Football headlines ceremony

Fraser Caldwell

Sports Editor

McMaster brought a symbolic end to a banner season for the Maroon and Grey with the presentation of the Marauders’ year-end awards on Mar. 26.

Unsurprisingly, the landmark achievements of the Vanier Cup winning Marauder football team featured prominently in the Monday night festivities.

The team as a whole was honoured with the Joyce Wignall Award for their combined community service and teamwork, while quarterback and Vanier Cup Most Valuable Player Kyle Quinlan was recognized with the Ivor Wynne Award as McMaster’s premier male athlete of the year.

Following his recognition, Quinlan indicated that the year-end award provided a fitting conclusion to a remarkable year for he and his teammates.

“It’s a nice way to cap off the entire season,” said the Marauder quarterback. “A lot has happened this year, so to get this award is just another thing that I can share with the boys and remember a great year by. It was great to be recognized alongside them. The amount of work that these guys put into community service has been unbelievable, so to see that awarded is great as well.”

Track standout Katie Anderson garnered the yearly accolade as the most outstanding female athlete, winning the Thérèse A. Quigley Award on the strength of a gold medal at the OUA Championship and dual silvers at the CIS national event.

Anderson believes that her success underscores the importance of hard work, as she overcame an extended battle with mononucleosis to roar into the upper echelons of the CIS track hierarchy.

“It provides inspiration in proving the fact that hard work does actually pay off,” said the veteran runner of her award. “Even though initially you’re discouraged, if you do work hard and put a lot in, I think it does eventually pay off. And the reward is definitely worth the wait. I think that pretty much sums up this year and my career in general.”

Marauder men’s soccer captain and CIS All-Canadian Anthony Costa was recognized on Mar. 26 as the graduating male athlete who best represented the spirit of McMaster, taking home the Dr. Ray Johnson Award as a result.

Beyond his exemplary work while donning the captain’s armband, Costa is famous (or indeed, infamous) as the most vocal of supporters of his Marauder colleagues at the Burridge Gym. A fixture at volleyball matches, the fifth-year senior brought his own unique brand of energy to the court week-in and week-out.

Reached in the wake of his recognition, Costa played down his personal role and took time to laud the efforts of his fellow Marauders.

“It sounds cliché but we’re all athletes here and we’re all doing our part to influence this school and create a positive atmosphere,” said the senior. “I’m the loudmouth but other guys are doing other things. I just heard from [football receiver] Matt Peressini for example who’s helping needy kids. So all of the athletes deserve it.

“I do it for a good cause. I love the guys from the volleyball team and they’re definitely my favourite team to cheer for. If it wasn’t for them having a good squad, I wouldn’t be able to do what I did this year and have my name put forth. So all credit to them.”

The Dr. Edna Guest Award – presented to the female graduating athlete with a similar level of athletic accomplishment and dedication to the McMaster community – was bestowed upon volleyball co-captain Meagan Nederveen.

In addition to being recognized as the OUA Libero of the Year for her on-court endeavours, Nederveen has assumed a leading role in several charitable efforts including the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers, Dreams@Mac and the Volleytotz youth initiative.

Nederveen believes that her involvement in volunteer work stems largely from the impact older volunteers had on her own journey as an athlete.

“I think I’ve had a really positive experience in sport, and because of the volunteers that were so involved in that development, I’ve really been inspired to give back to a community that has blessed me with so many opportunities,” said the veteran libero.

Also honoured on Mar. 26 were first-year Marauders Cindy Nelles, Adam Presutti and Jason Buckle, who were named as recipients of the Mel and Marilyn Hawkrigg Outstanding Rookie Award. Cheerleader Lauren Hurst took home the Les Prince Award recognizing her outstanding leadership and community service as a leading member of the Mac Athletes Care program.