CALGARY – Basketball forward Ross Bekkering and volleyball right side Holly Harper are the University of Calgary's 2009 Dr. Dennis Kadatz Athletes of the Year.

The announcements were made Tuesday night at the 42nd Annual Night of the Dino awards gala at the Red and White Club, McMahon Stadium.

After leading the Dinos to the Canada West title and the national semi-final, Bekkering becomes the first men's basketball player to be named athlete of the year since Richard Bohne's back-to-back awards in 1995 and 1996. Ross posted career numbers in both points (338) and rebounds (228) this season, becoming the University of Calgary's all-time leading rebounder in January (744).

He recorded 12 double-doubles on the year and led Canada West in field goal percentage, earning a first team all-star nod. He went on to be named a second team All-Canadian, MVP of the national quarterfinal against Concordia, and a tournament all-star at the CIS Final 8 in Ottawa.

A fourth year native of Taber, Alta. out of W.R. Meyers High School, Bekkering studies in the Haskayne School of Business.

Other male nominees for the Athlete of the Year honour included football players Andrea Bonaventura and Matt Walter, the 2008 winner Sam Effah (track and field), and defenceman Travis Friedley from Dinos hockey.

Holly Harper becomes the fifth women's volleyball player in eight years to win the Dr. Dennis Kadatz award, following Krista Kinsman (2002), Joanna Niemczewska (2004, 2005), and Julie Young (2008).

The fifth-year right side from Lumsden, Sask. put the cap on a brilliant CIS career in 2009, winning the Canada West player of the year award. She led the conference in total kills (295) and points (340.5), more than doubling her career highs in both categories.

Harper finished second in Canada West in kill average and led the Dinos to a silver medal finish at the CIS championship in Fredericton – the team's sixth straight national medal. She was named a first team All-Canadian and a tournament all-star at the CIS championship.

She is studying anthropology in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Harper beat out wrestler Heidi Erdle, swimmer Hanna Kubas, distance runner Heather Sim, and hockey goalie Katie Urness for the honour.

All 10 athlete of the year nominees were presented Awards of Merit in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments during the 2008-09 season.

Other big winners on the night included Chris Hoag and Erica Morningstar, who took home the Bill Popplewell Rookie of the Year awards.

Left side Chris Hoag joined the Dinos from Cégep de Sherbrooke in 2008-09 and made an immediate impact. He started 17 of 18 conference games for the team, finishing with 87 kills on the season. He was a key cog in the Dinos squad that finished the season ranked No. 3 in the CIS Top 10 poll.

Hoag was runner-up for the Canada West rookie of the year award and landed on the CIS all-rookie team for his efforts.

Hockey forward Brock Nixon and basketball guard Andy Rochon were also up for top male rookie honours.

Swimmer Erica Morningstar had one of the best rookie campaigns in CIS swimming history, setting the bar high for the rest of her career. A 2008 Olympian, the freshman freestyler won four individual and three relay gold medals at the national championships in Vancouver, helping end UBC's 11-year run atop the CIS swimming world. Two of her four individual wins and all three relays came in Canadian record time, with the other two races setting new CIS marks. She was the fourth straight Dinos swimmer to be named CIS female rookie of the year and added the Sprinter's Cup award for winning both the 50- and 100-metre freestyle events.

Morningstar was up against Ali Sandholm from the women's volleyball team and hockey forward Shelby Davey.

The Calgary Booster Club Scholar-Athlete awards are presented to the student-athletes who combine academic and athletic achievement, and each receives a $1000 scholarship courtesy the Calgary Booster Club. For the first time, four athletes were recognized with Scholar-Athlete awards.

Swimmer Michael Driedger and basketball forward Robbie Sihota were the male winners. Driedger was part of the Canada West championship team that finished a very close second at the national championships while boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA in biochemistry in the Faculty of Science. Sihota, meanwhile, was part of the 'big three' up front for the Canada West champion Dinos, hitting a late clutch three to seal the conference championship against UBC. He is an Academic All-Canadian in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Kubas was recognized again for her academic prowess, also in Social Sciences. The fifth-year captain of the school's first-ever CIS women's swimming championship team, Kubas won individual gold in the 50-metre backstroke, setting a new CIS record, and beat the old Canadian record with her silver medal finish in the 100-metre backstroke.

