Varsity Athletics | 4/4/2025 10:00:00 AM
All the best moments, plays and student-athletes were on display Thursday night at the 56th annual York Varsity Athletics Banquet at Paradise Banquet Hall in Vaughan.
It was a clean sheet for Lions soccer on the night’s two biggest awards, as Christian Zeppieri and Nia Fleming-Thompson took home men’s and women’s athlete of year, respectively.
Fleming Thompson, a second-year biology student from Mississauga, Ont., won the women’s athlete of the year award for the first time, making her the fifth soccer player all time to win it. The 2022-23 women’s rookie of the year is also just the third York women’s athlete ever to win both the rookie and athlete of the year over their tenures, joining Stefania Morra and Effie Petrou.
Zeppieri, a second-year accounting major from Maple, Ont., takes home the men’s award for the second straight year, making him the first York athlete ever to win the award in consecutive seasons. He also is just the sixth Lion to win the award more than once, joining Ev Spence, David Coulthard, Doug Wood, Mike Williams and Dontae Richards-Kwok.
A full list of winners is below:
Women’s Athlete of the Year:
Awarded to one woman who has exhibited outstanding athletic skill, character and fair play in their sport, and, as a result, contributed to the success of their team.
Winner: Nia Fleming-Thompson (Soccer)
Men’s Athlete of the Year:
Awarded to one man who has exhibited outstanding athletic skill, character and fair play in their sport, and, as a result, contributed to the success of their team.
Winner:
Christian Zeppieri – Soccer
Women’s Rookie of the Year:
The recipient of this award must be compliant with U SPORTS and OUA rookie of the year sport-specific regulations, and be in their first year of eligibility in university competition. The award is presented to a member of a York women’s varsity team who exhibited outstanding athletic skill in their rookie season.
Winner:
Quinn McTavish – Volleyball
Men’s Rookie of the Year:
The recipient of this award must be compliant with U SPORTS and OUA rookie of the year sport-specific regulations, and be in their first year of eligibility in university competition. The award is presented to a member of a York men’s varsity team who exhibited outstanding athletic skill in their rookie season.
Winner:
Luca Accettola – Soccer
Bryce M. Taylor Award:
Presented to a graduating women’s athlete, who has, throughout their undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to Varsity Athletics at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of Varsity Athletics will be considered qualifications for this award.
Winner:
Ava Ricker-Singh – Hockey
Men’s Outstanding Graduate Award:
Winner:
Connor Senken – Hockey
Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy:
Presented to a student-athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, enthusiasm for life and consideration of others. This trophy is open to male and female student-athletes.
Winner:
Sara McLennan – Women’s Hockey
Coach of the Year:
Presented to a coach who has demonstrated leadership and earned the respect of both athletes and coaches in setting high expectations which have led to significant improvements and/or accomplishments over the past season for their program.
Winner:
Jordan Taylor – Men’s Volleyball
Spirit Cup:
Presented to the individual or group within York University that best exemplifies the spirit of York and the involvement in sport.
Winner:
Dr. Rick Zarnett – Orthopedic Suregon
Sport Council Award:
Presented to the Sport Council member who made outstanding contributions to varsity athletics at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of the Sport Council will be considered.
Winner:
Jade Lew – Field Hockey (Sport Council President)
Most Improved Team
Awarded to the team that has demonstrated the greatest improvement over the previous year.
Winner:
Men’s Volleyball
Director’s Award of Excellence:
Awareded annually to a York University athlete who demonstrates outstanding athletic ability through exemplary accomplishment and commitment to sport.
Winners:
Eric Ginzburg – Men’s Swimming
Brandon Davies-Lyons – Football
2024-25 Team MVP’s:
Men’s Basketball – Liam Rietschin
Women’s Basketball – Kiara Leveridge
Men’s Cross Country – Marco Volpi
Women’s Cross Country – Laura Peters
Field Hockey – Abby Thompson
Football – Brody Clark
Men’s Hockey – Brock McLeod
Women’s Hockey – Ava Ricker-Singh
Women’s Rugby – Caitlin Watson
Men’s Soccer – Kelvin Ramirez
Women’s Soccer – Nia Fleming-Thompson
Men’s Track & Field – Arwin Mathivathanan
Women’s Track & Field – Ella Foster
Men’s Volleyball – Dennis Cota
Women’s Volleyball – Jessica Reynolds
Men’s Wrestling – Stephan Niron
Women’s Wrestling – Prabhleen Randhawa