Local sports awards honour Lancer student-athletes

Olympian Melissa Bishop was named female athlete of the year and UWindsor women’s basketball was named team of the year, leading a contingent of Lancer athletes to win recognition at the Windsor Essex County Sports Persons of the Year awards ceremony Tuesday.

Bishop (BHK 2010, B.Ed 2011) also won the female track and field athlete of the year award after becoming just the third Canadian woman ever to run the 800 metres in under two minutes and competing for Canada at the 2012 London Olympics.

A native of the Ottawa Valley town Eganville, Bishop said she appreciates the support of her adopted home.

“I’ve been in Windsor six years now and it feels like home more now than ever,” she said. “Windsor’s been very good for me.”

The WESPY Awards recognize outstanding local athletes for their success and contribution to their respective sports. This year’s awards were based on accomplishments during the 2012 calendar year, which explains why the Lancer women’s basketball team was honoured for its second national title.

UWindsor swept the basketball category as all-stars Miah-Marie Langlois and Lien Phillip were named the female and male basketball athletes of the year, respectively.

Other Lancer winners included:

  • All-Canadian receiver Jordan Brescacin, football player of the year after his 68 catches in 2012 set a new Ontario University Athletics career mark.
  • Forward Candace Rapchak, female hockey player of the year, graduated as UWindsor’s all-time leading scorer in women’s hockey.
  • Will Alexander, male volleyball player of the year.
  • Lancer rookie Matt Beaudoin, honoured with the prestigious Mickey Renaud Captain’s Leadership Award for his outstanding leadership during his final season with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Read the full story, “Seven Lancers capture WESPY awards,” at goLancers.ca.