CALGARY – Record-setting swimmer Alexanne Lepage and national champion curler Kenan Wipf were named the 2025-26 University of Calgary Athletes of the Year, headlining the 58th annual Night of the Dino, presented by EFW Radiology, on Monday night inside the Jack Simpson Gym.

The evening honoured the top achievements across Dinos Athletics, with football receiver Zion Grant and wrestler Elizabeth Latulippe named Bill Popplewell Rookies of the Year, and additional recognition given to scholar-athletes, coaches, student leaders, and contributors to the department.

Academic and athletic excellence were also highlighted through the Calgary Booster Club Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented to Amélie Collin (basketball), Kristen Fox (track and field), Erik Godwin (volleyball), and Ky Macaulay (curling).

Leadership and community impact were recognized with the Senate Student-Athlete Community Leadership Award going to track and field's Georgia Oland. The Charlesglen Toyota Coach of the Year honour was awarded to women's basketball head coach Sarah Besselink in her first year at the helm.

The Margaret Southern Award, recognizing a significant female contribution to Dinos Athletics, was presented to curling program director Jocelyn Peterman. Wrestling assistant coach Gord Peavy received the Dr. Lou Goodwin Award, recognizing outstanding male service and support, while women's volleyball assistant coach Katerina Dolguikh was honoured with the Murray Fraser Award for outstanding service to the athletic department as a student.

Prior to the presentation of the Competitive Club Student-Athlete Award, it was announced that the honour will be renamed the Michael Boyles Club Athlete of the Year, in recognition of Dinos Associate Athletic Director, Sport & Student Services, Mike Boyles, who will retire in June.

MedWest Athletic Therapy Scholarships were awarded to Natalie Bergeron (clinic) and Ivana Franco (field).

DR. DENNIS KADATZ ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Named for the first athletic director and football coach at the University of Calgary, the Dr. Dennis Kadatz Athlete of the Year awards recognize excellence on the playing field during the varsity season. The winners become the Dinos' nominees for the U SPORTS athlete of the year awards.

Alexanne Lepage | Swimming | 3rd Year | Schulich School of Engineering | Vernon, B.C.
Lepage delivered an exceptional season, highlighted by both record-setting performances and an impressive medal haul. At the Canada West Championships, she earned gold in the 50, 100, and 200-metre breaststroke, as well as the 400-metre individual medley, while contributing to three silver medal relay finishes. She continued her success at the U SPORTS Championships, where she established new Canadian senior records in the 50 and 100-metre breaststroke, surpassing marks previously held by Canadian Olympians. Lepage concluded the national championships with four individual gold medals and three relay silver medals.

Kenan Wipf | Curling | 4th Year | Haskayne School of Business | Calgary, Alta.
Wipf delivered a historic season for the Dinos. At the Canada West Championships, Wipf led Calgary to a 7-1 round robin record before victories over Victoria and Alberta secured the program's first conference title in 62 years. The success continued at the U SPORTS Championships, where Wipf guided the Dinos to a 5-2 mark in round robin play and a berth in the playoffs. Calgary defeated Memorial in the semifinal to advance to the gold medal game, where Wipf made the winning shot in an extra end against Carleton to capture the first national championship in program history. Wipf was named a Canada West First Team All-Star and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian.

BILL POPPLEWELL ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
The Rookie of the Year awards were created in 2000 and named after Bill Popplewell, a tireless supporter of the Dinos for over two decades as one of the athletic department's longest-standing corporate partners.

Zion Grant | Football | Open Studies | Pickering, Ont.
Grant enjoyed an impressive debut season with the Dinos. He recorded two receptions in his first university game before breaking out in Week 4 at UBC with six catches for 139 yards and his first career touchdown. He followed that performance with a season-high seven receptions and another touchdown against Saskatchewan, before adding a 78-yard catch-and-run major at Manitoba to record his second 100-yard receiving game of the season. Grant's rookie campaign culminated in being named Canada West Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Dino to earn the honour since 2018.

Elizabeth Latulippe | Wrestling | Medicine | Chilliwack, B.C.
Joining the two-time defending conference champions, Latulippe made an immediate impact in her rookie season. She reached the top of the podium at the Canada West Championships, winning all three of her bouts, including two by superiority. In addition to her success on the mat, she was also recognized with the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award. At the U SPORTS Championships, Latulippe won her first four bouts before going the distance in the gold medal match, concluding her first season as a Dino with a national silver medal.

