Graduating U of S athletes captured the top awards Friday night as Huskie Athletics saluted their best from the 2022-23 season at the Huskie Salute Major 7 Awards.
Fifth year track and field star Kendra Farmer and fifth year volleyball stand-out Dylan Mortenson were presented with the All-Round Female and All-Round Male Athlete honours, respectively, while fifth year Saskatchewan football quarterback Mason Nyhus received the Male Athlete-of-the-Year Award. Fourth year women’s basketball guard Carly Ahlstrom captured the Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award. The Rookies-of-the-Year are women’s basketball guard Logan Reider and football offensive lineman Jack Warrack. In addition, Sean McKay of the men’s volleyball team was named U of S Coach-of-the-Year and the Student-Trainer of the Year is Teegan Krieger of the Saskatchewan women’s hockey team. Following is the complete news release from Huskie Athletics…..
Huskie Athletics Announces 2022-23 Major 7 Award Winners
SASKATOON, SK – Huskie Athletics is proud to announce the winners of the 2022-23 Major 7 Awards. The awards were handed out at the Huskie Salute presented by The Wireless Age on Friday, March 31 at TCU Place.
The Major 7 Awards are given to student-athletes and coaches who have had outstanding seasons for the green and white. The student-athletes made major contributions on their field of play, in the classroom, and in the community as a Huskie. Huskie Athletics also honoured Canada West All-Stars and Major Award Winners, U SPORTS All-Canadians and Major Award Winners, Trainer of the Year, and graduating Huskie student-athletes.
Rusty MacDonald Cup – Presented to the All-Round Male Athlete: Presented to an upper-year male athlete who during his entire career best combined the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, academic ability, and athletic prowess.
Dylan Mortensen – Men’s Volleyball
Dylan was a five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian. Dylan had a huge final season with the Huskies, breaking two Canada West All-Time Records in career kills and career points. He was the U SPORTS leader in kills in the 2022-23 season and will land in the U SPORTS record books in second place for all-time kills in a season.
Nominees:
Evan Fiala – Men’s Hockey
Aaron Hidalgo-Mazzei – Men’s Soccer
Dylan Mortensen – Men’s Volleyball
Mason Nyhus – Football
Valerie Girsberger Trophy – Presented to the All-Round Female Athlete: Presented to an upper-year female athlete who during her entire career best combined the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, academic ability, and athletic prowess.
Kendra Farmer – Women’s Track & Field
Over the course of her career, fifth-year Kendra Farmer took home 13 Canada West and 11 U SPORTS medals, while being a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian. Kendra is also a two-time Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winner and was named the 2022-23 Canada West Female Track Athlete of the Year.
Nominees:
Carly Ahlstrom – Women’s Basketball
Averie Allard – Women’s Volleyball
Kendra Farmer – Women’s Track & Field
SueAnne Harms – Women’s Wrestling
E. Kent Phillips Trophy – Presented to the Male Athlete of the Year
Mason Nyhus – Football
Fifth-year quarterback Mason Nyhus played 51 games for the Huskie football team and was a four-time U SPORTS and Huskie Athletics Academic All-Canadian. In the 2022 season, threw for 3,820 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. Mason etched his name in the Huskie record book for the most passing yards in a regular season, leading the Huskies to back-to-back Vanier Cup appearances.
Nominees:
Michael Akintunde – Men’s Track and Field
Drake Buechler – Men’s Wrestling
Connor Hobbs – Men’s Hockey
Dylan Mortensen – Men’s Volleyball
Mason Nyhus – Football
Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy – Presented to the Female Athlete of the Year
Carly Ahlstrom – Women’s Basketball
Carly is a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, three-time Canada West Champion, and a U SPORTS Women’s Basketball champion. Averaging 20.6 points per game during the 2022-23 regular season, Carly was named the Canada West Player of the Year.
Nominees:
Carly Ahlstrom – Women’s Basketball
Kendra Farmer – Women’s Track and Field
SueAnne Harms – Women’s Wrestling
Jenna McFadyen – Women’s Track & Field
Howard Nixon Trophy – Presented to the Male Rookie of the Year
Jack Warrack – Football
From Strathmore, AB, Jack was a key component to the Huskie offensive line. In his first year with the Huskies, he started every game, helping the team become Canada West and Uteck Bowl Champions, earning second place in the Vanier Cup. He was named the 2022 Canada West Rookie of the Year, an incredible accomplishment for an offensive lineman.
Nominees:
Liam Keeler – Men’s Hockey
Jaron Slopinski – Men’s Soccer
Ethan Smith – Men’s Volleyball
Jack Warrack – Football
Patricia Lawson Trophy – Presented to the Female Rookie of the Year
Logan Reider – Women’s Basketball
Canada West’s Rookie of the Year started every game of the 2022-23 season, averaging 10.9 points per game. She had 87 rebounds and 2022 points in her first season and was named to the 2022-23 U SPORTS All-Rookie team.
Nominees:
Rachel Albertson – Women’s Track & Field
Myah Phillips – Women’s Wrestling
Logan Reider – Women’s Basketball
Taylor Wilkinson – Women’s Hockey
Colb McEown Trophy – Presented to the Coach of the Year
Sean McKay – Men’s Volleyball
In his fifth year as head coach of the Huskie men’s volleyball team, Sean guided his team to a 17-7 regular season record, and a Canada West Bronze Medal. Under his guidance, the team headed to the U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, placing seventh in the nation in the 2022-23 season.
Nominees:
Scott Flory – Football
Sean McKay – Men’s Volleyball
Daniel Olver – Wrestling
Jason Reindl – Track & Field
Dr. Walter Hader Award – Student Trainer of the Year
Presented to a student involved in the Huskie Athletics Student Trainer Program who displays dedicated volunteer service and shows promise in the pursuit of athletic or physical therapy as a profession.
Teegan Krieger – Women’s Hockey
