Thunder Athletics - 2024/25 Year in Review
EDMONTON, AB – On Friday April 4th, the Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder celebrated the close of the 2024-25 athletic season with their annual Blue & Gold Athletics Awards banquet—a memorable evening filled with great food, well-deserved recognition, and plenty of laughter as we honoured our athletes for their accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom. A special thank you to Tim Cusack for hosting the evening and to our special guests from CUE and the Concordia Students Association for attending.
The Thunder Team Awards that were presented on this night were 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.
The night also recognizes 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 our Thunder Loyalty awards, recognizing graduating student athletes who have consumed all of their 4 or 5 years of athletic eligibility at Concordia University of Edmonton.
See below for a brief recap of each team's season, followed by their team award winners:
Badminton
It was another fantastic year for Thunder Badminton as they continued to bring home more medals. Emma Tran carried on the dominance CUE has had in the Women’s Singles event, capturing gold at the ACAC Championships and silver in the CCAA National Championships. The Men’s Double duo of Jonathan Su and Raphael Motel won silver at ACAC Championships and finished with bronze at the CCAA Championships. Tran and Motel were also selected for the ACAC All-Conference Team, continuing to make their mark in CUE Badminton history.
The team looks to continue to win next year as most players will be back in 2025/26.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Jonathan Su
All Heart Award: Sam Chauhan
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Evan Labonne
MVP: Emma Tran
Men’s Basketball
For the second year in a row, Men’s Basketball finished the season 10-10, making it into the playoffs but eventually being eliminated two games into the tournament.
The team finished with two all-conference players as Yaadvir Dhaliwal received a first-team selection (the second of his career), while 4th-year guard O’Ryan Wallace finished with a second team selection. Dhaliwal finished fourth in the ACAC in points per game with 18.8, while Forward Kyler Dutka was sixth in the ACAC in rebounds per game at 7.8 and second in the ACAC in blocks per game with 1.6.
There will be big changes to the starting lineup next year as four of the five starters are graduating. The team should still be competitive as younger players step up and new recruits shine.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Milton Lendein
All Heart Award: Alex MacLean
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Payton Woodruff
MVP: Yaadvir Dhaliwal
Women’s Basketball
Ending the season with an 8-12 record, Thunder Women’s Basketball grabbed the final spot in the ACAC Basketball Championships this year. After a tough start to the season, the team won 5 of 8 games in January to push them into the postseason. The girls season came to an end after falling in the first round of the playoffs.
Two Women’s Basketball athletes were selected as All-Conference, with Chloe Sutherland and Haley Cleland both being selected to the ACAC Second Team for the first time in their collegiate careers. Sutherland also finished top ten in the ACAC in steals per game with 3.3 and assists per game with 3.9.
Women’s Basketball has a strong veteran group returning with no graduating athletes this season. Next year will also see the return of All-Conference guard Jenna Rinsky, which will give the team more scoring threats in 2025/26.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award + Outstanding Scholastic Award: Jaycee May
All Heart Award: Georgia Bowman
MVP: Chloe Sutherland
Cross Country/Indoor Track
It was a record breaking year for the Thunder Cross Country/Indoor Track team. Ashlee Walker took the ACAC by storm, capturing silver at ACAC Cross Country Championships and winning 4 gold medals at the ACAC Indoor Track Championships on her way to becoming this year's ACAC Indoor Track Female Rookie and Player of the Year. She was also the only CUE athlete this season to be an All-Conference Athlete in both Cross Country and Indoor Track. Domenico Marchese led the way for the men, securing an All-Conference team selection in Indoor Track after winning a silver and bronze medal at championships. The women’s 4 x 200m relay team of Walker, Jaycee May, Laurel van der Giessen, and Ava Rudyk stole the show, winning gold with a new ACAC record time of 1:50.25 at ACAC Indoor Track Championships.
This young group has only two graduating seniors this season. Both teams will look to build on an incredibly successful year in 2025/26.