CALGARY BOOSTER CLUB SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
The Scholar-Athlete awards recognize outstanding achievement in academics and athletics, and each year four student-athletes are presented with $1,400 scholarships by the Calgary Booster Club.

Amélie Collin | Basketball | 5th Year | Schulich School of Engineering | Rimouski, Que.
Kristen Fox | Track & Field | 5th Year | Werklund School of Education | Calgary, Alta.
Erik Godwin | Volleyball | 5th Year | Werklund School of Education | Lethbridge, Alta.
Ky Macaulay | Curling | 3rd Year | Arts | Rocky View, Alta.

SENATE STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Senate Student-Athlete Community Leadership Award recognizes a student-athlete who shows strong community engagement by demonstrating direct community involvement. Representing the University of Calgary Senate's vision of "Senate engaging community," the recipient is a student-athlete in good academic standing with a significant commitment and involvement in engaging with and improving their community.

Georgia Oland | Track & Field | 4th Year | Kinesiology | Calgary, Alta.
Georgia enjoyed a standout season with the Dinos, competing at the conference, national, and international levels while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She earned four medals at the Canada West Championships, highlighted by gold in the 300-metre, and added a bronze medal in the 4x400-metre relay at the World University Games representing Canada. She is a two-time Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award recipient and the 2025 U SPORTS national honouree. Georgia has also contributed extensively through community volunteering, including work with the Thrive Centre, an elementary school classroom supporting students with disabilities, and the Alberta Children's Hospital, while serving in student leadership roles within the Dinos program.

CHARLESGLEN TOYOTA COACH OF THE YEAR
Sarah Besselink | Women's Basketball
Besselink's head coaching debut could not have gone much better. The Dinos women's basketball team opened the season with 16 straight wins, including a 10-0 start in Canada West play under her leadership. After a challenging stretch in January, the team responded with a key sweep of Alberta that helped reset their season heading into the playoffs. Entering the post-season on the road, the Dinos defeated Manitoba and Trinity Western before facing defending national champion Saskatchewan, where they delivered a standout defensive performance to end the Huskies' 51-game win streak. Calgary then travelled to Vancouver and defeated UBC to capture the ninth conference title in program history. At the U SPORTS Final 8 in Quebec City, the Dinos secured their first national medal since 2001. This award, which is sponsored by corporate partner Charlesglen Toyota, is voted on by all varsity head coaches. 

MICHAEL BOYLES CLUB ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Michael Boyles Club Athletes of the Year awards honour two outstanding student-athletes from the Dinos' competitive club programs for their all-around athletic, academic, and community achievement over the course of the season.

Connor Crossen | Skiing | 4th Year | Haskayne School of Business | Crested Butte, Colo., USA
Crossen joined the Dinos in 2022 and quickly made an impact on the alpine program. A well-rounded skier, he competed across all disciplines and achieved success at multiple levels, including strong results in the speed events on the North American Cup circuit. Most recently, Crossen played an integral role in the Dinos capturing three consecutive Canadian University National Championships, contributing valuable team points and providing mentorship to younger athletes. A quiet leader, Crossen was known for his work ethic, maturity, and willingness to support teammates both on and off the slopes. His leadership and positive presence will be missed as he concludes his career with the Dinos.

Olivia Sharpe | Ringette | 4th Year | Medicine | Calgary, Alta.
Sharpe has served as team captain for the past two years and is recognized by her coaches and teammates for her leadership and ability to foster an inclusive team culture. She has contributed to multiple championship performances, including gold at the 2024 National University Ringette Championships. Off the ice, Olivia maintains a 3.8 GPA as an Honours Biomedical Sciences student and volunteers extensively with Kids Cancer Care. She also works as a research assistant studying breast cancer metabolism, presenting her findings at the 2025 Canadian Cancer Research Conference. In addition, she finds time to mentor first-year teammates and coach young ringette athletes.

MARGARET SOUTHERN AWARD
The Margaret Southern Award honours outstanding service and support to athletics by a woman, named in honour of the first female instructor at UCalgary's Faculty of Physical Education. Inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, Marg and her late husband Ron were the Calgary Booster Club Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year in 1986 and are well known as pioneers in the Calgary business and equestrian communities as the founders of ATCO and Spruce Meadows.

