50th Annual CBU Athletics Banquet, presented by Nova Stream
50th Annual Cape Breton University Athletics Awards Banquet
Presented by Nova Stream
The Cape Breton University Athletics Department held their annual athletics awards banquet on Friday, March 21, marking the 50th time the University has held this event. The banquet is held each year to celebrate the accomplishments of each varsity sport season and to acknowledge high-performing student-athletes as well as community members who support the CAPERS.
"I like to say that while awards are a special recognition of individual achievement, the true heart of our athletics program lies in the collective effort," states John Ryan, Director of Athletics and Recreation. "It is about all of us — student athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters — coming together to create something bigger than ourselves."
Student-Athletes, along with coaches, members of the CBU community, sponsors, donors and community stakeholders were in attendance at the Boardmore Playhouse on campus for the presentation of team and department awards.
President and Vice Chancellor, David C. Dingwall, was on hand to present Mitchell Mersereau, a 4th year men's basketball player from Sydney, Nova Scotia, the President's award for the top academic achievement in the 2023-24 academic year.
Shak Pryce, a 5th year men's basketball player from Pickering, Ontario, was named the CBU Male Athlete of the Year. He also received recognition from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) when he was named a 1st Team All-Star and from U SPORTS when he was named a 2nd Team All-Canadian.
Ally Rowe, a 5th year women's soccer player from Kitchener, Ontario, was named the CBU Female Athlete of the Year. Ally had another record-breaking year and was named the U SPORTS Women's Soccer Player of the Year – making her the third student-athlete to receive this award in any sport CBU history.
The CBU Athletics Department also recognized 4 members of the community who have supported our varsity sports program in a variety of ways by presenting them with an Honorary Letter for their contributions. Recipients included Evan MacEachern, a CBU Men's Soccer Program Alumni, Steve Lilley, co-owner of Protocase and Wade Gilbert, Manager of the Sydney River Sobeys. Also presented with an Honorary Letter for her outstanding contribution to the CBU varsity programs was Jenna MacLellan, who has been serving as the statistician for both soccer and basketball since before 2014. The support these three individuals have provided over the years has contributed greatly to the success of CAPERS varsity programs.
A special presentation was made to Donnie Morrison in honour of his 30 plus years of service on the varsity athletics steering committee. In recognition of his long-standing contribution to CAPERS Athletics, the department is establishing the Donnie Morrison Community Champion Award. At next year's CAPERS Awards Banquet and on a go forward basis we will recognize one varsity student-athlete for their outstanding community service.
A reception followed in the Pit Lounge on the CBU Campus, catered by Chartwells with music provided by men's basketball player, Ceejay the DJ.
Here is a complete list of all the awards that were presented during the evening.
Team Awards
Women's Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Haylie Clarke
Outstanding Contribution to Team: Ellie Lancaster AND Ally Wilton
CAPER Award: Becca LeBlanc
Most Valuable Player: Ally Rowe
Men's Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Harvey Hughes
Most Improved: Andre Beecher
Outstanding Contribution to Team: Mateo Goldsztein
CAPER Award: Jason Hartill
Most Valuable Player: Max Piepgrass
Women's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Lily Francois
Most Improved: Emily MacNeil
Outstanding Contribution to Team: Hannah Smith
CAPER Award: Hailey MacLeod
Most Valuable Player: Kiyara Letlow
Men's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Liai Tong
Most Improved: Stefan Anisko
Outstanding Contribution to Team: Tyson Cato
CAPER Award: Mitchell Mersereau
Most Valuable Player: Shak Pryce
Track & Field
Rookie of the Year: Nolan Neville
Most Improved: Hailie Eisan
Outstanding Contribution to Team: Liam Peterson
CAPER Award: Tejvir Grewal Singh
Most Valuable Player: Favour Akachukwu
Atlantic University Sports (AUS) Awards 2024-2025
MSOC
AUS Second Team All-Star: Max Piepgrass
WSOC
AUS First Team All-Stars: Ally Rowe, Ally Wilton
AUS Second Team All-Star: Ellie Lancaster, Grace Hannaford
AUS MVP & AUS All-time career scoring record holder (77): Ally Rowe
Track & Field
AUS 60m Sprint Gold Medalist - Favour Akachukwu
AUS Long Jump Bronze Medalist - David Solanke
MBB
AUS First Team All-Stars: Shak Pryce
AUS Second Team All-Star: Tyson Cato
AUS All-Rookie Team: Liai Tong
WBB
AUS First Team All-Star & AUS All-time career rebound record holder: (1022+ rebounds): Kiyara Letlow
U SPORTS Awards 2024-2025
WSOC
U SPORTS Player of the Year- Ally Rowe
U SPORTS 1st Team All-Canadian: Ally Rowe
WBB Basketball
U SPORTS Second Team All Canadian: Kiyara Letlow
MBB Basketball
U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian: Shak Pryce
Department Awards
Mavs Gillis Award for Top Student Game Day Employee: Meaghan McDonald
CAPERS Strength & Conditioning Award
Male: Liam Peterson, Men's Track & Field
Female: Charly Mitchell, Women's Soccer
The Kathy Reid Memorial Award: Paige Allaby, Women's Soccer
Honorary Letter Awards
Steve Lilley, Protocase
Evan MacEachern, men's soccer alumni
Wade Gilbert, Sydney River Sobeys
Jenna MacLellan, statistician for CBU game days since 2014
Credit Unions Outstanding Performance Award: Ellie Lancaster, Women's Soccer
President's Award
Nominees:
Hailey MacLeod, Women's Basketball
Ellie Lancaster, Women's Soccer
Mitchell Mersereau, Men's Basketball
Nikolai Scheurenbrand, Men's Soccer
Mariah Hervé, Track & Field
Recipient: Mitchell Mersereau, Men's Basketball
Female Athlete of the Year Award: Ally Rowe, women's soccer
Male Athlete of the Year Award: Shak Pryce, Men's soccer