Thunder Team Awards - Men’s Team
Leadership Award: Markus Boland
All Heart Award: Elkan Ekhator
MVP + Outstanding Scholastic Award: Domenico Marchese
Thunder Team Awards - Women’s Team
Leadership Award: Jaycee May
All Heart Award + Outstanding Scholastic Award: Ava Rudyk
MVP: Ashlee Walker
Curling
Thunder Curling enjoyed another successful season for both their Mixed and Women’s teams. Mixed Curling took home gold and the 2024/25 ACAC Curling Championships while Women’s Curling won silver in ACAC Championships and a trip to the CCAA National Championships for a third year in a row. At nationals, Women’s Curling won bronze, defeating rival SAIT in the medal match.
This is the first Mixed Curling Team Championship for the Thunder since the 2015/16 season and this is also the first time Women’s Curling has medaled at three consecutive CCAA Championships in program history.
With multiple graduating athletes from the women’s team, and the hopes of bringing back men’s curling next year, Thunder Curling could look very different going into next season. Look for head coach Taina Smiley to work her magic and develop the next group of championship curlers right before our eyes.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Sean Borkovic
All Heart Award: Hannah Miller
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Gabrielle Wood
MVP: Payton Sonnenberg
Golf
As expected, it was a year of more banners, awards, and records for Thunder Golf. The group took home the Women’s and Mixed Team Championships again this year, with coach Larry Petryk building a powerhouse of golfers for CUE. This team was led by their female athletes, as Ella Gifford, Lauryn Psutka, and Ava Stach each received an ACAC All-Conference team selection for their stellar performances. Ella Gifford won Female Golfer of the Year for the third year in a row, becoming the first player (male or female) in ACAC Golf history to accomplish that feat.
The men’s team fell just short of medaling on the final day of competition. They were led by Hayden Prins and rookie Evan Couch, who both frequented the Top 10 male golfers at various events. They were also both a part of the Mixed Team along with Ella Gifford and Lauryn Psutka that captured the Mixed Team Championship.
Majority of this championship group is back again next year, paving the way for one of the most dominant stretches of Thunder Golf in team history.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Hayden Prins
All Heart Award: Lauryn Psutka
MVP + Outstanding Scholastic Award: Ella Gifford
Hockey
Thunder Hockey had a season very similar to the previous year, starting out 3-9 in the first half, but following that up by going 8-4 to finish the regular season with a record of 11-13 and in a playoff spot. After defeating the NAIT Ooks in Round 1 of the ACAC Hockey Championships, they fell to the number one seeded Briercrest Clippers in Round 2.
Dylan Handel was a force in his rookie season, leading the ACAC in assists with 24 and points with 38. He went on to win ACAC Rookie of the Year and was selected to the ACAC Hockey All-Conference First Team. Defensemen Zachary Cunningham was also selected to the ACAC All-Conference Second Team for his remarkable play on the blueline. Veteran forward Isaac Leik also finished Top 10 in the ACAC in points with 29, continuing to contribute at a high level each season.
Head Coach Rod Ohlhauser also took home his first ACAC Coach of the Year award, recognizing his incredible work in developing the team to where they are today. Now a regular contender in the playoffs, this team will be looking to get back to the championship final next season.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Zachery Carlson
All Heart Award: Zachary Cunningham
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Andrew Kennedy + Nick Dobson
MVP: Dylan Handel
Men's Soccer
It was a tough season for Thunder Men’s Soccer as the team finished with a 3-8-1 record and were unable to make the playoffs. Bright spots on the team include rookie Duke Naylor, who was selected to the ACAC All-Conference team and Carlos Echeverria who led the team in goals with 4 and points with 8.
The squad looks ahead to next year, trying to improve their standing and be in playoff contention.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Elisha Nyathi
All Heart Award: Hamza Abderemane
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Luke Drapala
MVP: Duke Naylor
Women’s Soccer
Thunder Women’s Soccer had a banner season, winning their first ACAC Championship since 2010. Vanessa Pietramala was dominant again this year, leading the team in goals, assists, and points. She also took home ACAC North Player of the Year and was selected to the All-Conference team along with teammates Mallory McDonald-Cockrall and Madison Kempster. First year head coach Gadeer Sobh also won ACAC North Coach of the Year after taking the team to new heights this season.
Advancing to the CCAA National Championships, the Thunder went 1-2 playing some of the most entertaining games of the tournament. It was a fantastic championship for CUE center midfielder Emma Ward, who’s incredible play saw her selected as player of the game for two of the three Concordia games, as well as being selected as a CCAA tournament all-star.
After their best season in over a decade, the team will be ready to challenge for another ACAC Championship in the Fall of 2025.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Emma Ward
All Heart Award: Madison Kempster
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Ava Rudyk
MVP: Vanessa Pietramala
Men’s Volleyball
It was a difficult season for Thunder Men’s Volleyball who finished the season at the bottom of the ACAC standings. Though their record was not where they wanted it to be, many players had great seasons including fourth year Middle Logan Kranrod, who was third in the ACAC in blocks per set with 0.68 and second in the ACAC in total blocks with 45. Second year Outside Hitter Brodie Wight had a breakout year, leading the Thunder in kills (146), kills per set (2.47), digs (84), and digs per set (1.42).
With no graduating athletes this season and new recruits joining the squad, this group is poised to make noise in the 2025/26 season.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Kurt Niehoff
All Heart Award: Hayden Melnyk
Outstanding Scholastic Award: Alexi Dufour
MVP: Brodie Wight
Women’s Volleyball
Battling in a tough ACAC North Division, it was a challenging season for Thunder Women’s Volleyball. Trying to find their groove throughout the year, both rookies and veterans stepped up to make an impact. Right Side Emma Thompson bounced back after injuries in the first half to lead the team in digs with 132, while graduating senior Sydney Horyn broke the Thunder record for career service aces, now in first with 84. Rookie Stephanie Kendziora had a fantastic first year campaign, leading the Thunder in kills (141), kills per set (2.17), and service aces (21).
There will be many returning athletes back with Women’s Volleyball next year to go along with a strong rookie class brought in by head coach Kerrie Buchberger. The team will be on the rise next year, looking to get back in the playoffs.
Thunder Team Awards
Leadership Award: Emma Thompson
All Heart Award + Outstanding Scholastic Award: Paige Luttrell
MVP + Outstanding Scholastic Award: Sydney Horyn
ACAC Awards
ACAC All-Conference Athletes:
Raphael Motel (BMT)
Emma Tran (BMT)
Yaadvir Dhaliwal (MBB)
O’Ryan Wallace (MBB)
Chloe Sutherland (WBB)
Haley Cleland (WBB)
Ella Gifford (GOLF)
Lauryn Psutka (GOLF)
Ava Stach (GOLF)
Zachary Cunningham (HKY)
Dylan Handel (HKY)
Domenico Marchese (IT)
Ashlee Walker (IT/XC)
Duke Naylor (MSOC)
Madison Kempster (WSOC)
Mallory McDonald Cockrall (WSOC)
Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)
ACAC Coaches of the Year:
Larry Petryk (GOLF)
Rod Ohlhauser (HKY)
Gadeer Sobh (WSOC)
ACAC Rookies of the Year:
Ashlee Walker (XC + IT)
Dylan Handel (HKY)
ACAC Players of the Year:
Ella Gifford (GOLF)
Ashlee Walker (IT)
Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)
CCAA Awards
CCAA All- Canadians:
Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)
Thunder Awards
5th Year Eligibility:
Yaadvir Dhaliwal (MBB)
Milton Lendein (MBB)
Alex MacLean (MBB)
Thunder Loyalty Awards:
Euan Bartlett (MSOC)
Griffin Bowerman (HKY)
Zachary Carlson (HKY)
Luke Drapala (MSOC)
Dante Garritano (MSOC)
Sydney Horyn (WVB)
Carson Kurylo (HKY)
Evan Labonne (BMT)
Domenico Marchese (XC/IT)
Denae Michie (WSOC)
Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)
Theo Teng-Yeng (XC/IT)
Tom Austin Leadership Award (Donated by Dr. Ruth Glancy) - Eligible students are nominated 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:
Kayla Burns (WVB)
Thunder Female Rookie of the Year:
Ashlee Walker (XC/IT)
Thunder Male Rookie of the Year:
Dylan Handel (HKY)
Thunder Female Athlete of the Year:
Vanessa Pietramala (WSOC)
Thunder Male Athlete of the Year:
Dylan Handel (HKY)