Thunder Athletics - 2023/24 Year in Review

EDMONTON, AB – The Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder hosted their annual Blue & Gold Athletics Awards banquet on Friday, April 5th to mark the end of the 2023-24 athletic season. A night of fantastic food, award presentations, and lots of laughter, to acknowledge our athletes for their achievements in sport and academically.

“Our student-athletes are over-achievers,” said CUE President and Vice-Chancellor Tim Loreman. “That is what we celebrate and recognize at our annual Athletics Banquet. Not only do they find time for practice and competition in their chosen sport, but they also contribute to campus life in other ways, such as through volunteer efforts. All this while maintaining what are often outstanding grades in their chosen field of study. I am so proud of them, and we all benefit from the positive spirit that they bring to CUE.”

The night gets started with the Thunder Team Awards, where we awarded the Thunder Leadership Award, All-Heart Award, Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award, and the MVP Award. The Thunder Leadership award goes to a student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to their team and teammates and is a leader both on and off the field of play and in the classroom. The All-Heart award recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates the attributes of a true team player and places the success of the team ahead of their own no matter the circumstances. The Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award goes to the athlete with the highest GPA on their team and shows a strong dedication to their education. Lastly, the MVP Award is exactly as you know it, awarded to the athlete most valuable to their team based on their play in season.

We also recognized all ACAC and CCAA awards, including the All-Conference Athletes, ACAC Players and Rookies of the Year, CCAA All-Canadians, Coaches of the Year, and the Tom Austin Sportsmanship Award. Lastly, we recognized all 5th-year student-athletes who have completed their ACAC careers, and Thunder Loyalty awards, recognizing athletes who spent their entire university career with Thunder Athletics. To finish the night, we awarded the Thunder Rookies of the Year and Players of the Year. All in all, it was an incredible night of recognition and Thunder pride.

See below for a brief recap of each team's season, followed by their team award winners.

Badminton

Thunder Badminton continued its run of program success during the 2023-24 season. At ACAC Championships, the team captured their first ACAC Team Championship since 2018-19. The group was led by fourth-year player Jasleen Kaur who captured a gold medal in Women’s Singles and a bronze in Mixed Doubles with partner Jonathan Su. Rookies Emma Tran and Raphael Motel also medaled at the ACAC Championships, with Tran capturing bronze in Women’s Singles and Motel also earning bronze in Men’s Doubles with partner Jonathan Ko. Motel and Kaur also both received ACAC All-Conference selections for their stellar play all season.

With her play in the ACAC Championships, Kaur moved on the play in the CCAA Badminton Championships held at Seneca College in King City, ON. In the Women’s Single division, Kaur finished second, bringing home a silver medal to add to her trophy case. She also finished the year as a CCAA All-Canadian and a CCAA Academic All-Canadian.

After a very successful year, Thunder Badminton will look to continue the program's winning standards in 2024.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Evan Labonne

All Heart Award: Jonathan Su

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Jasleen Kaur

MVP: Jasleen Kaur

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball program finished their season with a 10-10 record, good for fourth place in the ACAC North Division. After making the playoffs, the team fell to NAIT in their first-round matchup 77-75.

The Thunder finished with two ACAC All-Conference players as Yaadvir Dhaliwal received a first-team selection, while 5th-year guard Nick Gibb finished with a 2nd team selection to finish his ACAC career. Dhaliwal ended the year fifth in the North Division in points per game (16.1), third in assists per game (3.6), and third in the ACAC in free throw percentage (84.8%). Other notable performances this season include Mirza Todorovac finishing second in the ACAC in 3-point percentage (46%), Kyler Dutka leading the Thunder in rebounds per game (7.4) and blocks per game (1.4), as well as Gibb leading the team in steals per game (2.1).

Though big parts of the leadership group will be graduating, men’s basketball is in a great position to be in the playoff hunt again next season.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Milton Lendein

All Heart Award: Jaxon Kolesar-Lafault

Outstanding Scholastic Award: David Wilmes

MVP: Yaadvir Dhaliwal

Women’s Basketball

Thunder women’s basketball ended the regular season third in the ACAC North Division with a 10-10 record. After making the playoffs, the team fell to The King’s University in their first-round matchup 70-64.

