ASAGWARA, WIEBE NAMED ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Thursday, March 22, 2007 – The University of Winnipeg is very pleased to announce that women’s basketball player Uzo Asagwara and men’s volleyball player Richard Wiebe have been chosen as the 2006-2007 University of Winnipeg Female and Male Athletes of the Year.
Uzo Asagwara in her fifth and final year of eligibility year had her best season as a Wesmen. The 5’9” guard from St.Norbert Collegiate was named a second team All-Canadian as well as earning a spot on the Canada West Conference First All-Star Team. Asagwara led the CIS in scoring with an impressive 28.0 ppg average during the regular season. A team co-captain this past season, Asagwara played a big part in leading the Wesmen to a 14-8 regular season record and first place in the Great Plains Division. Uzo was named both Canada West and CIS Female Athlete of the Week (week ending January 7, 2007) when she scored 61 points in a pivotal two game series against the University of Manitoba Bisons. She was named University of Winnipeg Female Athlete of the Week five times during the 2006-07 season. Uzo will receive her degree in Science with aspirations to become a psychiatric nurse. She has been named an Academic All-Canadian on four occasions. Asagwara was also named the University of Winnipeg Female Athlete of the Year last season.
The University of Winnipeg Male Athlete of the Year Richard Wiebe a 6’4” outside hitter completed his fifth and final year in grand style. Wiebe was a member of the gold medal winning Wesmen team that won the CIS Men’s Volleyball Championship in Hamilton earlier in March. At the Nationals he was named to the Tournament All-Star Team and was named the Winnipeg Wesmen Player of the Game vs Laval. Richard was named a First Team All –Canadian and a First Team Canada West Conference All-Star. Wiebe, had a solid regular season in helping the Wesmen to a 14-4 regular season record, and second place in the Canada West Conference standings. He finished the regular season with 209 kills, 94 defensive digs and 15 service aces. Wiebe led the Wesmen in total kills in eight regular season matches during the 2006-07 season. Wiebe, ranked in the Canada West top 10 with a hitting percentage of .341. He was named a Tournament All-Star at the University of Manitoba Invitational Tournament during the pre season. Richard was named University of Winnipeg Male Athlete of the Week two times this past regular season (October 30, 2006 and January 29, 2007). Richard is majoring in Arts with a future goal to earn a degree in the Education field.
Complete List of Award Winners:
University of Winnipeg Female and Male Athletes of the Year:
Richard Wiebe (Men’s Volleyball) – Male Athlete of the Year
Keith Cooper Memorial Award: (Excellence in Community Services):
Jae Pirnie (Women’s Basketball)
Dave Anderson Award: (Outstanding Service in the Advancement of Athletics):
Ted & Marilyn Redekop
Fourth Year Player Awards:
Erfan Nasajpour, Matt Opalko, Dan Shynkaryk (Men’s Basketball)
Jill Hanson, Nina Adusei, Stefanie Timmersman (Women’s Basketball)
Trevor Shaw, Ben Schellenberg, Martin Rochon (Men’s Volleyball)
Nicola Dirks (Women’s Volleyball)
Fifth Year Player Awards:
Will Bergmann (Men’s Basketball)
Uzo Asagwara, Jae Pirnie (Women’s Basketball)
Richard Wiebe (Men’s Volleyball)
Senior Student Athletic Therapists Awards:
Howie Eugenio (Women’s Basketball)
Kristi Cunnington, Melanie Telastas (Women’s Volleyball)
Clayton Cross (Men’s Volleyball)