Henoc Muamba Named CIS Defensive Player of the Year

CIS football
Ottawa’s Sinopoli claims Hec Crighton Trophy
Nov. 25, 2010

Courtesy Canadian Interuniversity Sport 

QUEBEC CITY (CIS) – Fourth-year University of Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli was named the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football player of the year, on Thursday night.

The native of Peterborough, Ont., became the fourth Gee-Gees’ player – all quarterbacks - to claim the prestigious Hec Crighton Trophy after Phil Côté in 1999, Rick Zmich in 1982 and Paul Paddon in 1970.

The other individual award winners announced during the CIS All-Canadian Banquet, presented by Mallette, at the Quebec City Convention Centre were St. Francis Xavier linebacker Henoc Muamba of Mississauga, Ont., who captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player; Laval defensive end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon of Montreal, who received the J.P. Metras Trophy as the most outstanding down lineman; Calgary quarterback Eric Dzwilewski of Boise, Idaho, who claimed the Peter Gorman Trophy as rookie of the year; and Manitoba linebacker Thomas Hall of Winnipeg, who for the second straight year received the Russ Jackson Award for best combining academics, athletics and citizenship.

The winners of the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS coach of the year and of the Gino Fracas Award, honouring a volunteer assistant coach, will be announced Friday morning at the CIS Coach of the Year Breakfast at Loews Le Concorde Hotel.

The Calgary Dinos (9-2) face the Laval Rouge et Or (12-0) in the 46th Desjardins Vanier Cup Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Eastern (9:45 MT) at PEPS Stadium, live on TSN and Radio-Canada.

For all the info on the Desjardins Vanier Cup, visit: www.vaniercup.com.

HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY – Brad Sinopoli (Ottawa)

Sinopoli was sensational in his second season as Ottawa’s starting pivot. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior led the country with 2,756 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes and 184 completions in conference play, all school records. He was also second in the nation and first in the OUA with 301 attempts, another team mark. His completion percentage of 61.1 was good for third in the OUA.

In eight league games, the human kinetics student threw for over 400 yards on three occasions (439, 446, 451) and reached the 300-yard plateau in three more outings (309, 324, 345). He was also the Gee-Gees’ leading rusher with 534 yards on only 42 carries for a CIS-leading average of 12.7 yards per carry. Thanks to his leadership and strong play, Ottawa finished first in the OUA standings with a 7-1 record en route to an appearance in the Yates Cup final.

Sinopoli has been playing football since the age of 14 and credits his father as being very influential in his development, and his love for the game. Back in 2005, his Crestwood high school team was crowned the Ontario Bowl Champions.

“It’s pretty special to have a great athlete like he is. Probably one the best quarterbacks to play here at uOttawa, and still so passionate about learning,” said Ottawa head coach Jean-Philippe Asselin. “He’s very open-minded to new things that our coaching staff will bring to him, and he just keeps getting better.”

The other nominees for the Hec Crighton Trophy were Saint Mary’s receiver and returner Jahmeek Taylor of Mississauga, Ont., Sherbrooke wide receiver Simon Charbonneau Campeau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Saskatchewan quarterback Laurence Nixon of Richmond, B.C.

PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY – Henoc Muamba (StFX)

Muamba, who was also the AUS nominee for the Presidents’ Trophy in 2008, is the third StFX player to claim the award since its inception in 1980 following Adam MacDonald in 2002 and Paul Frlan in 1995. Prior to this year, MacDonald had been the last recipient from the Atlantic conference.

The 6-foot, 230-pound business information systems student was dominant in his fourth season with the X-Men finishing second in the Atlantic and fourth in the country with 63.5 tackles in eight league games, including an AUS-leading 47 solo tackles. He was also in the top 10 in his conference with 11 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks, while adding one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His performances earned him all-Canadian status for the third straight season, including first-team nods two years running.

Muamba, who became the school’s all-time leader this fall with 149.5 career tackles, played in the CIS East West Bowl last spring and back in September, he was ranked the 11th top prospect – the only one from the AUS - for the 2011 CFL Canadian Draft by the league’s Amateur Scouting Bureau.