Women’s Basketball also finished with two ACAC All-Conference athletes, with Rachel Harvey selected for the ACAC first team and Jenna Rinsky earning a 2nd team selection. Harvey ended her season fifth in the ACAC in points per game, fourth in rebounds per game, fifth in field goal percentage, and first in the CCAA in blocks per game. She also set new Thunder records for blocks in a season with 51 and blocks in a career with 96. Rinsky provided the offensive spark for the Thunder, finishing second on the team in points per game (13.9) and first in three-point shooting (29.3%). Other notable performances this season include rookie standout Chloe DeKlerk, leading the team in steals per game as well as finishing top 3 in rebounds per game (4.3), assists per game (2.2), and blocks per game (0.7).

With only two graduating athletes this season, women’s basketball will be ready to compete atop the ACAC North standings once again next season.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Hannah Mitchell

All Heart Award: Chloe DeKlerk

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Jaycee May

MVP: Rachel Harvey

Cross Country

The Thunder cross-country team came into the 2023-24 season looking to stand strong with a mixture of first and second-year athletes, as well as returning veterans.

2023 was another banner year for runner Leonard Chesoo, who finished in the top 5 in all three races he competed in, including a first-place finish in the 8km race at Grand Prix #4 hosted by U of A Augustana with a time of 26:24. He then finished the ACAC season capturing 2nd place at the ACAC Championships 8km race with a time of 26:21. From there, Chesoo qualified for CCAA National Championships where he won a CCAA title in the 8km race with a time of 24:37. His third CCAA title in 5 years. With an ACAC 2nd place finish and a CCAA gold medal, Chesoo was named both an ACAC All-Conference and CCAA All-Canadian athlete for the 2023 season.

The cross-country program looks to build on this year's success as they start back up again in the fall.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Luke Stewart

All Heart Award: Markus Boland

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Luke Stewart

MVP: Leonard Chesoo

Curling

Thunder Curling finished their season full of awards. After both the men’s and women’s teams finished second at the ACAC Championships, men’s team Third Matthew Wasylenko received an ACAC All-Conference selection, first-year player Brenna Bilassy won ACAC Women’s Curling Rookie of the Year, and second-year skip Sean Borkovic won the ACAC Men’s Curler of the Year.

Both teams advanced to the CCAA Curling Championships in Fredericton, NB, where the women’s team won the National Championship. The first national championship for women’s curling in Thunder history. At the end of the championships, Gabrielle Wood, Rachel Jost, and Payton Sonnenberg were CCAA First Team All-Stars, and Bilassy finished as a CCAA Second Team All-Star. Additionally, men’s team Lead James McCabe received the CCAA Exemplary Leadership Award for the second year in a row.

Thunder Curling will look to continue their dominance next season. For a full story on the year click here.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Matthew Wasylenko

All Heart Award: Ayrwyn Cousins

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Cameron Molberg

MVP: Gabrielle Wood

Golf

2023 brought another year of success for the Golf program. At the North Regional, hosted by Concordia, the team finished 3rd in the mixed team event, 2nd in the men’s team event, and 1st in the women’s team event. The men’s team was led by Hayden Prins finishing 5th as well as Riley Higdon (13th), Aaron Menor (15th), and Joby Raine (16th) all finishing in the Top 20 individually. All three women individually finished in the Top 10, with Ella Gifford finishing in 1st, Lauryn Psutka finishing in 7th, and Ava Stach finishing in 10th.

At the South Regional in Medicine Hat, our men’s team again finished 2nd, led by Higdon (5th), Prins (6th), and Raine (8th), who all finished in the Top 10 individually. Our women’s team finished 1st, leading the event by 15 strokes. It was a repeat performance for the women, as all three finished in the Top 10 individually yet again, with Gifford finishing in 1st, Psutka finishing in 7th, and Stach finishing 10th.

At ACAC Championships in Red Deer, the team captured championships in the women’s team event and mixed team event, while claiming 2nd in the men’s team event. Prins, Higdon, and Raine finished in the Top 10 for the men, while Gifford, Psutka, and Stach finished in the Top 10 for the women for the third tournament in a row. Their success in the ACAC led to a trip to the CCAA National Championships for Ella on the women’s side, as well as the entire men’s team.

The success didn't stop there as the program saw Ella Gifford, Riley Higdon, and Hayden Prins selected as ACAC All-Conference Athletes. The team also took home some hardware with Gifford winning the 2023 ACAC Female Golfer of the Year award for the second year in a row and Prins taking home the 2023 Men’s Golf Rookie of the Year award.

