Women’s cross country runner Lauren McNeil and men’s volleyball middle Thys Weststrate were named the 2024-25 UBC Okanagan Heat Outstanding Athletes of the Year on Wednesday as the Heat hosted their Athletic Banquet at the Coast Capri Hotel.
McNeil, a native of Buxton, England, earns the recognition for the second-time in her career after being named the Outstanding Athlete of the Year for women’s sports back in 2021-22 during her exchange year at UBCO. The Masters of Science (Sustainability) student becomes the sixth student-athlete to win the award for women’s sports on multiple occasions.
As for Weststrate, a native of Kelowna, B.C., he is the first Heat men’s volleyball player to earn the Outstanding Athlete of the Year award for men’s sports since Jim Bell in 2014-15.
Both McNeil and Weststrate will receive a $2000 prize courtesy of the Coast Capri Hotel for being named the Heat Outstanding Athletes of the Year.
McNeil was recognized after making UBCO history this season when she claimed the Heat’s first-ever U SPORTS individual gold medal, racing to victory at the national championships in Kelowna at Mission Recreation Park. Her course-record time of 26 minutes and 31 seconds earned her the title of U SPORTS Outstanding Athlete of the Year as well as a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. She also won the individual silver medal at the Canada West Championship, a team bronze medal and a nod as a Canada West First Team All-Star.
Weststrate produced one of the best seasons in men’s volleyball history and was subsequently recognized as the first Canada West First Team All-Star in school history. The athletic middle set several personal and team records for hitting efficiency both in a single match at 0.909 and over the course of the season at 0.451, which was also second best in Canada West. He also finished second in the conference in blocks per set at 0.94, was third in total blocks with 198, and was fourth among middle blockers in total kills with 349, despite missing two games due to injury.
The Heat also recognized their Rookies of the Year at the banquet. Jack McCallum from rugby took home the award for the men’s sports while volleyball’s Olivia Boulding and cross country’s Sophie Hamilton share the award for the women’s sports.
McCallum, from Bishopbriggs, Scotland, was a major part of the success the Heat achieved this year. In just his first season, he set the record for single season points scored with 85 and was voted both this seasons Prairie and National Rookie of the Year and was named as a Second Team All-Canadian by Canadian University Men’s Rugby. His play helped the Heat win their first Prairies U Championship and earn a sixth-place finish at the national championship.
Boulding, a native of Victoria, made an immediate impact on the Heat after transferring to UBCO following a redshirt season at the University of Montana. She appeared in 68 sets over 19 matches, accumulating 210 kills for 3.09 kills per set, 25 service aces, and 24 blocks for a total of 248.5 points. Those stats landed her 11th in Canada West in total kills and 12th in kills per set. She also finished in the top 30 in both categories among all U SPORTS competition. Her performance this year earned her a Canada West Athlete of the Week honor, plus spots on both the Canada West and U SPORTS All-Rookie teams.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, from Salmon Arm, B.C., was a reliable and strong addition to the women’s cross country team this season, helping her squad secure the bronze medal at the Canada West Championship. Individually, she finished 32nd at the Stewart Cup, 23rd at the Canada West Championship, and 44th at the U SPORTS Championship. Thanks to her results at the conference and national championships, she was honoured as both the Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year while also earning a spot on both conference and national all-rookie teams.
The final major awards that the department handed out on Wednesday evening were the Graduating Athletes of the Year which were awarded to men’s soccer’s Jacob York and women’s volleyball’s Amaya Perry.
York has been a staple of the men’s soccer team for six years and five seasons. The defender started 50 of his 63 matches played, ranking him third all-time in team history, while accumulating 4491 minutes played. He recorded four goals and three assists during his career for seven points tying him for ninth all-time in team history.
The two-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian has also been recognized during his time with the Heat as both a Team Leadership & Community Service award winner and the team’s Team MVP.
Perry capped off a stellar six years and five seasons with the Heat this year by becoming the program’s all-time leader for kills with 996, points with 1253.5, and aces with 179. Her aces mark also left the five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian ranked second all-time in Canada West history.
The outside hitter also had the distinction of being the first player in UBCO history to be named the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, a feat she accomplished in her freshman campaign back in 2019-20. That season also saw her take home Canada West Rookie of the Year honours while being named to both the U SPORTS and Canada West All-Rookie teams.
Also recognized on Wednesday evening were each team’s Most Valuable Players and Leadership & Community Service Award recipients.
Team MVPs
M Basketball – Jalen Shirley
W Basketball – Kelsey Falk
M Cross Country – Owen Lloyd
W Cross Country – Lauren McNeil
M Golf – Ryan Gillis
W Golf – Julia Alexander-Carew
M Rugby – Jason Sendall
M Soccer – Ronan Woodroffe
W Soccer – Abigail Taneda
W Softball – Mikhaela Muir
M Volleyball – Zach van Geel
W Volleyball – Natalie Funk
Leadership & Community Service Awards
M Basketball – Cole Koop
W Basketball – Abby Smith
M Cross Country – Caleb Graham
W Cross Country – Ella Wigmore
M Golf – Andrew Rouble
W Golf – Symone Ripley
M Rugby – Patrick Williams
M Soccer – Alex Sol
W Soccer – Nina Louis
W Softball – Sheyanne Lawrence
M Volleyball – Jonah Sutherns
W Volleyball – Sarah Hall