“There is no question Henoc is a phenomenal athlete, but it’s been his work ethic and study of the game that have turned him into a complete football player,” said StFX head coach Gary Waterman.

A trio of linebackers – Laval’s Frédérick Plesius of Laval, Que., Wilfrid Laurier’s Giancarlo Rapanaro of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Calgary’s Sam Hurl of Calgary - were also in the running for the Presidents’ Trophy.

J.P. METRAS TROPHY – Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (Laval)

Gascon-Nadon is the fourth Laval recipient of the J.P. Metras Trophy in the last decade. He follows in the footsteps of Étienne Légaré (2008), Dominic Picard (2005) and Carl Gourgues (2001).

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound lineman joined the Rouge et Or this year after starting his university career in 2008 at Rice University, where he was named to the Conference USA all-rookie team. He exploded on the CIS scene with eight quarterback sacks in his first six games and could have threatened the single-season national record of 12 had he not been injured in the seventh week of the schedule. His sack total was still good enough for third place in the country while his 17 tackles for losses tied him for the CIS lead. He finished the campaign with 25 tackles, including 19 of the solo variety.

Named to the first all-Canadian team, the industrial relations student helped Laval lead the nation for fewest points allowed for the third consecutive season and the fifth time in the past seven years. The Rouge et Or set a school record in conference play with an average of 6.4 points allowed per outing, en route to a 9-0 regular season, a CIS-record eighth straight QUFL title, a Uteck Bowl win and an appearance in the 46th Desjardins Vanier Cup.

A product of Cegep du Vieux Montréal, where he won multiple awards, Gascon-Nadon represented Canada at the 2007 Global Junior Championship in Florida.

“Arnaud is a dominating force. He is blessed with the rare combination of speed, power and ultimately explosiveness,” said Laval head coach Glen Constantin. “He is equally effective against the run or on passing plays. He is relentless, and his energy level is contagious, making him a great leader.”

Acadia defensive end Adrian Saturley of Terence Bay, N.S., Queen’s offensive tackle Matthew O’Donnell of Kingston, Ont., and Calgary offensive tackle Paul Swiston of Calgary were also vying for the Metras Trophy.

PETER GORMAN TROPHY – Eric Dzwilewski (Calgary)

Dzwilewski, a history student who turned 19 on Nov. 23, is the second consecutive Dino and the third in the last five years to win the Peter Gorman Trophy, following in the footsteps of current teammate Linden Gaydosh in 2009 and quarterback Dalin Tollestrup in 2006. Gord Goodwin also won the award for Calgary, back in 1976.

It was supposed to be a year for Dzwilewski to work under the tutelage of two-time Hec Crighton winner Erik Glavic, but an injury to the starter thrust the Boise, Idaho native into the spotlight just one week into the regular season. In his first start, the 6-foot, 175-pound freshman completed 13 of 20 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns as the Dinos defeated Regina 24-21 to earn their first win of the campaign. For his efforts, he was named Canada West offensive player of the week.

He followed up that first win with three more at Alberta, at Manitoba, and home to UBC and finished his rookie season 4-1 as a starter in Canada West – a key reason the Dinos put up a 6-2 record in conference play.

Dzwilewski, a graduate of Boise’s Centennial High School who spent several seasons as a water boy for the Boise State Broncos, was equally adept with his feet as with his arm. In addition to 894 passing yards, he wrapped up the season with 446 yards on 52 carries, good enough for seventh in Canada West and second on the team in rushing. The Canada West coaches unanimously named him the conference’s rookie of the year.

“You could argue that Eric was the MVP of the Dinos in 2010,” said Calgary head coach Blake Nill. “To have an 18-year-old quarterback step in unexpectedly and win his first four starts speaks volumes of his on-field talent and mindset. Eric is a dual-threat athlete who can make big plays through the air or with his feet. The Dinos will be in good shape with Eric at the helm over the next four years.”

St. Francis Xavier wide receiver Jordan Catterall of Oakville, Ont., Montreal defensive end David Ménard of Chicoutimi, Que., and Queen’s linebacker Sam Sabourin of Stittsville, Ont., were the other finalists for the rookie-of-the-year award.

