The VIU Mariners played like champions in 2024-25, and student-athletes were honoured for those efforts at a year-end awards ceremony last month.
Vancouver Island University’s athletics department held its awards April 12 at Malaspina Theatre.
Volleyball players Aimee Skinner and Colby Soolsma were chosen for Athlete of the Year honours. Skinner was PacWest Player of the Year and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian, and MVP of provincials as her team won the PacWest title and went on to earn bronze at nationals. Soolsma was also a CCAA All-Canadian as he led the conference in aces and was second in total offence, and helped the Mariners men to bronze at provincials. Both Skinner and Soolsma are moving up to U Sports in the fall, with Skinner headed to UBC and Soolsma to York University.
VIU’s Rookie of the Year awards went to soccer players Avery Henderson and Charlie Smith. Henderson and Smith were previously chosen for PacWest Rookie of the Year honours, with Smith leading VIU in goals and finishing second in the PacWest in goals.
The Mariners Academic Excellence Awards went to soccer player Mya Creed and volleyball player Owen Dyck, both from VIU’s bachelor of science program.
The Reid Davidson Memorial Awards for unsung heroes in the soccer program were presented to Matthew Coburn and Asuka Okabe.
Other unsung hero award winners were basketball players Mackenzie Hall and Breandan Mclaughlin and volleyball players Regan Ingram and Dyck.
As well, badminton coach Alf McGuire was added to VIU’s Wall of Fame in the builder category.
For a complete list of award winners, visit http://mariners.viu.ca.
