Court, Simon named Sault College Athletes of the Year (with photos)

Ryan Court and Desiree Simon were all smiles on Friday night after taking home the prestigious honour of Sault College Athlete of the Year.

Simon and Court (pictured) were among several of the school's athletes to be honoured at their annual Athletic Awards celebration held on campus at The Outback.

Court garnered the most hardware by collecting the Athlete of the Year honours, G.R. Hodgson Award, OCAA Academic Achievement Award and the men's basketball team MVP trophy.

Court, a former White Pines Wolverine, will graduate from the Automotive Technician program this year. The four-year veteran of the men's basketball team settled into the two-year program in the fall of 2002.

The six-foot-five forward was credited as being a tremendous role model for his teammates by exemplifying the ideal qualities of a student-athlete.

Simon, who also captured the team MVP award, was a leader and a second-year veteran on the women's volleyball team. The squad advanced into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championship tournament for only the second time in school history.

Simon, a Police Foundations student and Mount St. Joseph College grad, led the team in nearly every offensive category.

*** The following is a complete list of award winners from Friday night's ceremony. The complete photo gallery of winners in attendance can be accessed by clicking the link at the bottom of the story.

Athlete of the Year (male): Ryan Court

Athlete of the Year (female): Desiree Simon

G.R. Hodgson Award: Simone Taylor (female), Ryan Court (male)

Cougar Pride Award: Kerri Senko (female), Steve Middleton (male)

Tom White Award: Jeff Rennison

Coach of the Year: Jeremy Murdoch (volleyball)

Cougar Contributor Award: Jennifer Rennison (female), Joe Fortier (male)

Referee's Award: Katie Healy (women's basketball), Nathan Whalen (men's basketball), Kerri Senko (volleyball)

Most Valuable Players: Ryan Court (men's basketball), Jen Ross (women's basketball), Desiree Simon (volleyball)

Most Improved Players: Simone Taylor (women's basketball), Nathan Whalen (men's basketball), Ashley Browning (volleyball)

Most Sportsmanlike Awards: Jill Esposito (women's basketball), Chris Burk (men's basketball), Katie Headrick & Ashley Possamai (volleyball)

Rookies of the Year: Mike Bouchard (men's basketball), Jill Esposito (women's basketball), Kari-Lyn Chamberlain (volleyball)

OCAA Academic Achievement Awards: Jen Cronin (women's basketball); Rob Martel, Ryan Court, Ryan Namespetra, Brandon Fellinger (men's basketball)

OCAA League All-Stars: Angela Mei (volleyball); Jordan Sanders, Ron Kelly (men's basketball)

Ron Bridge Trophy (intramural): Dana Ominika (female), Kurtis Delhenty (male)

Intramural Participant of the Year: Amy Stevenson (female), Scott McQuin (male)

J. Aaron Williams Award: Tyler Mancuso

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PHOTO: Sault College President Tim Meyer (left) poses with Athlete of the Year winners Desiree Simon (centre) and Ryan Court (right).