9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂ

The celebrated some of the university's most accomplished athletes last Thursday (April 2) at the annual Black and Gold Athletic Awards, with runners Cara MacDonald and Lukas Rudaitis taking home Athlete of the Year honours.

²Ñ²¹³¦¶Ù´Ç²Ô²¹±ô»åÌýof New Glasgow, N.S., this year's recipient of the Class of '55 Award for female athlete of the year, had a record-breaking season, posting 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ bests in the 600m, 1000m, and 4x800m relay. She captured Atlantic University Sport (AUS) gold medals in the 600m and 4x400m relay, along with a bronze in the 1000m, earning AUS First Team All-Star recognition. On the national stage, she claimed a U SPORTS silver medal in the 600m and anchored the 4x800m relay team to a fourth-place finish, earning Second Team All-Canadian honours.

Rudaitis of Mississauga, Ont., capped off his U SPORTS career with an outstanding season. He earned AUS gold medals in the 600m and 4x400m relay, as well as a silver in the 1000m. A member of the record-breaking 4x400m relay team, he was also named AUS Track Athlete of the Year and an AUS First Team All-Star. At the U SPORTS Championships, he placed fourth in the 600m and earned bronze in the 1000m. For his achievements, he was awarded the Climo Award for male athlete of the year.

The President’s Award recognizes student-athletes who best combine athletics, academics, leadership, and fair play. This year’s female co-recipients are soccer midfielder Megan Chiasson and swimmer Emilie Schofield, while soccer defender Jack Ellis was named the male recipient.

Emilie Schofield, left, and Megan Chiasson.

Chiasson is described as a supportive and selfless teammate who consistently celebrates the success of others. An AUS First Team All-Star, team MVP, and U SPORTS All-Canadian, she excelled while playing multiple positions and remained one of the most impactful players on the field. Over her six seasons with the Tigers, she has also earned Academic All-Canadian honours each year.

Schofield has led by example in the pool, classroom, and community, earning Academic All-Canadian status for five consecutive years. She won 14 AUS events this season, including a clean sweep at both the Kemp-Fry Invitational and AUS Championships, earning AUS All-Star recognition. At nationals, she was the top female points scorer for both 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ and the AUS. She concludes her career ranked prominently across 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂ’s all-time swimming top 10 lists.

Soccer player Jack Ellis, left, and soccer coach Alan Jazic, named Coach of the Year.

Ellis has been an exceptional leader throughout his time with the Tigers. An AUS All-Star, U SPORTS All-Canadian, and team MVP, he consistently elevates his play while setting the standard for those around him. Known for his ability to both challenge and support teammates, Ellis brings people together and drives the team toward a common goal through his strong and balanced leadership.

µþ²¹²õ°ì±ð³Ù²ú²¹±ô±ô’s Cairo Henning, swimmer Declan Nolan, and track and field athlete Jacob White were named Rookies of the Year.

Henning, the AUS Rookie of the Year and a U SPORTS All-Rookie Team selection, averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game over 20 contests. Logging nearly 700 minutes, she was a steady and reliable presence on the court.

Cairo Henning.

Nolan made an immediate impact in the pool, showcasing the potential to become one of 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂ’s top backstrokers. He earned AUS Rookie of the Year honours and secured a U SPORTS qualifying win in the 200m backstroke at the AUS Championships. At nationals, he contributed points in two individual events and two relays.

White was a consistent contributor at both the conference and national levels. Named AUS Rookie of the Year and an AUS First Team All-Star, he posted the second-fastest 300m time in 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ history and anchored the 4x400m relay team to a school record.

Jacob White, left, and Declan Nolan.

Complete list of award winners:

Women’s Basketball

Tiger of the Year – Simona Matic
MVP – Cairo Henning

Men’s Basketball

Tiger of the Year –Riley Stewart
MVP – Lydell Husbands-Browne

Women’s Cross Country

Tiger of the Year – Danielle Keefe
MVP – Molly Pert

Men’s Cross Country

Tiger of the Year – Riley Cuthbert
MVP – Alex Rogers

Women’s Hockey

Tiger of the Year – Casey Beisel
MVP – Grace Beer

Men’s Hockey

Tiger of the Year – Zak Smith
MVP – Brody Fournier

Women’s Soccer

Tiger of the Year – Ella Halliday
MVP – Megan Chiasson

Men’s Soccer

Tiger of the Year – Sinclair Astridge
MVP – Jack Ellis

Women’s Swimming

Tiger of the Year – Amari Delima-Baril
MVP – Emilie Schofield

Men’s Swimming

Tiger of the Year – Cameron Carlyle
MVP – Quinn Nolan

Women’s Track & Field

Tiger of the Year – Maja Husain
MVP – Cara MacDonald

Men’s Track & Field

Tiger of the Year – Rylan Murphy
MVP – Lukas Rudaitis

Women’s Volleyball

Tiger of the Year – Brooke Graham
MVP – Annik Boldon

Men’s Volleyball

Tiger of the Year – Gabe Moshett
MVP – Jacob Oyler

Women’s Curling MVP – Grace McCuster

Men’s Curling MVP – Caelan McPherson

Volunteer of the Year – Emilie Calabrese, Kelly Wadden

Manager of the Year – Logan Smith (men’s basketball)

Eye of the Tiger – Gracie Dalton (women’s basketball)

Trainer Team of the Year – Men’s Hockey, Jesse Lowan, Sara Pluta, Magdelena Klunder and Caitlyn Wagner

Coach of the Year – Alan Jazic (men’s soccer)

Rookie of the Year – Cairo Henning (women’s basketball), Declan Nolan (men’s swimming), Jacob White (men’s track & field)

President’s Award – Megan Chiasson (women’s soccer), Emilie Schofield (women’s swimming), Jack Ellis (men’s soccer)

Class of ’55 Award (female athlete of the year) – Cara MacDonald (women’s track & field)

Climo Award (male athlete of the year) – Lukas Rudaitis (men’s cross country/track & field)