StFX athletes and coaches earn AUS and CIS accolades in 2011-12

The 2011-12 varsity season saw numerous X-Men and X-Women recognized at both the AUS and CIS levels for their performances on the fields, trails, courts and ice. 

StFX varsity teams accumulated a total of 37 AUS all-star awards, four AUS all-rookies, nine CIS all-Canadian recognitions, two CIS all-rookies and four CIS tournament all-star awards. In addition, 12 AUS major awards were presented to StFX athletes and coaches, and X-Women basketball guard Vanessa Pickard was honored with a CIS award as the top women’s basketball rookie in the country.

Beginning with the AUS champion X-Women rugby team, there were eight AUS all-star nods including Asya Bartley, Olivia DeMerchant, Jamee George, Beth MacNeill, Tyson Beukeboom, Magali Harvey, Amanda Thornborough, and Lisa Gauthier. Beukeboom, Gauthier and Harvey were also honored as CIS all-Canadians, while Beukeboom, Gauthier and Sarah Kaljuvee took home CIS tournament all-star awards. Tyson Beukeboom was named the AUS Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season and head coach Mike Cavanagh was recognized by his peers as the 2011 AUS Coach of the Year. Beukeboom went on to represent the AUS at the prestigious BLG awards as one of four nominees for the CIS female athlete of the year.

The football X-Men had two defensive players and two offensive players named as 2011 AUS all-stars. Linebackers Brett Hubbeard and Raye Hartmann, receiver Jordan Catterall and offensive linesman Colin Wicks all made the cut, while assistant coach Donnie Davis was named the AUS volunteer coach of the year. Hubbeard, along with Jonathan Langma and Dominique Comtois were appointed members of the East team in the annual East-West Bowl game for upcoming CFL draft-eligible athletes.

On the soccer field, veteran X-Men forward Michael Marousek was named an AUS first team all-star, rounding out five consecutive all-star awards in his career. Marousek leaves StFX as the all-time leading scorer in X-Men soccer history with 43 goals. Teammates Jamar Dixon and Max Maund were also named to the AUS first team all-star squad.
Marousek was honored as a CIS first team all-Canadian and Dixon received a CIS second team all-Canadian award.

X-Women soccer defender Meaghan Ramsden was recognized as an AUS first team all-star, while freshman teammate Maura Woodman was an AUS second team all-star. Ramsden also earned a CIS second team all-Canadian award, the first soccer X-Woman to earn all-Canadian status since Christa Barber in 2005.

The AUS champion X-Men cross country team brought in a haul of AUS accolades, sweeping all four AUS major award categories. Individual AUS champion Connor McGuire was named the AUS Male Runner of the Year, Riley Johnston earned AUS Rookie of the Year honors, and Zach MacDonald was the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service award winner. MacDonald also went to represent StFX as the school’s nominee for the AUS James Bayer award, combining athletics, academics and community involvement. Rounding out the men’s cross country major award winners was head coach Bernie Chisholm who was named the 2011 AUS Men's Coach of the Year. McGuire and Johnston were also named AUS all-stars, as was Aaron Doucette and Dennis Kayumba.

In women's cross country, three X-Women received AUS all-star recognition including Natalie Kannenberg, Kelly MacDonald and Melissa Hardy.

Moving to the ice, the X-Men hockey team were led all season by first year forward Michael Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick was named to the AUS all-rookie team while also taking home AUS Rookie of the Year award honors and CIS all-rookie team recognition.

For their regular season efforts, efforts the X-Women hockey team had three players crack the AUS first team all-star list as forwards Alex Normore and Janelle Parent and fifth year captain Suzanne Fenerty (defense) were the StFX representatives. Defenseman Jenna Pitts was named an AUS second team all-star. Last year’s CIS Rookie of the Year, Alex Normore continued her strong play in 2011-12, leading the CIS in scoring, and taking home the AUS Most Valuable Player award. Both Normore and Fenerty were honored as CIS first team all-Canadians.

The X-Women volleyball team had three players recognized by the AUS, as Katherine Ryan was named an AUS first team all-star, Catherine Thornton an AUS second team all-star and Kelsey Wolfenden was named to the AUS all-rookie team.

Looking at the StFX basketball teams, the X-Men had two players finish the season as AUS all-stars as Terry Thomas was named an AUS first team all-star and Jeremy Dunn an AUS second team all-star. freshman Marquis Clayton was named to the AUS all-rookie team. Thomas was also named a CIS second team All-Canadian and took home a CIS tournament all-star award for this outstanding play in the CIS Final 8 tournament where the X-Men won the national bronze medal.

The X-Women basketball team was led by freshman Vanessa Pickard who adapted very well to her first year in AUS competition. She was named an AUS second team all-star, an AUS and CIS all-rookie and won both the AUS and CIS Rookie of the Year awards. Pickard became only the second X-Women basketball player in history to earn a CIS major award, following in the footsteps of Theresa MacCuish who was the 1992 CIS Rookie of the Year.

Switching focus to the StFX indoor track and field teams, the X-Women took home four gold, seven silver and four bronze medals from the AUS championships and had two athletes honored as AUS first team all-stars. Kelly MacDonald (3000m) and Susie Lajoie (60m hurdles and triple jump) earned AUS all-star distinction as the champions in their respective events. The X-Women 4x800m relay team consisting of Tory Anderson, Sarah Deveau, Jessica White and Liz O’Connell also put in a strong performance as AUS champions in their race.

The X-Men track and field team also had two AUS all-stars as Connor McGuire (1500m and 300m) and Max Maund (300m) won individual AUS events. Zach MacDonald was recognized as the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service award winner. In total the X-Men brought home three gold and four silver medals from the AUS championship.

Along with the AUS and CIS accolades earned this season by our StFX athletes and coaches, one StFX coach hit an important milestone in his CIS career. Veteran X-Men basketball coach Steve Konchalski earned his 800th career win on January 7th, 2012. Coach K wrapped up his 37th season behind the helm of the X-Men and is currently the winningest coach in CIS men’s basketball history.

StFX Athletics is guided by Director of Athletics and Recreation Leo MacPherson who wrapped up his first season as the President of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. MacPherson will remain CIS President for the 2012-13 varsity season to complete his two-year term.