RUSS JACKSON AWARD – Thomas Hall (Manitoba)

Hall became the fourth double-recipient of the Russ Jackson Award. Alberta’s Carl Panaro (1999, 2000), Saint Mary’s David Sykes (1992, 1993) and McGill’s J.P. Veri (1990, 1991) were also back-to-back winners.

In his third season with the Bisons, the junior linebacker led the team and finished fourth in Canada West with 42.5 tackles, including 33 solo. He also had 4.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

In the classroom, the kinesiology and recreational management student earned CIS Academic All-Canadian status for the second straight year thanks to a GPA of 4.14 and was selected as a CIS Desjardins Top 8 Academic All-Canadian for the 2009-2010 season.

In the community, the Winnipeg native is the Director of Project Echo, a not-for-profit organization that he co-founded in the summer of 2010. Project Echo has a sole goal to make Winnipeg a better place and they have already had three initiatives in the fall of 2010 as they raised money for Winnipeg city libraries, sponsored a home in Namibia, Africa to provide for ten orphan children and raised money for breast cancer. A major project for the holiday season is called Sam’s Christmas, as Project Echo will provide 20 families with hot Christmas dinners, new coats, new bedding, dry goods hampers, computers, toques and mitts.

Over the past year, Hall was also elected as the chair of the University of Manitoba Athlete’s Council (UMAC), received the University of Manitoba Student’s Union Scholarship based on academic record and was the Bison Sports Male Student-Athlete Leadership and Community Development Award winner for the second year in a row. In addition, he has coached Bison football youth camps and a ten-year-old flag football team in the spring season.

As a Manitoba Bisons student-athlete, Hall has been heavily involved over the last three seasons with “Bison Against Bullying” and starts his second season as the co-chair of the program. He has continued to volunteer his time at the Siloam Mission, which is a food shelter for the city’s homeless and disadvantaged people. He was instrumental in creating a new annual event called “The Challenge for Life” for CancerCare Manitoba that has increased awareness for all cancers while raising over $3 million to date after only three years ($1 million was raised in 2010). Hall served as the honourary chair during the inaugural Cancer Care Manitoba’s Challenge for Life Campaign plus also still fundraises and participates in the event every year. 

“Thomas continues to be a person who does great things on and off the field,” said Manitoba head coach Brian Dobie. “He stepped up on the field as a new team captain this season and his leadership in the community is shown with new involvement such as Project Echo along with his many areas he has already assisted now and in the future.”

St. Francis Xavier slotback and education student Kwame Osei of Toronto, Montreal guard and administration student Guillaume Saliah of Paris, France, and Wilfrid Laurier receiver and business student Dillon Heap of Waterloo, Ont., were also nominated for the Russ Jackson Award.

2010 HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY NOMINEES (player of the year)
AUS: Jahmeek Taylor, inside receiver & kick returner, Saint Mary’s
QUFL: Simon Charbonneau Campeau, wide receiver, Sherbrooke
OUA: Brad Sinopoli, quarterback, Ottawa (recipient)
CWUAA: Laurence Nixon, quarterback, Saskatchewan

2010 PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY NOMINEES (defensive player of the year)
AUS: Henoc Muamba, linebacker, St. Francis Xavier (recipient)
QUFL: Frédérick Plesius, linebacker, Laval
OUA: Giancarlo Rapanaro, linebacker, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Sam Hurl, linebacker, Calgary

2010 J.P. METRAS TROPHY NOMINEES (outstanding down lineman)
AUS: Adrian Saturley, defensive end, Acadia
QUFL: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, defensive end, Laval (recipient)
OUA: Matt O’Donnell, offensive tackle, Queen’s
CWUAA: Paul Swiston, offensive tackle, Calgary

2010 PETER GORMAN TROPHY NOMINEES (rookie of the year)
AUS: Jordan Catterall, wide receiver, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: David Ménard, defensive end, Montreal
OUA: Sam Sabourin, linebacker, Queen’s
CWUAA: Eric Dzwilewski, quarterback, Calgary (recipient)

