KINGSTON, Ont. (March 27, 2024) - Leda Naihin and Brady Hennigar were named the Queen's University Varsity Teams First Year Players of the Year for the 2023-24 season during the 88th Colour Awards banquet Wednesday night at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC).

The Alfie Pierce Trophy, first presented by Arts '47 as a tribute to Alfie Pierce who gave a lifetime of dedication to training and helping Queen's inter-university teams. It is now awarded annually to a male and female student (both Varsity Clubs & Varsity Teams) who has contributed the most to inter-university athletics in their first year at Queen's.

Naihin (Kinesiology and Health Studies) was named the OUA East Division Rookie of the Year this past season.

In Naihin's first season with the Gaels, the forward finished with eight goals and 12 points in 12 games in the regular season. Naihin's goals and points totals were also both in the Top 10 in each category in the OUA.

Naihin was also named an OUA East Division First Team All-Star for the 2023 season.

"A dynamic and highly technical wide player, Leda brought a new level of excitement to our front three," said Queen's Women's Soccer Head Coach Dave McDowell. "Confident, ambitious, hard-working and full of trickery, she was the most exciting first year player in the country in 2023."

Hennigar (Education) earned his way to starting every single game this year as a first year player on a veteran offensive line. An OUA All-Rookie selection, Brady was a big part of the offensive line that helped pave the way for running back Jared Chisari's Queen's record-breaking season, rushing for 1,178 yards this past season, and a big part of Queen's Football's offence that set the single-game points scored record at Queen's, 87 against York.

"Brady is one of the leaders amongst his freshman class, he has a great work ethic, attention to detail, and is driven to improve each and every day," said Queen's Football Head Coach Steve Snyder.