Friday, March 27 – Scarborough, Ontario | Centennial College Events Centre

This past Friday, Colts Athletics proudly hosted the 58th edition of the Colts Athletic Awards at the Centennial College Events Centre, celebrating an outstanding year across all programs. The evening recognized the dedication, hard work, and success of Centennial's student-athletes, coaches, and support staff during what was truly a historic season for Colts Athletics.

It was a year defined by growth and achievement, with multiple teams reaching new heights and accomplishing milestones not seen in several years. Highlights included Women's Soccer medaling in both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons, Men's Indoor Soccer capturing their first championship in over three decades, Men's Basketball tying for first place in the East Division for the first time in more than 10 years, and a special individual recognition for fifth‑year student‑athlete Emily Cullen, who officially concluded her collegiate career with the Centennial Colts.

Opening Night Festivities

The ceremony was hosted by Colts alumni Jack Middleton (Men's Baseball), who guided the evening with energy and enthusiasm. The night officially kicked off with a pre‑ceremony photo session, followed by the screening of the annual "Colts in Action" end‑of‑year highlight video. The reel showcased the moments, performances, and memories that defined the season and was met with great fanfare from athletes, coaches, family members, and supporters in attendance.

Team Award Recipients

Throughout the evening, team awards were presented to athletes who demonstrated exceptional improvement and performance within their respective programs:

• Men's Basketball: Most Improved – Jalen Colbourne | MVP – Ryan Frank‑Brooks
• Women's Basketball: Most Improved – Kalyah Joseph Lynch | MVP – Mikaya Simon‑Tucker
• Men's Soccer: Most Improved – Emerson Pugh | MVP – Yosmar Anaya
• Men's Indoor Soccer: Most Improved – Nana Wiafu‑Owusu | MVP – Rafael Arribas Contreras
• Women's Soccer: Most Improved – Josephine Okeyre | MVP – Mylie Decoff
• Women's Indoor Soccer: Most Improved – Kyry Rose | MVP – Nailah Rowe
• Men's Volleyball: Most Improved – Ethan Meachem | MVP – Jerick Rodriguez
• Women's Volleyball: Most Improved – Andrea Rojas | MVP – Sophia Araujo

Strength & Conditioning and Support Awards

The Strength and Conditioning Team of the Year award was presented to the Men's Basketball team. Their commitment to focus, discipline, and consistency in training resulted in a dramatic improvement in performance, a strong team record, and a noticeable reduction in injuries throughout the season.

The Student Athlete Therapist of the Year award was presented to Piper Hook, a second‑year York University Athletic Therapy student. Piper worked closely with Women's Soccer and Men's Volleyball, providing exceptional care, professionalism, and support to student‑athletes throughout the year.

Special Recognition: Emily Cullen

One of the most memorable moments of the evening was a special recognition dedicated to Emily Cullen. Cullen joined Colts Athletics in 2021 as a true freshman when the Women's Soccer program featured only five players. Over her five‑year career, the program transformed from a lower‑table team into a perennial contender within the OCAA.

Emily concludes her collegiate career as the all‑time leader in games played for Colts Women's Soccer with 45 appearances. Her accolades include four Outdoor All‑Star selections, four Indoor All‑Star selections, three silver medals, and one bronze medal. Unaware that she was being honoured, Cullen was presented with her first‑ever game‑worn jersey, recognizing her lasting legacy within the program.

Following the presentation, Cullen shared a message with those in attendance:

"Just because you are a student‑athlete now doesn't mean it has to be your whole identity — you are so much more than that… The people I've been surrounded by have been the reason I kept falling back in love with the game… Your journey in life does not stop here — cherish the highs, learn from the lows, and appreciate every moment in between."

Senior and Academic Recognition

The Colts also recognized 25 graduating seniors, honouring student‑athletes who have dedicated at least two years of service to the program and are on track to complete their academic journeys.

The Academic Team of the Year award was presented to Women's Soccer, who finished the year with an impressive combined GPA of 4.19. In addition, 11 members of the 25‑player roster earned OCAA All‑Academic honours.

Major Award Winners

• Green Heart Award: Jasmine Salazar
  Awarded to the student‑athlete who contributes the most to the department beyond competition.

• Coach of the Year: Chester Taylor
  Also named OCAA Coach of the Year, becoming the first Colts coach since Jim Barclay (2011–12) to earn provincial coaching honours.

• Men's Rookie of the Year: Yosmar Anaya (Men's Soccer)

• Women's Rookie of the Year: Alana Kendrick (Women's Soccer)
  Kendrick also earned East Division All‑Rookie Team, East Division Rookie of the Year, and OCAA League Rookie of the Year honours.

Athletes of the Year

• Women's Athlete of the Year: Mylie Decoff (Women's Soccer)
  Decoff recorded 20 points, earned First‑Team All‑Star honours, Indoor Tournament All‑Star recognition, broke the program's all‑time scoring record, and finished the year with two silver medals.

• Men's Athlete of the Year: Ryan Frank‑Brooks (Men's Basketball)
  A First‑Team All‑Star on one of the province's top teams, Brooks' leadership and discipline played a key role in the program's resurgence.

Looking Ahead

With the 2024–25 season officially celebrated, Colts Athletics now turns its attention to an exciting year ahead, as the upcoming season will once again feature the Colts Athletics Hall of Fame, marking another milestone year for the department.