Trent University student-athletes, staff and special guests came together for a night of celebration at the 55th annual Athletics Awards to recognize Excalibur student-athletes for their hard work and sportsmanship throughout the year. 

The event held in the Trent Athletics Centre also featured a special tribute to outgoing Trent president and vice-chancellor Dr. Leo Groarke. In his remarks, Nathan McFadden, director of Athletics & Recreation, thanked President Groarke for his support of Trent Athletics, saying “Throughout his tenure, President Groarke has been a champion for Excalibur student-athletes. His vision and dedication have been instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence, sportsmanship, and inclusivity that defines our Trent Excalibur community.” 

Director McFadden also made special mention of a generous donation to the Excalibur Fund in support of varsity athletics by Trent Board chair Debra Cooper Burger. The gift was matched by both President Groarke as well as Dr. Cathy Bruce, president-designate and current vice president of Research & Innovation at Trent.  

 “This collaborative effort between the university’s top leadership members exemplifies their dedication and commitment to enriching the student-athlete experience and fostering a culture of success and excellence,” said McFadden. “Excalibur student-athletes aren’t just competitors; they are ambassadors of our character and values here at Trent University and the embodiment of the Excalibur spirit. This funding will allow them to continue to foster the Excalibur culture of excellence and we are so appreciative of this significant donation and the support that we receive from these three exceptional leaders.” 

Recipients of Trent’s 2023/24 Athletics Awards, including the inaugural Rookie of the Year and Athlete of the Year awards, are as follows: 

Arthur Cup

Varsity student-athletes Jocelyn Whent (women’s lacrosse) and Grayson Tucker (men’s rugby) were honoured as the recipients of the Arthur Cup, the University’s most prestigious award for students in the final undergraduate year who have made significant contributions, demonstrated sportsmanship, participation, and leadership in athletics programs. 

Jocelyn Whent (Gzowski), a Kinesiology student with the women’s lacrosse team, has had an outstanding career as an Excalibur. During her four seasons with women’s lacrosse, Jocelyn earned two OUA gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal. As a key part in the team’s strong offence, she contributed significantly to their success in OUA Championships. As a senior on the team, Jocelyn acts as a mentor for incoming members of the team, demonstrating leadership and grit on the field. Off the field, she has been a member of the 1EX Council for two years, helping organize varsity events for fellow athletes. Jocelyn has been a dedicated staff member with the Athletics Department during her time as an Excalibur. Holding positions like varsity event staff, game day lead, Excalibur Camp counsellor, and most recently varsity student administrator. 

Grayson Tucker (Champlain), an Environmental & Resource Science Studies student on the men’s rugby team, has been an integral member of the Excalibur varsity program since his first season. With a positive presence on the pitch that was made obvious early in his career as an Excalibur, Grayson was voted onto the team’s leadership in his second season. In the following years, he was named the team’s most valuable forward for three consecutive years, received the coach’s award and the men’s rugby Garth Vader award. Grayson was named team captain in his fourth and fifth seasons, and OUA second-team all-star in 2022. As both teammate and a captain, he demonstrated heart, commitment, and passion on and off the pitch. Grayson also volunteers as a coach for the U18 Pagans boy’s rugby team, and volunteers at Excalibur recruitment days and open houses for the men’s rugby team. A strong advocate for men’s health, Grayson has raised over $4,000 for the Movember Fund Charity over his five years at Trent and is actively involved as a volunteer at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School with their suicide prevention awareness events. 

Gary Wolff Leadership Award

The Gary Wolff Leadership Award was presented to Jacey Mabee (women’s rowing) and Daniel Austin (men’s volleyball), in recognition of their courage, determination, and leadership in sport.  

Jacey Mabee (Champlain), a biomedical sciences student, is a respected leader in the rowing program. Jacey’s teammates note that she can always be trusted to give her all, during practice and at race time. She carries her dedication and commitment off the water, acting as president of the Trent University Rowing Club, and overseeing all inner workings of the club. Jacey was an integral part of organizing fundraisers for the team like the Head of the Trent regatta beer garden, as well as fundraisers for local charities including a car wash for the Alzheimer Society, a Firetruck Pull for the Alzheimer Society, and a Movember fundraiser. 