2010 RUSS JACKSON AWARD NOMINEES (outstanding student-athlete & citizenship)
AUS: Kwame Osei, slotback, education, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: Guillaume Saliah, guard, administration, Montreal
OUA: Dillon Heap, receiver & kick returner, business, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Thomas Hall, linebacker, kinesiology and recreational mgt, Manitoba (recipient)

ALL-TIME CIS FOOTBALL MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY (Outstanding Player)
2010 Brad Sinopoli, Ottawa, QB
2009 Erik Glavic, Calgary, QB
2008 Benoît Groulx, Laval, QB
2007 Erik Glavic, Saint Mary’s, QB
2006 Daryl Stephenson, Windsor, RB
2005 Andy Fantuz, Western Ontario, REC
2004 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster, RB
2003 Tommy Denison, Queen's, QB
2002 Tommy Denison, Queen's, QB
2001 Ben Chapdelaine, McMaster, QB
2000 Kojo Aidoo, McMaster, RB
1999 Phil Côté, Ottawa, QB
1998 Éric Lapointe, Mount Allison, RB
1997 Mark Nohra, UBC, RB
1996 Éric Lapointe, Mount Allison, RB
1995 Don Blair, Calgary, REC
1994 Bill Kubas, Wilfrid Laurier, QB
1993 Tim Tindale, Western, FB
1992 Eugene Buccigrossi, Toronto, QB
1991 Tim Tindale, Western, FB
1990 Chris Flynn, Saint Mary's, QB
1989 Chris Flynn, Saint Mary's, QB
1988 Chris Flynn, Saint Mary's, QB
1987 Jordan Gagner, UBC, QB
1986 Blake Marshall, Western, RB
1985 Larry Mohr, Queen's, RB
1984 Phil Scarfone, McMaster, QB
1983 Greg Vavra, Calgary, QB
1982 Rick Zmich, Ottawa, QB
1981 Dan Feraday, Toronto, QB
1980 Greg Marshall, Western, RB
1979 Scott Mallender, Windsor, QB
1978 Jamie Bone, Western, QB
1977 Bob Cameron, Acadia, QB/P/K
1976 Bob Stracina, Acadia, REC/K
1975 Brian Fryer, Alberta, REC
1974 Al Charuk, Acadia, FS
1973 Dave Pickett, Saskatchewan, QB
1972 Andrew Parici, Windsor, QB
1971 Mel Smith, Alberta, REC
1970 Paul Paddon, Ottawa, QB
1969 Dave Fleiszer, McGill, FB
1968 Mike Raham, Toronto, RB
1967 Mike Eben, Toronto REC

PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY (Outstanding Defensive Player)
2010 Henoc Muamba, StFX
2009 Cory Greenwood, Concordia
2008 Thaine Carter, Queen’s
2007 Mat Nesbitt, Regina
2006 Patrick Donovan, Concordia
2005 Patrick Donovan, Concordia
2004 Mickey Donovan, Concordia
2003 Neil McKinlay, Simon Fraser
2002 Adam MacDonald, StFX
2001 David Stipe, Bishop's
2000 Joey Mikawoz, Manitoba
1999 Mike Letendre, Saskatchewan
1998 Warren Muzika, Saskatchewan
1997 Jason Van Geel, Waterloo
1996 Derek Krete, Western
1995 Paul Frlan, StFX
1994 Cory Delaney, Waterloo
1993 Lou Tiro, Toronto
1992 Alex Eliopoulos, Saint Mary's
1991 Ray Bernard, Bishop's
1990 Randy Power, Mount Allison
1989 Mark Singer, Alberta
1988 Leroy Blugh, Bishop's
1987 Brent Lewis, Western
1986 Mark Norman, UBC
1985 Darcy Kopp, Calgary
1984 Larry Oglesby, Mount Allison
1983 Tom Timlin, Carleton
1982 Mike Emery, UBC
1981 Mike Emery, UBC
1980 Rich Payne, Wilfrid Laurier

