The Du Vivier Team of the Year

Men's Rugby – not only did the UBC men's rugby team sport a perfect 20-0 record, they also won almost every conceivable trophy a rugby team could. The 'Birds won the BC Rugby Championship, the Lower Mainland Championship, defeated the Cal Berkeley Bears in the annual World Cup series and dispatched archrivals UVic to take the Wightman Boot.


 
Men's Swimming – the UBC men's swimming team proved they were both resilient and dominating in 2016-17. Despite injuries to key personnel, the 'Birds still managed to win the Canada West conference handily, before dominating the U SPORTS national championship to claim men's swimming its 16th national championship in UBC history.


 
Women's Swimming – the most decorated team in UBC history added to their amazing record book in 2016-17. The UBC women's swimming team was unstoppable in both the Canada West championships and the U SPORTS championships in bringing home their eye-popping 22nd national title in UBC's history.


 
Women's Volleyball – a somewhat inconsistent start to their 2016-17 season didn't discourage the UBC women's volleyball team. The 'Birds caught fire in the second half of the season, rattling off win streaks of six and nine games. Despite a setback in the Canada West championship match where they lost to Alberta, the squad exacted their revenge when it counted by beating the Pandas three sets to one in the U SPORTS national championship match. The win was UBC's 11th all-time in women's volleyball.


 
Women's Field Hockey – winning one national championship is tough enough, but the UBC women's field hockey team proved in 2016 they are one of the current dynasties of U SPORTS. In a nail-biting shootout victory over rival UVic in the national championship game, the 'Birds were able to capture their sixth straight national championships and 18th of all time.


 

May Brown Award – Graduating Female Athlete

 
Erin Stamp (swimming) – a five-year Thunderbird, Erin ended her varsity career in style, captaining her UBC women's swim team to both the Canada West and U SPORTS championships. At her final U SPORTS Championships, Erin walked away with four medals, a gold, two silvers, and a bronze. She will also walk away with a degree from the UBC School of Kinesiology.


 
Hannah Haughn (field hockey) – during her five years at UBC there wasn't an accolade that Hannah Haughn didn't win. In 2017 she capped her varsity career by captaining her UBC women's field hockey team to their sixth straight national championship, during a thrilling shootout win over UVic. It was Hannah's fifth national title in her five years as a Thunderbird to go along with her degree from the UBC School of Kinesiology.


 
Hillary Janssens (rowing) – after spending the summer in Rio as an alternate on the Canadian Olympic Team, Hillary was a game-changer for the UBC women's rowing team in 2016-17. Her powerful stroke helped the 'Birds to a first place finish at the Western Canada Championships, a second place finish at the Canadian University Championships and finally, a dramatic victory at the 25th annual Brown Cup Race against UVic in March. Hillary will graduate from UBC with a degree in in Science.


 

Bobby Gaul Award – Graduating Male Athlete

 
Alex Webb (baseball) – the prototypical student-athlete, Alex had ten wins and only one loss as the 'Ace' of the Thunderbirds' baseball pitching staff, while earning the status of Academic All-Canadian in the UBC School of Engineering. Alex was selected in the Major League Baseball entry draft in 2016 by the Cincinnati Reds and has since split his time flourishing in professional baseball and continuing his strong work in the classroom en route to graduating from UBC.


 
Jordan Jensen-Whyte (basketball) – the captain of the UBC men's basketball team, Jordan will leave UBC as one of the top defensive players in school history, as evident by his Canada West Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016-17. Loved and respected by his teammates, Jordan was an impact player in his rookie season as a Thunderbird and by the time he played his last home game at War Memorial Gym was the undisputed heart and soul of the UBC men's basketball program. Jordan will graduate this year from the UBC's Faculty of Arts.


 
Bryan Fong (soccer) – during a year where the Thunderbirds men's soccer team lost eight of their eleven starting players from the previous season, Bryan's leadership was integral to the 'Birds having a successful season that saw them make it all the way to the U SPORTS championships. Bryan was a field general for the Thunderbirds at center back, and was equally diligent in the classroom, where he will graduate this year from the UBC School of Kinesiology.


 

Marilyn Pomfret Award – Most Outstanding Female Athlete

 
Danielle Brisebois (volleyball) – Danielle's 2016-17 season for the UBC women's volleyball team had a "storybook ending". She was the relentless leader on and off the court, capturing both Canada West and U SPORTS first team All-star nods. She saved her best work for the national championship tournament, where she led the 'Birds to their 11th title in school history and was named tournament MVP.