Setter Sarah Lacny from women's volleyball was the other female winner. The Dinos' 2007-08 nominee for the Top 8 Academic All-Canadian award, Lacny continues to excel in the classroom in just her second year, posting a 3.83 GPA in actuarial science. She also quarterbacked the Dinos to a silver medal finish at the national championships.

Other awards handed out Tuesday night included the Murray Fraser volunteer awards, the Dr. Lou Goodwin and Marg Southern outstanding service awards, the Kinemedics Athletic Therapy scholarships, and the Gauntlet Extra Effort awards.

The Murray Fraser Awards for outstanding volunteer service went to Leslee Laverdure and Dean McCord.

Laverdure was the volunteer co-chair of the organizing committee for the CIS Wrestling Championships. She spent countless hours coordinating logistics and overseeing the host committee for the event, which was widely recognized as one of the best CIS wrestling events in history.

McCord just completed his ninth season as the volunteer manager with the Dinos men's basketball team. Responsible for everything from laundry and team uniforms to in-game stats and even game film, McCord is considered one of the best in his field, working with various Canada Basketball national teams during the summer months.

Chad Leier was recognized for eight years of exemplary service to the Dinos women's volleyball team with the Dr. Lou Goodwin Award. Leier spent eight years as an assistant coach with the team, reaching the national semi-final all eight seasons and winning one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals. He also became one of the leading financial contributors to the team, establishing the Brodie-Leier scholarship endowment with his wife, former Dino Reid Brodie.
 
The Marg Southern Award was presented to Joyce Graham, who is retiring from her position after six years with the Development Office in the Faculty of Kinesiology. Under Graham's leadership, the Adopt-A-Dino program saw a 55 per cent increase in donations in just three years, and she often volunteers her time for various other team fundraisers and events. Joyce and her husband Gord are avid hockey fans, attending virtually every Dinos home game at Father David Bauer Arena.
 
The Kinemedics Scholarships for outstanding achievement by Athletic Therapy majors were awarded to Tori Orosz (field/football, volleyball) and Kara McLeod (clinical/wrestling).
 
The Gauntlet Extra Effort award winners are selected by the editorial staff of the UC's student newspaper in recognition of athletes who overcome adversity and display dedication and perseverance. The 2008-09 Gauntlet awards went to Heather Sim (cross country, track and field) and Anthony Woodson (football).

-UC-

42nd Annual Night of the Dino
AWARD WINNERS

Dr. Dennis Kadatz Athletes of the Year
Ross Bekkering, basketball
Holly Harper, volleyball

Bill Popplewell Rookies of the Year
Chris Hoag, volleyball
Erica Morningstar, swimming

Calgary Booster Club Scholar-Athlete Awards
Michael Driedger, swimming
Hanna Kubas, swimming
Sarah Lacny, volleyball
Robbie Sihota, basketball

Awards of Merit
Ross Bekkering, basketball
Andrea Bonaventura, football
Sam Effah, track and field
Heidi Erdle, wrestling
Travis Friedley, hockey
Holly Harper, volleyball
Hanna Kubas, swimming
Heather Sim, cross country / track and field
Katie Urness, hockey
Matt Walter, football

Rookie of the Year Nominees
Chris Hoag, volleyball
Brock Nixon, hockey
Andy Rochon, basketball
Shelby Davey, hockey
Erica Morningstar, swimming
Ali Sandholm, volleyball

Murray Fraser Volunteer Awards
Leslee Laverdure, CIS Wrestling Championships
Dean McCord, Dinos men's basketball

Dr. Lou Goodwin Award
Chad Leier

Marg Southern Award
Joyce Graham

Kinemedics Athletic Therapy Awards
Tori Orosz (field)
Kara McLeod (clinical)

Gauntlet Extra Effort Awards
Heather Sim, cross country / track and field
Anthony Woodson, footbal