There’s tons of momentum for the golf program going into next season, with sights on more championships in 2024.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Riley Higdon

All Heart Award: Ava Stach

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Riley Higdon

MVP: Ella Gifford

Hockey

A slow start led to a fantastic finish for the men’s hockey program. The team finished their season with a record of 9-15, securing the final playoff spot. Once playoffs began, the Thunder turned it on, beating rival NAIT in the first round, followed by sweeping the number one seed Briercrest on the way to the ACAC Championship against Red Deer. Though they came up just short, the Thunder still finished with a silver medal and playoff we won’t soon forget.

Notable players for the Thunder include Isaac Leik and Tyler Schendel tied for the team lead in points with 22, Zachery Carlson leading the team in goals with 13, and the goalie tandem of Griffin Bowerman and Ashton Billesberger posting a combined .932 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average throughout the playoff run.

With most of this year's leadership group graduating from the program, the Thunder will look to build a new core of players to take them on their next run.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Brandon Wallis

All Heart Award: Brant King

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Hunter Leslie

MVP: Tyler Schendel

Indoor Track

The indoor track program saw some new and returning players join the team this season. At the ACAC Championships hosted at the University of Alberta Universiade Pavilion, Domenic Marchese earned a bronze medal in the men’s 300m dash with a time of 37.27 and for the first time in program history the men’s relay team won bronze in the 4x200m relay event with a time of 1:37.73.

With many indoor track athletes returning next season, look for this group to continue to medal in various events.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Markus Boland

All Heart Award: Jaycee May

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Jaycee May

MVP: Domenico Marchese

Women’s Soccer

It was a year of awards, medals, and new records for the women’s soccer team as they capped off their season going 11-0-1, allowing only 2 goals all regular season. To finish the year, the CCAA nationally ranked squad won bronze at this year’s ACAC Championships. This season saw Breanna Callander, Monica Dickson, Audrey French, and Vanessa Pietramala each earn ACAC All-Conference selections, with Pietramala also earning ACAC North Player of the Year, CCAA All-Canadian, and CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Coach Franco Imbrogno also won ACAC North Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year for the second year in a row and for the fourth time in his ACAC career.

The success continued for the program as the group broke 4 different team records by the end of the season. Callander now owns the record for most goals scored in a Thunder career with 40, Dickson set the record for most clean sheets in a season with 9, Pietramala set the record for most assists in a season with 16 and she currently holds the ACAC record for career assists with 27.

Women’s soccer will have seven graduating seniors this season, the most of any Thunder team. The program will look to continue where they’ve left off and build on the team’s success in 2024.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Breanna Callander

All Heart Award: Elizabeth Crothers

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Abigail Burton

MVP: Vanessa Pietramala

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer program proved to be competitive all season, finishing with a 4-6-2 record good for 5th place in the ACAC north, just outside of the playoffs. The Thunder attack was led by Ahmed Abubaker, who was also the ACAC goals leader with 12 and the ACAC scoring leader with 29 points. Records continue to be broken for Thunder Athletics with third-year goalkeeper Rostyslav Leha setting a new program record for career saves with 113.

The Thunder finished the season on a three-game winning streak and look to take that momentum into 2024 to make noise in the ACAC North Division.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Josh Acevedo

All Heart Award: Euan Bartlett

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Euan Bartlett

MVP: Dante Garritano

Men’s Volleyball

It was a development year for Thunder Men’s Volleyball as the team had the youngest group in the ACAC. With 13 first-year players and finishing the season with a 2-17 record, the focus shifted to gaining experience and building the program for the future.

Second-year Libero Parker Hicks stood out for the club finishing the season second in the ACAC in digs per set (2.40), and eighth in the ACAC in total digs (132). Setter Kai Rosnau also was a leader for the Thunder finishing top ten in the ACAC in assists (405) and assists per game (6.53). Among the rookies it was Outside Hitter Alexi Dufour who made an immediate impact, leading the Thunder in kills (148), and kills per set (2.43).

Look for this young group to take a big step forward in 2024.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Kurt Niehoff

All Heart Award: Hayden Melnyk

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Alexi Dufour

MVP: Kai Rosnau

Women’s Volleyball

Thunder Women’s Volleyball’s playoff hopes came down to the final game of the year. With a loss to Briercrest College in their final game, their record moved to 7-12 and they missed out on the playoffs due to a tiebreaker scenario with Keyano College. Though it was a tough end, the team was competitive all season, highlighted by a hot January where the team won three of four games that month.

Thunder Libero Renae Regal continued her dominance on the court, finishing her Thunder career second all-time in digs (890) and second all-time in digs per set (3.40) while fourth-year Left Side Kara McIntyre moved into fourth all-time in Thunder digs (724) and fifth for career sets played (277). Jolene Cooke and Emma Thompson also stood out this season, each finishing either first or second in kills and kills per set, while middle Sydney Horyn led the Thunder in service aces (29) moving her into fifth all-time in Thunder career aces (65).

