Sudbury's Clare Beatty was named Laurentian University's Female Athlete of the Year, while veteran soccer star Chris Miles was selected Male Athlete of the Year at the annual Laurentian Voyageurs Athletic Awards Dinner recently.
Beatty has been a standout on the Lady Vees basketball team for four years, but this year proved to be one of Canada's top university players. Beatty earned MVP at the Laurentian invitational and Waterloo invitational tournaments and was also recognized as MVP for the Ontario East division and defensive player of the year in the division. She was named an All-Canadian and national defensive player of the year.
Miles, also a fourth-year student, was a leader both on and off the field for the soccer Vees. Not only was he recognized as one of the best defenders in Ontario, but he lead the Vees in scoring, which is almost unheard of for a defensive player. Miles was named MVP in three games and Laurentian's top male athlete of the week on numerous occasions.
Nordic skier Alison Jeffkins, who was an Ontario all-star, Lady Vees cross-country running team captain and on-campus contact Krista Bolyea and nordic ski team veteran Chris Algar were Voyageur Award winners.
The 2001-2002 Special Voyageur Award was presented to Jeno Tihanyi for his outstanding contribution to Laurentian athletics.
For the past 30 years, Tihanyi has been head coach of the varsity swim team and has helped produce numerous champions.
