In a year where we became all too familiar with the words "cancelled" or "postponed," such as our athletic banquet, we were still able to get creative and issue our 2020 Athletes of Distinction their awards... In person! While it came at a distance with no one there to put their hands together for these well-deserving winners, it was a special moment for three women who have made large contributions to the Mountaineers community throughout their time on campus.
The Athlete of Distinction is awarded each year to athletes in their third, fourth or fifth year who have enriched the Mohawk Mountainer varsity program through achievement, leadership, community involvement and academics.
Congratulations to this year's Athlete of Distinction winners... Sabrina Mariani (Soccer), Alyssa O'Brien (Soccer) and Kinsley Child (Volleyball).
Sabrina Mariani, Women's Soccer - Keeper
3rd Year - Advanced Security Management
Coaches Comments: "Whether it's in net where she excels or the rare opportunity to play striker, she clearly loves the game of soccer. She has been one of the best keepers in the OCAA the past few years, recording numerous shutouts. On the Mohawk Varsity side, she is one of the greatest keepers in our 20 plus year history as coaches. More than that she is a wonderful person to be around, her sense of humour and enthusiasm will be missed."
"I am honoured and humbled to be recognized as a Mohawk Athlete of Distinction. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Mohawk Women's Soccer coaching and support staff as well as my fellow teammates. You have taught me the true value of teamwork and dedication throughout my playing career and I hope and believe that I have learned by the example you've set. I will always look back fondly at my time within the greater Mohawk community and cherish the camaraderie I experienced within the Mohawk Women's soccer family. Thank you again," added Mariani, a three-time OCAA West Division All-Star.
Alyssa O'Brien, Women's Soccer - Centre Back
5th Year - Office Administration, Health
Coaches Comments: "Over her four years she has been the backbone of our defense. Her game knowledge and extreme work ethic have earned her the respect of her teammates and her opponents. She has played soccer all her life and her passion for the game can clearly be seen every time she steps onto the pitch. Every tackle, every pass, every movement on the field is done with a purpose that demonstrates an intellectual knowledge of the game. This matched with skill makes her a formidable player. Her leadership and strong play will be missed in the coming years."
"I am honoured to be named an athlete of distinction alongside two other incredible athletes for the first year of the award, and I hope it inspires the next group of Mountaineers to work hard and truly enjoy every moment they have as a varsity athlete," says O'Brien, the 2016 OCAA West Division, Defensive Player of the Year.
"My athletic experience at Mohawk was one I will never forget. The 4 years I spent at Mohawk had its ups and down from the long nights studying after practices or games to the injuries from every victory to every loss, through it all I had the support of my teammates and coaches. Thank you to the women's soccer team and the coaching staff for making my last years of soccer some of the best I've had in the sport and reminding why I started playing in the first place."
Kinsley Child, Women's Volleyball - Libero
5th Year - Biotechnology Health
Coaches Comments: During her five years as a Mountaineer, she saw the team move from a 6 win team to a 13 win program during her career and her impact on the court has contributed immensely to the programs relevancy and ascent to the top 5. Her work ethic is unmatched as she is an athlete when the lights are off, is working tirelessly on her craft when no one is looking. Her raw emotion and gritty attitude is what makes her one of the toughest athletes to don a Mountaineer uniform. She will go down as one of the best defensive players our program has ever seen.
"It is an incredible honour for me to be named as a recipient of Mohawks first ever Athlete of Distinction award. Throughout my years playing varsity at Mohawk I've always been supported by my teammates and coaches and pushed and encouraged to do the best that I can," says the 2020 OCAA Western Division All-Star.
"My program was a McMaster/Mohawk collaborative program which allowed me to have a Mountaineer student-athlete experience for five years. Those years taught me the importance of teamwork, time management, perseverance and self-motivation and introduced me to some of the best friends that I've ever had."
