2024-25 Mariners Awards Night

NANAIMO, BC - Volleyball student-athletes Aimee Skinner (Coldstream, BC) and Colby Soolsma (North Vancouver, BC) were named VIU Athletes of the Year at the Mariners 2024-25 Mariners Athletics Awards while badminton coach Alf McGuire was recognized as the newest entrant into the VIU Mariners Wall of Fame. 

Award Photos
Pre-show Photos

The awards celebration, held at the Malaspina Theatre, featured welcomes from VIU Métis Knowledge Holder Stella Johnson and Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs, Irlanda Gonzalez-Price. Following these welcomes, former Mariners Athletic Director Bruce Hunter led a ceremony to induct Alf McGuire into the Mariners Wall of Fame in the Builder category.

McGuire coached badminton for more than 30 years at VIU/Malaspina College and supported badminton initiatives on Vancouver Island and across Canada. McGuire was also the longest serving sport convenor in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association and, in March, was notified that he will be inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in June 2025.

Alf McGuire speaks to the student-athletes after learning of his induction into the VIU Mariners Wall of Fame

Alf McGuire (M) sees his VIU Mariners Wall of Fame banner for the first time as he is inducted by Bruce Hunter (R), assisted by Matt Carter (L)

After his Wall of Fame banner was revealed to a large round of applause, McGuire addressed the students, thanking them for their hard work and dealing with the ups and downs in sports. He likened the journey towards national championships as the same path as those looking for the Wizard of Oz. "The nationals, like the Wizard, isn't the prize, it's the journey...that's where you get your courage, that's where you get your heart, that's where you get your brain."

Aimee Skinner, VIU Mariners Female Athlete of the Year, receives her award from Irlanda Gonzalez Price. Photo: Gloria Bell

Skinner, in her second season at VIU, was named VIU Female Athlete of the Year following a season where she was named PACWEST Women's Volleyball Player of the Year and a CCAA All-Canadian. She was also named the PACWEST Championship MVP as the Mariners won conference gold and a CCAA Tournament All-Star after winning national bronze. Skinner, who was also named a PACWEST First Team All-Star and Top Outside Hitter, will be taking her volleyball skills to the University of British Columbia this upcoming season. 

Harriette Mackenzie (Comox, BC), a women's basketball PACWEST First Team All-Star, PACWEST Championship MVP, and CCAA All-Canadian & CCAA Tournament All-Star, and Mya Creed (Nanaimo, BC), a women's soccer PACWEST All-Star, PACWEST championship top defender, and PACWEST champion, were also nominated for the Female Athlete of the Year award.

Colby Soolsma, VIU Mariners Male Athlete of the Year, alongside Irlanda Gonzalez Price. Photo: Gloria Bell

The Male Athlete of the Year award went to Colby Soolsma. In his second year at VIU, Soolsma exploded up the conference stats table, topping the PACWEST in aces by a wide margin and finishing second in total offense. He was named a PACWEST All-Star and CCAA All-Canadian as the Mariners finished second in the conference and earned bronze at the conference championship. Soolsma has committed to York University for the 2025-26 season.

The other two nominees were Ashton Bryant (Whitehorse, YT), a gritty and determined defensive midfielder with unmatched pace and effort, and Kai Leighton (Prince Rupert, BC), a PACWEST First Team All-Star and conference silver medallist who led VIU in rebounding and shot 53% from the field during the regular season. 

Athlete of the Year winners must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the fall semester. The athlete's season and career as a Mariner reflect qualities such as leadership, dedication, and commitment.

 
Avery Henderson and Charlie Smith receive their 2024-25 VIU Rookie of the Year awards from Irlanda Gonzalez-Price

The 2024-25 Rookie of the Year awards went to a pair of soccer players: Avery Henderson and Charlie Smith. Henderson, an athletic defender, was the PACWEST's Women's Soccer Co-Rookie of the Year. Smith was VIU's top scorer and finished second overall in conference goals. As well, he earned the PACWEST Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year award.

Keira Crellin, a setter on the PACWEST All-Rookie Team and a CCAA Tournament Second Team All-Star, was also nominated for the Female Rookie of the Year Award, while the Mariners women's basketball team did not field a first-year student-athlete this season. Rylan Adams, a deep-shooting threat for men's basketball, and Gavin MacGregor, a volleyball setter with outstanding delivery from the service line, were also nominated for the Male Rookie of the Year award.

Owen Dyck (R) receives the 2024-25 VIU Mariners Academic Excellence Award from VIU Registrar Fred Jacklin

The Mariners Academic Excellence Award for top GPA over the past three semesters went to women's soccer defender Mya Creed--her second consecutive season winning this award--and men's volleyball setter Owen Dyck. Both students are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program. 

Curler Alex Ashton (L) poses with the 2025 CCAA Women's Curling National Championship trophy beside VIU Athletic Director Danielle Hyde

Curler Alex Ashton was recognized for her CCAA national championship in Women's Curling. Alex, the team's second, was part of a PACWEST team that included skip Emily Bowles (Camosun College), third Erin Fitzgibbon (Langara College), and lead Lauren Cochrane (Okanagan College).

VIU Mariners 2024-25 Unsung Hero Award recipients (L-R): Owen Dyck, Regan Ingram, Breandan Mclaughlin, and Mackenzie Hall. Reid Davidson Memorial Award recipients: Asuka Okabe and Matthew Coburn

The Unsung Hero Awards recognize one member of each team who has positively influenced their team from behind the scenes with an encouraging attitude and a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary. This year's awards were presented to Mackenzie Hall (women's basketball, Duncan, BC); Breandan McLaughlin (men's basketball, Campbell River, BC); Regan Ingram (women's volleyball, Calgary, AB); and Owen Dyck (men's volleyball, Winnipeg, MB).

The Reid Davidson Memorial Award for soccer's unsung heros were given to Asuka Okabe (Tokyo, JP) and Matthew Coburn (Nanaimo, BC). Following these presentations, Georgia Nicholls and Shea Battie spoke on Reid's legacy at VIU and in the greater BC soccer community.

Shea Battie (L) and Georgia Nicholls speak about the legacy of Reid Davidson after the presentation of the Reid Davidson Memorial Awards

Graduating student-athletes who spent their entire varsity career with the Mariners (L-R): Megan Duffy, Max McDonald, Mackenzie Hall, Saki Meshida, Asuka Okabe, Taylor Kinley, Matthew Coburn, and Grayson Chalifoux. Photo: Gloria Bell

Earlier in the week, the PACWEST announced that VIU was the 2024-25 winner of the PACWEST Aggregate Award. This award is awarded to the PACWEST institution who earns the most points through regular season and post-season play. This season marks the sixth season in the row and the 17th of the last 19th seasons that VIU has claimed the award.

Full List of Award Winners and Recognized Student-Athletes & Coaches