Daniel Austin (Gzowski) has been an active leader on and off the court during his five years as an Excalibur. As the captain of the men’s volleyball team for the past three seasons, Daniel helped introduce a new culture to the team, giving Trent a very positive reputation of respect and decorum in the league. He works in Admissions at Trent, providing tours and helping incoming students with inquiries about Trent. As a member of the 1EX Council, Daniel has taken the lead on outreach programs, engaging local schools often running elementary and high school tournaments.   

Community Betterment Award

Rianna Rogers (women’s rugby) and Holden Lowes (men’s lacrosse) are the 2023-24 Community Betterment Award recipients. 

Rianna Rogers (Otonabee) has been deeply involved in multiple initiatives at Trent and in the Peterborough Community during her time as an Excalibur student-athlete. Passionate about rugby, Rianna has been serving as an assistant coach at Crestwood Secondary School and with the U18 Peterborough Pagans. She dedicates significant time to teaching youth through rugby, notably with the 'Play Like a Girl' program. Additionally, she actively engages in various community service projects, including volunteering at the YES Shelter and the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, organizing clothing drives, and contributing to the 1EX Council's efforts to organize events for varsity student-athletes. 

Holden Lowes (Lady Eaton) is a fifth-year Master’s student who has made an incredible impact on the men’s lacrosse program and the Peterborough community during his time at Trent. Holden is studying cardiopulmonary exercise testing in heart failure patients to determine its predictive value for patient prognosis and eligibility for advanced therapies such as heart transplants. In his spare time, Holden maximizes his community involvement by working for Community Care, volunteering at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and also volunteers at and sits on the board at the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre. At Trent, Holden is a member of the Trent Graduate Student Association and sits on the Trent University Research Ethics Boards. 

Rookie of the Year *NEW* 

The inaugural recipients of the Rookie of the Year award are Tyler McDonald (women’s lacrosse) and Leo Frans (men’s soccer).  

Tyler McDonald (Gzowski) had an exceptional rookie season with the Women’s Lacrosse program. The midfielder lead the team with an astounding seven goals in the OUA bronze medal game. She was named an OUA All-Star and was the OUA Rookie of the Year. 

Leo Frans (Champlain) was an instant offensive threat in his first season with the Excalibur. Frans was second in the OUA for rookie scoring with a team-leading seven goals, earning him OUA Second Team All-Star in his first season with the Excalibur. Leo’s offensive mindset and ability to find the back of the net has been a huge asset to the Excalibur and their success this season. 

Athlete of the Year *NEW* 

The inaugural Athlete of the Year recipients are Kieran Gerow (women’s lacrosse) and Curtis Conley (men’s lacrosse)  

Kieran Gerow (Trail), women’s lacrosse goalie, is the last line of defence, and the team has complete confidence in her. She is a calming and confident presence in the net, where she makes big saves in big moments. She is a strong leader on the field and helps elevate the players around here in the defensive end of the field. Kieran’s strong defensive efforts in net helped lead her to team to an OUA bronze medal this season. Kieran was also named OUA Defensive Player of the Year and an OUA All-Star. 

Curtis Conley (Champlain) is a four-time Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) Defender of the Year, four-time CUFLA All-Canadian, four-year team captain, Baggataway Cup National Champion and All-Baggataway Cup team, and has a 40-6 record during his time at Trent. 

This past season, Curtis played through a chronic injury but was the cornerstone of Trent’s defense earning them a tying spot on top of the East Division during regular season play. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury towards the end of the season and was not able to play at the Baggataway Cup. Throughout his time with the Excalibur, Curtis has solidified himself with one of the most successful athletic careers at Trent University. 

Visit trentu.ca/athletics for a complete list of award recipients.