<COLOUR AWARDS VIDEOS>
KINGSTON, Ont. (March 27, 2012) – Emily Young (Figure Skating) of Calgary,
Michael Nishiyama (Track and Field) of Edmonton, were named the top student-athletes for the 2011-12 season at the 76th annual Colour Awards Varsity Club athletic banquet Tuesday night at the Ambassador Resort and Conference Centre.
Young was awarded the Marion Ross trophy which is awarded to the top Varsity Club female student-athlete.
The fourth year international business student has enjoyed an outstanding career with the Gaels figure skating team. Emily has been an invaluable team member and Co-Captain over her four year tenure. A top performer, she was a dominant dancer in the OUA, earning four OUA gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals over her career at Queen's.
The three time team MVP was also an academic all-star on three occasions and played a major role in the team's two silver medal finishes and bronze medal finish at the OUA championships.
Nishiyama, a fifth year civil engineering major was named the winner of the Jack Jarvis trophy, which is awarded to the top Varsity Club male student-athlete.
At the CIS level, Michael is a well-decorated athlete, earning three silver medals as part of the 4x800 and 4x400 metre relay teams during his time at Queen's. He has also qualified for the CIS championships in individual events over the past two seasons with his best result coming this year as he finished with a 6th place finish in the 1000m.
Nishiyama has set the bar high for future Queen's runners, as he owns several top three all-time Queen's results in the 600, 800 and 1000 metres as well as being part of the Queen's record in the 4x800 metre relay.
For the second time in as many years, The Award of Merit Trophy was presented Tuesday night to the OUA Champion men's fencing team.
The men's team hosted and won their second consecutive OUA championship with this year's edition ending in a tie breaking Fence-off.
Just as Queen's fencers did in the previous season, they brought home medals every time they competed in 2011-2012. At the OUA Championship the team finished in a tie with the University of Toronto, and after much deliberation the two teams competed in a best of three fence-off where Queen's won two of the three weapon competitions to finish as OUA Champions.
The Alfie Pierce award recipients for the top club rookies of the year were Haley Smith of Uxbridge, Ont. from Cycling and Al Quinsey of Kingston, Ont. from men's fencing. Smith was a top performer for the Gaels racing in the A division and winning every race she and the team competed in this year while being a key piece of the teams second University Cup Championship in as many years. Quinsey entered Queen's ranked 19th nationally in junior men's épeé. Over the OUA season he improved to finish ninth in individual épeé at the OUA Men's Championship and where he and the team finished with an OUA Championship banner.
Throughout the course of the evening, each Varsity Club also honoured their team award winners as the individual team leaders spoke of their team's successes throughout the year.
Tomorrow evening, Queen's Athletics and Recreation will host the Colour Awards Varsity Team athletic banquet. Among the awards announced on Wednesday will be the Varsity Team rookies of the year, Varsity Team of Year as well as the Outstanding Performance of the Year. Also handed out will be the PHE'55 Alumnae Award and the Jenkins Trophy which are awarded to the top fourth or fifth year student-athletes.
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY CLUB AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2011-12
Marion Ross Trophy: Emily Young (Figure Skating)
Award of Merit Trophy: Men's Fencing
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Haley Smith (Cycling)
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Al Quinsey (Men's Fencing)