 
Kelly Murray (hockey) – the do-it-all defenseman for the UBC women's hockey team was an absolute force on both ends of the ice and named both a Canada West and U Sports First Team All-Star. During UBC's exciting playoff run, which saw them win the Canada West Championship and the U SPORTS bronze medal, Kelly would routinely patrol the UBC blueline for thirty or more minutes per game.


 
Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (swimming) – Erika's first season back with the Thunderbirds women's swim team after a year training for and competing in the Rio Olympics was nothing short of spectacular. Erika earned six medals at the Canada West Champs, including four gold and seven more at U-Sports Championships, including five more gold. Erika's calm under pressure rubs off on her teammates and she has quickly become one of the undisputed leaders of her championship squad.


 

Bus Phillips Award – Outstanding Male Athlete

 
Conor Morgan (basketball) – after the 2016-17 season, which saw his Thunderbirds go 19-1, UBC men's basketball scoring machine Conor was named Canada West Men's Basketball Outstanding Player of the Year. Morgan was dominant at both ends of the court finishing inside the top five in several key Canada West categories, along with winning the conference scoring title by recording more than 23 points per game. To cap his amazing season, Conor was named a national first-team All-Canadian by U SPORTS.


 
Yuri Kisil (swimming) – Fresh off an appearance at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze medal at the FINA World Short Course Championship, Yuri Kisil left his competitors in his wake at the U SPORTS championships. Yuri went on to win an unprecedented 6 gold medals, all in record times, earning him both the Sprinters Cup and Male Swimmer of the Meet awards. More importantly, Yuri led the UBC men's swimming team to the 2017 national championship.


 
Maxwell Lattimer (rowing) – having Maxwell Lattimer on the UBC rowing team is like having 'rocket fuel in the boat' according to his coaches. At the 2016 Canadian National Rowing Championships, Max took home two gold and a silver while being voted Canadian University Athlete of the Year, which he has now won twice. He also won three gold at the Western Canadian University Championships and two gold with Team BC at the Canada Cup regatta.


 

Rookie of the Year (W)

 
Ingrid Wilm (swimming) - in her first year with the UBC women's swim team, Ingrid won more medals than most swimmers would see in their entire varsity careers. She won seven Canada West medals, including six gold, and two more golds and five more silvers at the U Sports championships. Her epic backstroke battles with Canadian Olympian Kylie Masse at the national championships earned her the crown of U Sports Rookie of the Year.



Mairead Bast (hockey) – the future of the UBC women's hockey team is bright with Mairead tending to business on the blueline. Despite injuries limiting her to only 16 regular season games, Mairead still compiled 15 points, the third highest total for a defenseman in U SPORTS. Her incredible play earned her spots of both the Canada West and U SPORTS All-Rookie teams.



Mackenzie Carson (rugby) – Mackenzie made a mark for the UBC women's rugby team by scoring a try in her very first game as a Thunderbird. The fly half would go on to win both Canada West and U SPORTS rookie of the year honors and also earned a spot on Canada's under twenty national team.


 

Rookie of the Year (M)

 
Jerret Smith (hockey) – Despite having to overcome major shoulder surgery before even taking the ice for the UBC men's hockey team, Jerret's impact on the Thunderbirds was wide reaching. Not only did he lead the UBC defense in scoring in 2016-17, he also became an important leader in the dressing room. Jerret was rewarded for his great play by being named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team.


 
Jordan Deshane (volleyball)– Jordan started every game for the UBC men's volleyball team in 2016-17, an amazing accomplishment for a rookie. The Sauder School of Business student was a force as both an attacker and defender for the 'Birds in being named to the Canada West All-Rookie team. He helped UBC to a fourth place finish at the U SPORTS championship, UBC's first national championship appearance in nearly a decade.


 
Markus Thormeyer (swimming) – with a quiet poise and confidence beyond his years, Markus took the U SPORTS swimming scene by storm in 2016-17. Already a Rio Olympian before he had swam his first race as a T-Bird, Markus put on a freshman performance for the ages at the U SPORTS national championship, winning seven medals, including five gold and being name 'Rookie of the Year'.



The 2017 Big Block Awards & Hall of Fame Banquet will be at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Tuesday, April 4th at 6pm. The event celebrate the successes of UBC student athletes and inducts the 2017 UBC Thunderbird Hall of Fame Builders, Team and Athletes.