Women’s Volleyball will look to push for the playoffs again next season with a group getting better each year.

Thunder Team Awards

Leadership Award: Kara McIntyre

All Heart Award: Tanisha Cronin

Outstanding Scholastic Award: Andreia Neudorf

MVP: Renae Regal

ACAC Awards –

ACAC Coaches of the Year:

Franco Imbrogno (WSOC)

ACAC Rookies of the Year:

Brenna Bilassy (CURL)

Hayden Prins (GOLF)

ACAC Players of the Year:

Sean Borkovic (CURL)

Ella Gifford (GOLF)

Jasleen Kaur (BMT)

Vannessa Pietramala (WSOC)

ACAC All-Conference Athletes:

Jasleen Kaur (BMT)

Raphael Motel (BMT)

Yaadvir Dhaliwal (MBB)

Nick Gibb (MBB)

Rachel Harvey (WBB)

Jenna Rinsky (WBB)

Leonard Chesoo (XC)

Matthew Wasylenko (CURL)

Ella Gifford (GOLF)

Riley Higdon (GOLF)

Hayden Prins (GOLF)

Breanna Callander (WSOC)

Monica Dickson (WSOC)

Audrey French (WSOC)

Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)

ACAC Minor Official of the Year:

Sarah Silva

CCAA Awards –

CCAA All-Canadians:

Leonard Chesoo (XC)

Jasleen Kaur (BMT)

Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)

CCAA Academic All-Canadians:

Breanna Callander (WSOC)

Monica Dickson (WSOC)

Audrey French (WSOC)

Nick Gibb (MBB)

Ella Gifford (GOLF)

Riley Higdon (GOLF)

Rachel Jost (CURL)

Jasleen Kaur (BMT)

Payton Sonnenberg (CURL)

Matthew Wasylenko (CURL)

Gabrielle Wood (CURL)

CCAA Exemplary Leadership Award:

James McCabe (CURL)

CCAA Player of the Year:

Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)

Thunder Department Awards –

Fifth Year Athletes:

Josh Acevedo (MSOC)

Breanna Callander (WSOC)

Leonard Chesoo (XC)

Tanisha Cronin (WVB)

Elizabeth Crothers (WSOC)

Monica Dickson (WSOC)

Madison Gamache (WSOC)

Nick Gibb (MBB)

Riley Higdon (GOLF)

Sara Hrywkiw (WSOC)

Hannah Mitchell (WBB)

Renae Regal (WVB)

Thunder Loyalty Awards:

This award is presented to graduating 4th or 5th-year student-athletes who have consumed ALL of their eligibility at Concordia University of Edmonton.

Josh Acevedo (MSOC)

Brian Bailer (GOLF)

Breanna Callander (WSOC)

Leonard Chesoo (XC)

Elizabeth Crothers (WSOC)

Monica Dickson (WSOC)

Audrey French (WSOC)

Madison Gamache (WSOC)

Riley Higdon (GOLF)

Sara Hrywkiw (WSOC)

Jasleen Kaur (BMT)

Milton Lendein (MBB)

Hunter Leslie (HKY)

Brooke Lesoway (WSOC)

Alec MacLean (MBB)

Kara McIntyre (WVB)

Jayden Munguia (MSOC)

Rylan Nivon (HKY)

Tyler Schendel (HKY)

Brandon Wallis (HKY)

Tom Austin Leadership Award (Donated by Dr. Ruth Glancy) –

Eligible students are nominated by team coaches based on their outstanding sportsmanship and commitment to the team as demonstrated by virtues such as fairness, civility, integrity, courage, and persistence. This year’s winner is:

Jasleen Kaur (BMT)

Thunder Female Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Brenna Bilassy (CURL), Chloe DeKlerk (WBB), Emma Tran (BMT/WVB)

Winner: Brenna Bilassy

Thunder Male Rookie of the Year

Nominees: Ashton Billsberger (HKY), Raphael Motel (BMT), Hayden Prins (GOLF)

Winner: Hayden Prins

Thunder Female Athlete of the Year

Nominees: Jasleen Kaur (BMT), Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC), Gabrielle Wood (CURL)

Winner: Jasleen Kaur

Thunder Male Athlete of the Year

Nominees: Leonard Chesoo (XC), Yaadvir Dhaliwal (MBB), Tyler Schendel (HKY)