London, ON - Thursday marked the culmination of the 2022-23 athletics season at Alumni Hall, as the 82nd edition of the Mustangs Athletic Awards Celebration took place. 

"Western Mustangs student athletes contribute to making Western University one of the most athletically dominant schools in the nation, and an integral part of the academic success of our institution." says Christine Stapleton, Director, Sports & Recreation. "We are equally purple and proud of how they consistently model the way for what it means to be engaged on campus and within the London community, working hard to promote and support innovation and positive change." 

Western's athletes and teams were celebrated and recognized, with team MVP Awards, Bronze W's, and Purple Blankets awarded, and the winners of the G. Howard Ferguson, the Female and Male Athlete of the Year, F.W.P Jones and Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy announced.

G. Howard Ferguson Award

The G. Howard Ferguson Award is presented to a senior student in any faculty of the University who is considered to have attained the highest achievement during a university career encompassing athletics, scholarship and college life. The award was started at Western in 1932.

This year's recipient of the G. Howard Ferguson Award is Karissa Riley, Women's Rowing.



"[Karissa Riley] is the epitome of a student who is embracing all three dimensions of university life – fitting for this award" – M. Blair Evans, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Western University

"As an out of province student, Western has really become my family in Ontario," said Riley. "I love my teammates and can't get over how important they are in my life. I'm going to miss getting up at 5am to train with them. It's been super special to be apart of."

Athletes of the Year 

Athlete of the Year is presented annually to a male and female student athlete who have achieved outstanding success representing Western at the provincial or national level in the season. 

This year's female nominees are:

• Women's Volleyball Team: Janelle Albert, Women's Volleyball
• Sophie Coutts, Cross-Country and Track & Field
• Shona Braton, Swimming Team

Janelle Albert was 1st in the OUA and 3rd in U SPORTS in points per set, and 1st and 4th in aces per set respectively. Albert also tied the program single match points record with 32 points against Toronto, and set three new program records in season kills, career kills per set, and career points per set. Albert was awarded 1st Team All Star and MVP in the OUA and 1st Team All Canadian in U SPORTS. 

Sophie Coutts finished 2nd place at the Marauder Bayfront Open and 4th in the Loyola Lakefront Invitational for cross country and 1st place in the Don Wright Invitational for track and field. Coutts finished 3rd place at the OUA Championships for cross country and 2nd place for track and field. Coutts was awarded 1st Team All Star in the OUA for both cross country and track, and 1st Team All-Canadian by U SPORTS in cross country. She also was a 2^nd team All Canadian; won U SPORTS Silver in 3000m, and Bronze in 4 x 800m relay.

And this year's winner of Female Athlete of the Year is Shona Branton. Shona finished 1st in the OUA in the 50 breaststroke, and 1st in U SPORTS in the 100 breaststroke. Branton also finished 5th and 4th in the OUA and U SPORTS in the 200 breaststroke respectively, and 2nd in the OUA in the 4x100 Medley Relay and 4x50 Medley Relay. Branton was awarded 1st Team All Star in the OUA and 1st Team All Canadian by U SPORTS for her achievements. 

"Swimming gets overlooked a lot because it's not a super popular sport," said Branton. "Winning this award and bringing awareness to our team is awesome. We work really hard throughout the year and have the longest season training from September until March. I'm so proud."

Shona also recognized the important role head coach Paul Midgley has played throughout her university career. 

"[My experience at Western] has been incredible," concluded Branton. "I came here having high hopes and Paul helped me stay with those. He helped take me to the next level. Western wouldn't be Western without him."



This year's male nominees are:

• Keon Edwards, Football
• Kenneth West, Track & Field
• Treye Trotman, Wrestling

Keon Edwards was a OUA and Yates Cup MVP, and was 1st in all rushing categories in the OUA. Edwards was awarded 1st Team All Star in the OUA and 1st Team All Canadian, alongside being recognized as OUA Offensive MVP. 

Kenneth West set a Western record with his 2nd place finish at OUA's in triple jump and is ranked 3rd all time in long jump and 1st in triple jump. West is the number 2 all time triple jumper in the OUA. West was a 1st team All-Canadian; won U SPORTS Gold and broke the decade-old record with a new lifetime best of 16.24m. He also placed 4th at U SPORTS Nationals in Long Jump.

And this year's winner of Male Athlete of the Year is Treye Trotman. Trotman went an undefeated 24-0 this season and took home six gold medals in six tournaments, outscoring his opponents 156-3 while also winning OUA's and U SPORTS Championships. Trotman was awarded OUA Rookie of the Year, OUA Outstanding Wrestler and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, alongside 1st Team All Star and 1st Team All Canadian honours.

"I wasn't really expecting it. I did pretty well throughout OUAs and U SPORTS, so I was really happy with that," said Trotman. "But it actually means a lot because me and my teammates worked hard this year, and same with my coaches. It's pretty special to win it."
Only in his first year, Trotman is excited to build off of his success in the years to come. 

