Kraayenbrink was named the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year while double sport athlete April Passchier was named the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. Both athletes were recognized for their tremendous success both in their sport and in the classroom. Kraayenbrink was also named the Cross Country Most Valuable Player while Passchier took home the same honours for Indoor Soccer.

Two new members were inducted into the Royal Road to Victory (Hall of Fame).

Carlena Schipper (1999-2003) was inducted for her stellar career as a women's volleyball player. Since the introduction of the rally point scoring system in OCAA volleyball, Carlena dominated in almost all statistical categories. When she concluded her career in 2003 she was at the top of many of Redeemer's and the OCAA's career and season statistic records. Ten years later, her name is still etched in the record books in many of those same categories.

Allan Brown was inducted as Redeemer's first ever coach into the Hall of Fame. He was also inducted in the builder category for his role as Redeemer's Athletic Director from 1991-2005.

Brown's coaching career began in 1989-90 when he took over the women's soccer program. Although the team struggled in its first season, it was the beginning of one of the most successful periods of varsity competition for Redeemer in its history. In 1990-91, Al led the women through an undefeated regular season, delivering a silver medal, the first silver league medal earner at Redeemer. That same year, the women would enter indoor soccer competitions and earned the first provincial championship, taking home the gold medal. Al would be named Coach of the Year in outdoor soccer's West Division in four of the next five seasons. His indoor teams would also earn a bronze medal and twice finish fourth overall.

Al retired from coaching after the 1996-97 season as the most decorated coach in Redeemer history.

Below is the full list of awards handed out.

2012-2013 AWARD WINNERS

Women's Outdoor Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Monica Loewen
Most Valuable Player: Carly Voortman

Men's Outdoor Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Craig De Boer
Most Valuable Player: Dirk Van Soelen

Cross Country
Rookie of the Year: Jillian Marquardt
Most Valuable Player: Taylor Kraayenbrink

Women's Volleyball
Rookie of the Year: Kimberly Stewart
Most Valuable Player: Curtiss Straatsma

Men's Volleyball
Rookie of the Year: Max Woodley
Most Valuable Player: David Klomps

Badminton
Rookie of the Year: Carla Hogan
Most Valuable Player: Blair Hogan

Women's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Jesseca Brown
Most Valuable Player: Jesseca Brown

Men's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Josh DeSchiffert
Most Valuable Player: Calvin Turnbull

Women's Indoor Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Sierra O'Connell
Most Valuable Player: April Passchier

Men's Indoor Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Criag De Boer
Most Valuable Player: Josh Elgeti

Coaching Staff of the Year
Wayne Harris & Brad Douwes - Men's Volleyball

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
April Passchier - Women's Soccer/Women's Volleyball

Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Taylor Kraayenbrink - Cross Country

Female Athlete of the Year
Curtiss Straatsma - Women's Volleyball

Male Athlete of the Year
David Klomps - Men's Volleyball

Royal Road to Victory
Carlena Schipper (Van Driel) - Women's Volleyball
Allan Brown - Women's Soccer & Athletic Department Staff

OCAA Academic Awards
Bethany DeHaan - Women's Soccer
Monica Loewen - Women's Soccer
Grace Berkel - Women's Soccer
Leesha DeWeerd - Women's Soccer
Alison denBok - Women's Soccer
Rachel Passchier - Women's Soccer
Carly Voortman - Women's Soccer
Angela Goodwin - Women's Soccer

Gerrit VanAndel - Men's Soccer
Josh DeGroot - Men's Soccer
Joel Zondervan - Men's Soccer
Sydney de Schiffert - Men's Soccer
Matt Koning - Men's Soccer

Nathan Verbaan - Cross Country
Gina Van Haren - Cross Country
Annie Stollery - Cross Country
Danica Thomsen - Cross Country
Taylor Kraayenbrink - Cross Country
Adrianna So - Cross Country
Zachary Duguay - Cross Country
Janae Vlaar-Philbrick - Cross Country

Elise Kollenhoven - Women's Volleyball
Rebekah Wright - Women's Volleyball
Mary Christiaanse - Women's Volleyball
April Passchier - Women's Volleyball

David Klomps - Men's Volleyball
Timon Moolman - Men's Volleyball
Cameron Groenendijk - Men's Volleyball
Max Woodley - Men's Volleyball

Stephen Bowler - Badminton
Janelle Koopmans - Badminton

CCAA Academic All-Canadians
Rachel Passchier - Women's Soccer
Carly Voortman - Women's Soccer
Joel Zondervan - Men's Soccer
Taylor Kraayenbrink - Cross Country
David Klomps - Men's Volleyball

CCAA Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year
Wayne Harris - Men's Volleyball

Source: Redeemer University College