The Niagara College Knights continue to shine with the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) recently honouring 11 NC student-athletes with prestigious CCAA Academic All-Canadian awards for the 2021-22 season.
The award is presented to student-athletes that achieve honour standing at their respective institutions and are selected to their CCAA conference all-star teams, epitomizing a commitment to academic success and athletic achievement.
The 11 recipients in 2021-22 marks the highest ever for the Knights, breaking the last record set in 2014-15 when seven Knights achieved the accolade.
“We are very proud of our student-athletes who have been named Academic All-Canadians,” said Athletic Director Michele O’Keefe. “It is no easy task to manage a full-time academic schedule and play varsity sport. Their time management and life balance skills are demonstrated when the student-athletes are named to this prestigious list. Congratulations to all who were recognized!”
The Knights Curling teams and Women’s soccer team led the College’s list of Academic All-Canadians with five players from each program achieving the honour. This year also saw two Knights receive the award for the second time.
CCAA Academic All-Canadian Melissa Borowski, a Practical Nursing student and member of the Women’s Curling team, first celebrated the achievement in 2012-2013. Borowski’s honours for the 2021-22 season also included an OCAA Silver medal, OCAA Second Team All-Star and Knights Curling Top Scholastic Award.
Natasha Desjardins, an Educational Assistant student who played for both the Women’s Soccer and Volleyball teams this year, first achieved the prestigious honour in 2019-20 as a member of the Knights Women’s Volleyball team. Desjardins’ Academic All-Canadian award caps off a successful season for the student-athlete who racked up multiple accolades including OCAA Player of the Year, OCAA West Player of the Year, OCAA First Team All-Star, OCAA All-Academic Award, Knights Women’s Soccer and Volleyball Top Scholastic Award, Knights Women’s Volleyball MVP, Knights Female Athlete of the Year for second consecutive year.
NC celebrated the achievements of all Knights student-athletes for the 2021-22 season, including the 11 Academic All-Canadians, at the 52nd Annual Awards Banquet in April.
This year’s CCAA Academic All-Canadians are listed below along with their additional achievements from the 2021-22 season:
- Janee Harrison, Women’s Basketball, Police Foundations (OCAA West Division Player of the Year, OCAA First Team All-Star, OCAA All-Rookie Team, OCAA Bronze, Knights WBB MVP)
- Alyssa Arcand, Women’s Soccer, General Arts and Science (OCAA South Division All-Star Team, OCAA All-Academic Award)
- Ashley Altamirano, Women’s Soccer, Dental Hygiene (OCAA South Division All-Star Team, OCAA All-Academic Award)
- McKenna Jackson, Women’s Soccer, Customs and Border Security (OCAA South Division Defensive Player of the Year, OCAA South Division Rookie of the Year, OCAA South Division All-Star, Knights Female Rookie of the Year, Knights WSOC Rookie of the year)
- Sydney Sica, Women’s Soccer, Practical Nursing (OCAA Player of the Year, OCAA South Division Player of the Year, CCAA All-Canadian, Knights Female Athlete of the Year, OCAA South Division All-Star, Knights WSOC MVP)
- Adam Rolson, Men’s Curling, Business Accounting (OCAA bronze medal, OCAA Second Team All-Star)
- Emma Hill, Women’s Curling, Recreational Therapy (OCAA Silver medal, OCAA Second Team All-Star, Knights Leadership Award, Knights Curling Leadership award)
- Kyle Henry, Men’s Curling, Hospitality, Hotel Management and Operations (OCAA Bronze medal, OCAA First Team All-Star, Knights Curling MVP)
- Melissa Borowski, Women’s Curling, Practical Nursing (OCAA Silver, OCAA Second Team All-Star, Knights Curling Top Scholastic Award)
- Nathan Lohnes, Men’s Curling, Paramedic (OCAA Bronze, OCAA Second Team All-Star)
- Natasha Desjardins, Women’s Volleyball and Soccer, Educational Assistant (OCAA Player of the Year, OCAA West Player of the Year, OCAA First Team All-Star, OCAA All-Academic Award, CCAA All-Canadian, Knights women’s soccer and volleyball Top Scholastic Award, Knights women’s volleyball MVP, Knights Female Athlete of the Year for second consecutive year)
With files from Lindsay English, Athletics Communications & Events Coordinator, NC Athletics & Student Engagement
