Skip To Main Content

University of Calgary Athletics

Dr. Dennis Kadatz Athletes of the Year

Dennis was the first Athletic Director and first football coach at the University of Calgary. He joined the university in 1964, leaving the university in 1985 to join the Calgary Olympic Development Association. Dr. Kadatz was instrumental in having the Jimmie Condon Awards approved by both the Alberta government and U SPORTS for student-athletes competing in varsity athletics. He is a member of the University of Calgary and University of Alberta Halls of Fame. During his tenure as Athletic Director, he was Treasurer of U SPORTS, President of Calgary Booster Club, and involved with numerous Canada West committees.

AWARD WINNERS - 57th ANNUAL NIGHT OF THE DINO:

Gabriela Cross | Wrestling | 4th Year | Nursing | Port Coquitlam, BC

Cross and the Dinos women's wrestling team delivered another dominant season in 2025. Unbeaten throughout the Canada West and U SPORTS Championships, Cross didn't allow a single point from her opponents. She helped the Dinos defend their conference title by pinning her Alberta opponent in her only match of the championship. At nationals, Cross was even more impressive, securing a pin in her first matchup and then earning four tech falls to claim her second consecutive U SPORTS gold medal. After the championship, she was named the U SPORTS Women's Outstanding Wrestler of the Year.

Nate Petrone | Basketball | 4 Year | Kinesiology | Calgary, AB
No one in U SPORTS scored more points this season than Petrone. He was dominant every time out, averaging a Canada West-leading 24.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 56.8 percent from the field as a guard. Petrone's historic performance in the Canada West championship, where he scored 38 points on 15-of-21 shooting, led the Dinos to the title. A Canada West First Team All-Star and U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, Petrone carried that momentum into the U SPORTS Final 8, where he received the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy as the country's top player and led Calgary to a national silver medal.
YEAR MALE FEMALE
2025 Nate Petrone (basketball) Gabriela Cross (wrestling)
2024 Noel Vanderzee (track and field) Sienna MacDonald (track and field)
2023 Stephen Calkins (swimming) Rebecca Smith (swimming)
2022 Eric Lutz (cross country, track and field) Montana Leonard (soccer)
2021 not awarded not awarded
2020 Brett Layton (basketball) Kelsey Roberts (hockey)
2019 Adam Sinagra (football) Niki Oudenaarden (track and field)
2018 Mambi Diawara, David Kapinga (basketball) Temitope Ogunjimi (rugby, wrestling)
2017 Thomas Cooper (basketball) DaLeaka Menin (rugby)
2016 Andrew Buckley (football) Jenna Westaway (track and field)
2015 Andrew Buckley (football) Iya Gavrilova (hockey)
2014 Mercer Timmis (football) Fiona Doyle (swimming)
2013 Jason Block (swimming) Rachel Machin (track and field)
2012 Sam Hurl (football) Hayley Wickenheiser (hockey)
2011 Graham Vigrass (volleyball) Erica Morningstar (swimming)
2010 Erik Glavic (football) Erica Morningstar (swimming)
2009 Ross Bekkering (basketball) Holly Harper (volleyball)
2008 Sam Effah (track and field) Julie Young (volleyball)
2007 Geoff Kerr (cross country, track and field) Jessica Zelinka (track and field)
2006 Dan Federkeil (football) Brittanee Laverdure (wrestling)
2005 Richard Yalowsky (football) Joanna Niemczewska (volleyball)
2004 Chad Murray (swimming) Joanna Niemczewska (volleyball)
2003 David Kooperberg (wrestling) Jessica Zelinka (track and field)
2002 Denis Zhukov (volleyball) Krista Kinsman (volleyball)
2001 Dean Fisher (football) Leighann Doan (basketball)
2000 Andy Hutchinson (wrestling) Leighann Doan (basketball)
1999 Curtis Myden (swimming) Stephanie O'Neill (soccer)
1998 Jason Krywulak (hockey) Marla Richardson (field hockey)
1997 Chris Renaud (swimming) Stephanie O'Neill (soccer)
1996 Richard Bohne (basketball), Don Blair (football) Meagan Koch (basketball)
1995 Richard Bohne (basketball) Meagan Koch (basketball)
1994 Curtis Myden (swimming) Jennifer Johnson (volleyball)
1993 Andy Cameron (volleyball), Craig Kittelson (football) Lisa Harvey (cross country)
1992 Kelly Grosky (volleyball) Kathy Ranheim (soccer)
1991 Davide Bardana (gymnastics) Jodi Evans (basketball)
1990 Mark Tewksbury, Jon Cleveland (swimming) Veronica VanderSchee (basketball)
1989 Tom Ponting (swimming), Randy Gingera (volleyball) Christina Nezic (volleyball)
1988 Mark Tewksbury (swimming) Veronica VanderSchee (basketball)
1987 Paul Geddes (hockey) Jillian Richardson (track and field)
1986 John Graham (track and field) Suki Brownsdon (swimming)
1985 Tom Ponting (swimming) Sheri Blunden (gymnastics)
1984 Greg Vavra (football) Kathy Keleman (diving)
1983 Karl Tilleman (basketball) Bonnie MacRae (volleyball)
1982 Graham Smith (swimming) Bonnie MacRae (volleyball)
1981 Karl Tilleman (basketball) Debbie Armstead (swimming), Janis Paskevich (basketball)
1980 Ron Moncur (wrestling) Janis Paskevich (basketball)
1979 Robert Eklund (wrestling) Lori Maxwell (gymnastics)
1978 Mark Kolodziej (volleyball), Robert Laycock (hockey) Jacky Shaw (basketball), Sandy Stevens (volleyball)
1977 Frank Troughton (football, wrestling) Jacky Shaw (basketball)
1976 Frank Dunn (diving), Tom Bishop (basketball) Karen Vouri (volleyball)
1975 Bob Blanchette (gymnastics) Paula Stewart (swimming)
1974 John Jenkins (hockey) Sandy Stevens (volleyball), Marie Sorsa (swimming)
1973 Lutz Keller (wrestling), Al Taylor (volleyball) Raelene MacDonald (basketball)
1972 Steve Becker (skiing) Gaylene Barry (field hockey, volleyball)
1971 Lutz Keller (wrestling), Bill Thomson (rugby) Debbie Haight (volleyball)
1970 Norm Minor (football, hockey) Gaylene Barry (field hockey, volleyball)
1969 Gordon Jones (hockey) Sandy Drever (field hockey)
1968 Ross Collett (football) Wendy Carson (field hockey, basketball)
1967 Ross Collett (football), Jamie Paulson (badminton) Peta Collings
1966 Ken Myhre (basketball), Robin Fry (basketball) Theresa Sekura (basketball, volleyball)
1965 Leroy English (football) not awarded
1964 George Kinnear (cross country) Theresa Sekura (basketball, volleyball), Lynn Orman
1963 Lloyd Harris (basketball, golf) Kathy Kesler (volleyball)
1962 Bob Babki (basketball) Fran Van Sant (basketball)
1961 not awarded Noreen Kirby (basketball)
1960 Ab Paskuski (basketball) Heather Stirling
1959 not awarded not awarded
1958 not awarded Darlene Currie (basketball)