"Last year at my high school I was nominated but didn't win athlete of the year," said Trotman. "The next years here coming up can only get better. This is the starting point. I just have to work harder from here."



The F.W.P Jones Trophy and Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy are awarded to the female and male student athletes who made the most outstanding contribution to intercollegiate athletics during their careers. 

Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy

The nominees for the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy are:

• Ryan Evans, Track & Field
• Jared Hendricks-Polack, Track & Field
• Daniel Valente, Football

Ryan Evans competed in the heptathlon, and is finishing his Western career with many accolades as a school record holder, a four time OUA medalist, OUA Field Event MVP, and a four time top seven U SPORTS finisher. Ryan is currently ranked 1st in U SPORTS. 

Jared Hendricks-Polack is a school record holder in the heptathlon and was the 2019-20 team MVP, is currently ranked 7th in U SPORTS, and is a 1st team All-Canadian. Hendricks-Polack also won gold in the U SPORTS Heptathlon with a score of 5190 points

And this year's winner of the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy is Daniel Valente Jr., who is a 4-time Yates Cup Champion and 2-time Vanier Champion. Valente is also a 3-time OUA All-Star and 3-time U SPORTS All-Canadian at free safety. In 2021 Daniel was awarded the Vanier Cup Defensive MVP, and was awarded the OUA Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2022. 

"It means a lot to me," said Valente. "Just looking at the other names that have been on the trophy before and knowing the history and careers they've had, it's special to be regarded in the same list as them. I'm just grateful. [Western is a] family. The people I've met here will last me forever." 



F.W.P. Jones Trophy

The nominees for the F.W.P Jones Trophy are:

• Ariane Saumure, Women's Basketball
• Janelle Albert, Women's Volleyball
• Karissa Riley, Women's Rowing

Ariane Saumure is finishing her Western career in the top 20 all time in the program in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals despite a COVID-cancelled season and another one shortened due to COVID. Saumure was an Academic All-Canadian all four years of her career, and was awarded OUA Defensive Player of the Year twice. 

In two competitive seasons for the Mustangs, Janelle Albert was named OUA 1st Team All Star, OUA Player of the Year and 1st Team All Canadian. Janelle has been the team MVP for two consecutive seasons, leading the team in points, kills, aces and digs. She has also been an OUA and U SPORTS leader in points, aces and kills per set throughout her career as a Mustang. 

And the winner of this year's F.W.P. Jones Trophy is Karissa Riley. Riley is finishing her Western career with four OUA gold medals and one silver, as well as four gold medals at the Canadian University Rowing Championships. Riley has also represented Canada multiple times at the international level. Karissa ranks top five-all time on Western's 2000m ergometer leaderboard, and has set multiple all-time best on-water times. As mentioned above, Riley also took home the G Howard Ferguson Award at the ceremony, which is awarded to a senior student who is considered to have attained the highest achievement during a university career encompassing athletics, scholarship, and university life.  

"This is an incredible award to receive especially in your graduating year," said Riley. "I'm so thankful for my teammates who have helped me get to this point. I'm incredibly excited to be a Western Alumni and to see my team fight for the 10th consecutive banner. I'm excited to watch them do that."



Purple Blankets

Purple Blankets were also presented to student athletes who achieved superior distinction at the provincial or national level of competition as representatives of Western, and are awarded based on both academic and athletic achievements. Recipients must have participated in athletics for a minimum of three years and must have earned a minimum of three first colours.

The 2022-23 recipients of the Purple Blankets are:

• Megan Deering - Swimming 
• Elisa Bolinger - Rowing
• Keon Edwards - Football
• Janelle Albert - Volleyball
• Ryan Evans - Track and Field
• Elliot Hunt - Squash
• Franco Sproviero - Hockey 
• Clara Campbell - Figure Skating
• Karissa Riley - Rowing
• Ella Rennie - Swimming 
• Savaughn Magnaye-Jones - Football
• Ariane Saumure - Basketball 
• Elliot Beamer - Football

"It means the absolute world. I remember seeing everyone else receive one in first year and seeing how amazing those athletes are, so to be regarded on that level is a huge honour," said recipient Ryan Evans. "I've been here for a couple years now and Western has really done a lot for me both athletically and academically. I owe it all to my coaches and training partners and it means the world to receive this at Western."

And while this season comes to a close, Evans recognizes the importance of cherishing every bit of the journey. 

"Enjoy every second of it," concluded Evans. "It goes by really quick so don't take anything for granted and give it your all at everything you do.

Congratulations to all of our athletes and teams on an incredible season.

Stay tuned through April and May as we launch this year's Mustangs Season of Celebration, where we will celebrate each of our Mustangs Team MVPs, Bronze Ws, and major award winners daily across our Mustangs digital platforms (social and web).