Stingy defence and a nose for the soccer ball made UNBC Timberwolves defender Gordon Hall a first-team Canada West all-star in his final season of eligibility in the U Sports.
Hall made the all-star team in three of five season with the T-wolves and on Friday he was recognized as the school's male athlete of the year for the second consecutive year. With Hall on the case guarding the defensive end, UNBC allowed just 24 goals in 15 games.
In what turned out an historic season for UNBC in which the female soccer team and male and female basketball teams each made the Canada West playoffs, basketball forward Vasiliki Louka stood out as the T-wolves' female athlete of the year for the third straight year.
The native of Athens, Greece joined Hall as the only T-wolves ever to be picked as first-team Canada West all-stars. Louka led Canada West in rebounding with 12.7 per game, finished in the was top 10 in points (17.3 average) and blocks (1.1 per game). She also had 17 double-doubles, second all-time in a Canada West season, and became UNBC's all-time leader in points, rebounds, minutes, and blocks.
In other T-wolves awards presented Friday night soccer striker Anthony Preston was named the t-wolves male rookie of the year. Preston, a Prince George native, started four of the T-wolves' 14 games and finished with two goals and two assists and his four points ranked second in team scoring.
Soccer midfielder Kiana Swift was the female rookie of the year. The Sooke native started all 14 games and was held off the scoreboard but produced 20 shots on goal.
Basketball guard Emily Holmes and soccer forward Francesco Bartolillo each received the KJM Sales Timberwolf Award for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. Bartolillo won the award in 2017 and 2018 and was selected for the U SPORTS National Student-Athlete Community Service Award. Holmes is president of the Timberwolves Student Athlete Society and like Bartolillo has shown leadership spearheading community and fundraising projects.
UNBC Timberwolves awards 2018-19
Female athlete of the year - Vasiliki Louka, women's basketball
Male athlete of the year - Gordon Hall, men's soccer
Female rookie of the year - Kiana Swift, women's soccer
Male rookie of the year - Anthony Preston, men's soccer
KJM Sales Timberwolf Award (for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service) -
Francesco Bartolillo, men's soccer/Emily Holmes, women's basketball.
Team awards
Men’s basketball
Rookie of the year - Chris Ross/Spencer Ledoux
Zane Robison Award - Vova Pluzhnikov
Best defensive player - Austin Chandler
Most outstanding player - Jovan Leamy
Most inspirational player - Vaggelis Loukas/James Agyeman
Practice wins leader - Vaggelis Loukas
Women’s basketball
Best defensive player – Maria Mongomo
Most improved player – Madison Landry
Rookie of the year - Lucy Guan/Cevanna Carlson
Leadership Award – Abby Gibb
Most valuable player – Vasiliki Louka
Women’s soccer
Offensive player – Paige Payne
Defensive Player – Mara McCleary
Green & Gold Award – Robyn Zinkan
Most valuable player – Madison Emmond/Paige Payne
Men’s Soccer
Golden boot – Francesco Bartolillo
Defensive player - Gordon Hall
Coach’s award – Francesco Bartolillo
Most valuable player – Gordon Hall