J.P. METRAS TROPHY (Outstanding Down Lineman)
2010 Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, Laval
2009 Matt Morencie, Windsor
2008 Étienne Légaré, Laval
2007 Scott Evans, Wilfrid Laurier
2006 Chris Best, Waterloo
2005 Dominic Picard, Laval
2004 Troy Cunningham, Concordia
2003 Ibrahim Khan, Simon Fraser
2002 Israel Idonije, Manitoba
2001 Carl Gourgues, Laval
2000 Randy Chevrier, McGill
1999 Tyson St. James, UBC
1998 Garret Everson, Calgary
1997 Mike Kushnir, StFX
1996 James Repesse, Saskatchewan
1995 Harry Van Hofwegen, Carleton
1994 Paul Connery, Bishop's
1993 Paul Chesser, Concordia
1992 Chris Konrad, Calgary
1991 Jason Rauhaus, Manitoba
1990 Chris Morris, Toronto
1989 Chris Gioskos, Ottawa
1988 Veron Stiliadis, Wilfrid Laurier
1987 Pierre Vercheval, Western
1986 Louie Godry, Guelph
1985 Mike Schad, Queen's
1984 Boyd Young, Ottawa
1983 Jim DeSilva, Carleton
1982 Peter Langford, Guelph
1981 Tony Grassa, StFX
1980 Scott McArthur, Calgary
1979 Jim Muller, Queen's
1978 Dave Willox, Alberta
1977 Dick Bakker, Queen's
1976 Gerry Inglis, Alberta
1975 Mark Pothier, Saint Mary's
1974 Bart Evans, Manitoba

PETER GORMAN TROPHY (Rookie of the Year)
2010 Eric Dzwilewski, Calgary
2009 Linden Gaydosh, Calgary
2008 Jordan Verdone, Waterloo
2007 Liam Mahoney, Concordia
2006 Dalin Tollestrup, Calgary
2005 Martin Gagné, Montréal
2004 Kyle Williams, Bishop's
2003 Maxime Gagnier, Montréal
2002 Andy Fantuz, Western
2001 Jeremy Steeves, StFX
2000 Jean-Frédéric Tremblay, Laval
1999 Sébastien Roy, Mount Allison
1998 Kojo Aidoo, McMaster
1997 Paul Carty, StFX
1996 Jeff Johnson, York
1995 Éric Lapointe, Mount Allison
1994 Andre Arlain, StFX
1993 Jerome Pathon, Acadia
1992 Sean Reade, Western
1991 Dominic Zagari, Manitoba
1990 Bill Kubas, Wilfrid Laurier
1989 Chris Banton, Ottawa
1988 Grant Keaney, Mount Allison
1987 Dan Farthing, Saskatchewan
1986 Michael Soles, McGill
1985 Mark Brown, Carleton
1984 Jeff Funtasz, Alberta
1983 Paul Nastasiuk, Wilfrid Laurier
1982 Mike Fabilli, Ottawa
1981 Glenn Steele, UBC
1980 John Hutchinson, Mount Allison
1979 Joey Tynes, StFX
1978 John Lowe, Guelph
1977 Gord Goodwin, Calgary
1976 Jim Reid, Wilfrid Laurier

RUSS JACKSON AWARD (athletics, academics, community involvement)
2010 Thomas Hall, Manitoba
2009 Thomas Hall, Manitoba
2008 David Hamilton, Toronto
2007 Clovis Langlois-Boucher, Sherbrooke
2006 Naim El-Far, Ottawa
2005 Dan Parker, Mount Allison
2004 Nathan Beveridge, UBC
2003 Curt McLellan, Queen's
2002 Lincoln Blumell, Calgary
2001 Josh Alexander, Wilfrid Laurier
2000 Carlo Panaro, Alberta
1999 Carlo Panaro, Alberta
1998 Jean-Philippe Darche, McGill
1997 Sam Stetsko, Alberta
1996 Sean O'Neill, Carleton
1995 Ted MacLean, Saint Mary's
1994 Steve Papp, McGill
1993 David Sykes, Saint Mary's
1992 David Sykes, Saint Mary's
1991 J.P. Veri, McGill
1990 J.P. Veri, McGill
1989 Jock Climie, Queen's
1988 Andrew Allison, Mount Allison
1987 Elio Geremia, Calgary
1986 Charlie Galunic, Queen's

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-one universities, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca.