VICTORIA, B.C. - The University of Victoria Vikes awarded their major awards and honoured three new inductees into the UVic Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night at the Victoria Conference Centre.

Women's field hockey player Perri Espeseth won the President's Cup, awarded annually to an outstanding student-athlete in their fourth or fifth year who best combines scholastic achievement and athletic ability. Men's rugby player Phil Mack, currently in Hong Kong representing Canada's national men's rugby sevens team, and golfer Anne Balser were the male and female athletes of the year respectively.

Greg Streppel (swimming), Eric Hinrichsen (basketball) and the 1970/71 men's rugby team were the three inductees into the UVic Sports Hall of Fame.




Here are full bios on each award winner:

PRESIDENT'S CUP
The President's Cup is given annually to the outstanding student-athlete in fourth or fifth year who best combines scholastic achievement and athletic ability.

Perri Espeseth, Women's Field Hockey (Duncan, B.C.)

The leading goal scorer in the Canada West and with the Vikes, this 2010 CIS first-team All-Canadian and Canada West first-team all-star was also named to the CIS national championship Tournament all-star team of 11 in Guelph in November. Following the 2009 and 2010 CIS Championship, she was identified as one of the top prospects and asked to train with the senior national team but decided to forgo the opportunity to focus on her fine arts degree with a specialty in theatre. Described by her coaches as one of the hardest working players on the team, she played a major role on the penalty corner unit, offensively and defensively, and was one of the major reasons why the Vikes game up very few goals against and were always a scoring threat on corner opportunities. Perri spends her spare time coaching with the Vikes Rising stars field hockey program and volunteers many hours with the UVic theatre productions on campus
A leader on the field, in the classroom and in the community, 2010-11 President's Cup winner Perri Espeseth.

The other two finalists were women's basketball forward Kayla Dykstra of Calgary and men's cross country and track runner Darren Mazzei of Regina.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The Athlete of the Year awards are presented to one male and one female athlete, based upon outstanding achievements in university competition over the past 12 months.

Male
Phil Mack, Men's Rugby (Victoria, B.C.)

Currently representing Canada's national sevens team in Hong Kong, Phil Mack was a key contributor to the Vikes Rounsefell Cup win in May, 2010, and to advancing to the Barnard Cup championship game in November, Phil Mack is a sure, tough-tackling defender, evasive and big-play rugby star with the University of Victoria. Vikes men's rugby head coach Doug Tate said Mack was the difference for the Vikes last year in taking the team to the championship through inspired play and with toughness.  He said Mack brought a new level of accountability to the team, taking his experience from his captaincy with the Canadian national sevens team and bringing it back to the Vikes. A dedicated player off the field, Tate said Mack is always trying to improve his speed and strength through training with infectious dedication.

The other finalists were swimmer Ryan Cochrane of Victoria and rower Richard Herlinveaux of Sidney, B.C.

Female
Anne Balser, Women's Golf (Digby, N.S.)

Anne Balser won the Canadian University RCGA championship last spring, leading the Vikes to a second place overall finish. A first-team NAIA all-American, she won the Wayland Baptist shootout tournament and UVic shootout tournament last season and represented Canada at the World University Games in Spain, finishing 12th overall – the best finish for a Canadian female. A leader in helping away from the golf course with varsity fundraisers, Anne is also a member of the Vikes events staff team and her quiet dedication and modesty sets an example for everyone around her. Currently coaching with the Vikes team as she has exhausted her NAIA eligibility, Balser will join the Vikes and aims to defend her RCGA title this Spring in Whitby, Ont.

The other finalists for the female athlete of the year award were women's field hockey player Danielle Hennig of Kelowna, B.C., and women's rugby player Jesse Olynyk of Kamloops, B.C.

CHANCELLOR'S AWARD
The Chancellor's Award is presented to a student-athlete, who is an outstanding contributor to his or her team, both in and out of the competition venue. They provide leadership and vision exemplifying the goals of the team.

Darren Mazzei, Cross Country and Track

In addition to his amazing athletic accomplishments, Darren Mazzei has also been a champion away from the track. Despite battling through injury, he's a winner of five straight CIS medals in the men's 4 x 800 metre relay, and five gold medals overall at the past five CIS national championships. Darren was also recognized as the CIS Student-Athlete and Community Service Award winner – an award he also won twice at the Canada West level. A volunteer with the MS Society and Recreation Integration Victoria, Mazzei is also a volunteer coach with the Victoria Running Academy, an elite high-school program. A member of the University of Victoria's Varsity Council for two years, he's also a Vikes track team captain. He volunteers at events like the recent Shoot For The Cure event, VIkes outreach program (school visits), the Times Colonist Book Drive to collect reading material for charity, and even the less-than-glamourous Pacific Athletics manure sale which raises funds for the local Pacific Athletics track club. He's also been a meet official at all-school relays the past five years at UVic.

The other two finalists for the Chancellor's Award were women's rower Alex Marchuk of Calgary and men's rowing coxswain Kayla Smith of Victoria.

ROBERT T. WALLACE SHIELD AWARD
The Robert T. Wallace Shield recognizes the outstanding female and male student-athlete in his or her first year of competition in intercollegiate sports.

Female Rookie of the Year
Jaclyn Sawicki, Women's Soccer (Coquitlam, B.C.)

Jaclyn Sawicki is an outstanding soccer player. A member of the Canadian Under 20 national squad, and a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps, the central midfielder moved up to play striker for the Vikes in the 2010 season, stepping out of her comfort zone to do whatever she could to help the team. She started and played in all 14 league games, scoring a team-high four goals on the season.

The two other finalists for the female Rookie of the Year were rower Renae Barks of Regina and cross-country and track runner Jenna Van Vliet of Calgary.

Male Rookie of the Year
Dustin Dobravsky, Men's Rugby (Saskatoon, Sask.)

Playing for the Vikes varsity team right out of high school, this Number 8 player has already represented Canada at the Under 20 level with the national sevens program.  This past fall, Dobravsky stood out as the best player on the field in a pair of games according to his head coach, Doug Tate.  A strong communicator and dedicated student-athlete, he has a bright future ahead of him.

The other finalist for the award was cross-country and track runner Dylan Haight of Victoria.

PROVOST AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
The Provost Award is presented to a returning student-athlete with the highest academic average in the previous year. This award was presented earlier this year at the Vikes Honour Roll luncheon, when the Vikes celebrated our 72 Academic All-Canadian award recipients.

Jane Anholt, Women's Basketball (Victoria)

Jane has had an accomplished athletic and academic career with the University of Victoria. She is captain of the women's basketball team, president of the Varsity Council, and a four-time recipient of the Vikes Honour Roll. In 2009-10 she earned an 8.25 GPA while studying in the Faculty of Education. 

TIMES COLONIST PUBLISHER'S AWARD FOR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
The Times Colonist Publisher's Award for Community Contributors. This award is presented to those individuals within the community who have made an outstanding volunteer contribution to a varsity program.

Mike Holmes, Rugby

Mike graduated from Law School at the University of Victoria in 1987 and is currently the owner and manager at Pemberton Holmes. He has been active as a Municipal Councilor for Central Saanich from 1992–1995.  He was president of Westmont Montessori School from 2003 – 2005.  He is also the co-founder of the Rugby Canada Foundation.   Influential as founder with the Velox rugby club, the former Vike has also established the Brian Williams scholarship and Howard Gerwing Award, and helped to run UVic's alumni rugby events.

CIRCLE OF CHAMPIONS
Recipients are varsity student-athletes who have competed as a member of a national team or played professionally over the past year. Thirty-five (35) Vikes student-athletes and coaches achieved the honour.

Men's Cross Country and Track
Adam Gaudes, Junior National Team

Men's Field Hockey
Kevin Laidman, Senior National Team
James Kirkpatrick, Matt Sarmento, Sam Jones, and David Bell, Junior National Team

Women's Field Hockey
Danielle Hennig, Senior National Team
Kaitlyn Williams, Senior National Team
Krista Thompson, Goalie Coach, Senior National Team, Assistant Coach of the U19 National Team

Men's Golf
Mitch Evanecz, World University Games, National Men's Team

Women's Golf
Anne Balser, World University Games

Women's Rugby
Randall Hunter, Junior National Team (U-20)
Casandra Stevens,  U-18 National Team

Men's and Women's Swimming
Ryan Cochrane: Pan-Pacifics and Commonwealth Games
Richard Weinberger: World Open Water Champs and Pan-Pacifics
Nick Sinclair:  Pan-Pacifics
Aimeson King: Pan-Pacifics
Hilary Caldwell, Nation's Cup
Craig Dagnall, Nation's Cup
Stephanie Horner, Nation's Cup

Women's Rowing
Renae Barks, Junior National Team

Men's Rugby
Jamie McKenzie, Professional in England (Esher)
Casey Cavers, Junior National Team (U-20)
Mike Fuailefau, Junior National Team (U-20)
Ty Hamblin, Junior National Team (U-20)
Dustin Dobravsky, National Sevens Team, Junior National Team (U-20)
Philip Mack, National Sevens Team
Liam Murray, Junior National Team (U-20)
Beau Parker, National Sevens Team, Junior National Team (U-20)
Keaton Styles, National Sevens Team, Junior National Team (U-20)
Brett Beukeboom, Senior National Team
Sean Duke, Senior National Team, National Sevens Team
Ryan Hamilton, Senior National Team
Nathan Hirayama, Senior National Team, National Sevens Team
Toby Peyton, Senior National Team
Andrew Tiedemann, Senior National Team
Pat Riordan, Senior National Team

Women's Soccer
Jaclyn Sawicki, Under-20 National Team

HIGHLIGHT AWARDS
Recognize the unsung hero on each squad, peer selected for leadership, dedication, community involvement and positive attitude.
• Men's Basketball, Highlight Award winner Jeff Cullen
• Women's Basketball, Highlight Award winner Jane Anholt
• Men's Field Hockey, Highlight Award winner Leo Smyth
• Women's Field Hockey, Highlight Award winner Perri Espeseth
• Men's and Women's Golf, Highlight Award winner Alyssa Herkel
• Men's Rowing, Highlight Award winner Pete Brooks
• Women's Rowing, Highlight Award winner Nora Griffiths
• Men's Rugby, Highlight Award winner Tommy Hartlin
• Women's Rugby, Highlight Award winner Jesse Olynyk
• Men's Track and Cross Country, Highlight Award winner Darren Mazzei
• Women's Track and Cross Country, Highlight Award winner Alicia Roske
• Men's Soccer, Highlight Award winner James Rhodes
• Women's Soccer, Highlight Award winner Nellanna Kurylo
• Men's Swimming, Highlight Award winner David Vizsolyi
• Women's Swimming, Highlight Award winner Kim Bryan