Jocelyn Peterman played a key role in reestablishing varsity curling at the UCalgary following her return from the 2022 Beijing Olympics. She helped to develop a sustainable program model while taking on important administrative leadership in its early years, all while continuing to compete at the elite level herself. Peterman's early leadership helped guide the program to significant success, including three men's national championship appearances in four years, the women's team's first appearance in 2025, a Canada West title in 2026 – the program's first since 1964 – and the first national championship in program history the same year. Peterman stepped back from day-to-day operations this season to focus on preparation for the Milano-Cortina Olympics.

DR. LOU GOODWIN AWARD
Named for the first Dean of Physical Education at UCalgary, the Dr. Lou Goodwin award honours a male who has provided outstanding service and support to the athletic department. 'Dr. Lou' served the city of Calgary, its school system, and its university for more than 45 years and was a founding member of what is now the Faculty of Kinesiology, serving as professor, department head, and dean from 1961 through 1978.

Gord Peavy has been a dedicated contributor to the Dinos wrestling program for more than a decade, serving as the Junior Dinos head coach and a varsity assistant coach. He began volunteering with the Junior Dinos in 2009 and later served as head coach of the Cowboys Wrestling Club from 2020 to 2024, while continuing to support the varsity program throughout. During this time, he has played a key role in developing several current Dinos athletes. Gord has also supported athletes on the national and international stage, including coaching for Canada at the 2025 U20 World Championships and the U23 Pan American Championships, as well as other training camps and competitions in Canada and abroad.

MURRAY FRASER AWARD
Murray Fraser was president of the University of Calgary from 1988 until his retirement in 1996. A dedicated supporter of the Dinos, Murray and his wife Anne were fixtures in the stands during his time as president, and he was a firm believer in student involvement in campus life and a total university education. The Murray Fraser Award is presented annually to students who go over and above in their roles with Dinos Athletics.

Katerina Dolguikh has served as an assistant coach with the Dinos women's volleyball team for the past three seasons. A recent student-athlete at Simon Fraser University, she has brought valuable perspective to both the sideline and team environment. She is a strong advocate for athlete well-being, promoting physical and mental health, supporting academic success, and collaborating professionally with fellow members of the coaching staff. Dolguikh has balanced these contributions while pursuing a Master of Science in Community Health Sciences with a specialization in public health.

MEDWEST ATHLETIC THERAPY AWARDS
The MedWest Scholarships recognize two Athletic Therapy majors each season for their outstanding contributions in both clinical and field settings, with each recipient receiving a $1,400 scholarship. This year, Natalie Bergeron earned the clinical award after working with the Dinos wrestling team throughout the season, while Ivana Franco received the field award for her athletic therapy support with the football and track and field programs.

58th Annual Night of the Dino Award Winners

Dr. Dennis Kadatz Athletes of the Year
Alexanne Lepage, swimming
Kenan Wipf, Curling

Bill Popplewell Rookies of the Year
Zion Grant, football
Elizabeth Latulippe, wrestling

Calgary Booster Club Scholar-Athlete Awards
Amélie Collin, basketball 
Kristen Fox, track and field 
Erik Godwin, volleyball 
Ky Macaulay, curling

Michael Boyles Competitive Club Athletes of the Year
Connor Crossen, skiing
Olivia Sharpe, ringette

Charlesglen Toyota Coach of the Year
Sarah Besselink, women's basketball

Awards of Merit
Owen Antoniuk, soccer 
Amelia Awad, hockey 
Amélie Collin, basketball 
Annika Fines, wrestling
Connor Jones, football
Adam Kydd, hockey
Alexanne Lepage, swimming 
Sienna MacDonald, track and field 
Noel Vanderzee, track and field 
Kenan Wipf, curling

Freshman Awards of Merit
Leni Blanke, volleyball 
Matthew Brown, volleyball 
Jenna Conrad, cross country / track and field 
Mrigendra Dhaliwal, basketball 
Zion Grant, football 
Sarah Haugen, swimming 
Elizabeth Latulippe, wrestling 
Hayden Pakkala, hockey

Senate Student-Athlete Community Leadership Award
Georgia Oland, track and field

Murray Fraser Award
Katerina Dolguikh, women's volleyball

Dr. Lou Goodwin Award
Gord Peavy, wrestling

Margaret Southern Award
Jocelyn Peterman, curling

Medwest Athletic Therapy Awards
Natalie Bergeron (clinic) 
Ivana Franco (field)

-UC-