The Windsor Lancers captured twelve awards at the 7th annual Windsor-Essex County Sports Person of the Year (WESPY) Awards on Thursday night at the Caboto Club.
The WESPY Awards recognize outstanding local athletes for their success and contribution to their respective sports. The awards were based on the athletes accomplishments during the 2011 calendar year.
Jessica Clemençon brought home the evening's top award as the female athlete of the year after a tremendous 2010-11 season. That season, Clemençon was named the CIS BLG Female athlete of the year, the CIS & OUA Women's Basketball Player of the year, and helped lead her team to their first CIS championship. She was also named the evening's female basketball player of the year.
On the men's side, Lancer men's basketball alumnus Isaac Kuon took home the male basketball player of the year. In his final season with the Blue & Gold in 2010-11, Kuon was named the OUA West men's basketball player of the year and an OUA first team all-star.
After capturing the nation and community alike in 2011, the Lancer women's basketball team collected a number of other awards over the course of the evening. With the first ever national championship title, the Lancers took home the Team of the Year award, while head coach Chantal Vallée was named the Coach of the Year, and captain
Emily Abbott was honoured with the Mickey Renaud Leadership Award.
For the second straight year, Lancer Football quarterback Austin Kennedy was honoured as the football player of the year for his outstanding season with the Blue & Gold while basketball star
Bojana Kovacevic was again named the female soccer player of the year for her play with the Caboto Strikers soccer club.
Mike Pio was named the male soccer athlete of the year based on his performances over the 2011 calendar year with the Lancers, Windsor Helenic, and Holy Names High School teams. In his rookie season with Windsor, Pio led all OUA rookies in scoring with 9 goals.
After becoming the first Lancer to ever be named the OUA men's volleyball player of the year, as well as the program's first ever CIS all-Canadian in 2010-11,
Kyle Williamson took home the trophy as the male volleyball player of the year.
Former track & field star Noelle Montcalm was named the female track & field athlete of the year. During the 2011 season, Montcalm captained the Lancers to their second straight CIS championship title as the Lancers set a new CIS record with 151.50 points.
University of Windsor Athletic Director Gord Grace was awarded the inaugural Executive of the Year award. The Lancers have won five national championships over the past two years.
