Roz Huber and Jen woods are shared winners of the school's highest athletic award.
For the second time in school history two athletes were so deserving of the institution’s highest athletic honour that the award will be shared.
Jen Woods and Roz Huber, both in their fifth and final years and both graduates of Rutland Secondary, will have their names share the plaque that annals the UBC Okanagan Heat Female Student Athlete of the Year award.
Jen is a member of the women’s golf team and led her Heat teammates to a national championship this past season. This is the first time a golfer has ever been honoured with the athlete of the year award.
Roz finished her career as the school’s leading scorer and rebounder and is the first basketball player to win the award since 2006-07, when Mandy Trenholm hauled in the award for Heather Semeniuk’s squad.
The only other time the award has been shared was in 2004-05 when Jackie Wong and Hailey Bauer, teammates, were also to be found equally deserving, both Bauer and Wong played for Steve Manuel’s women’s volleyball team.
Despite Jen’s 5’3’’ stature, she has a remarkable ability as a long hitter. A dedicated academic, she intends to pursue a career in medicine upon graduation in Health Studies and will continue playing competitive golf. Recognized as a National Champion, a National Championship Tournament All-Star, a four time Provincial Champion, and a Provincial All Star, Jen’s five year resume will have her graduate as one of the all-time most-decorated Heat athletes.
Huber’s career did not culminate in a national championship but she too will go down as an all-time great on this campus as she was vital in the Heat’s transition to the CIS. Roz not only had the CIS size and athleticism but also had the work ethic and leadership qualities needed to drag the Heat program to the higher level. As a home-grown Kelowna student-athlete, she has always been willing to raise the profile of student athletes and to help in the Basketball community. This total package of student-athlete and leader make her the perfect UBC Okanagan Heat student-athlete.
The other very strong nominees were Jen Kidd (Soccer), Kendra Wayling (Volleyball), and Michelle Blackburne (Cross Country).
COMPLETE LISTING OF AWARD WINNERS HONOURED AT BANQUET
She won the award last year, and was once again put forward by her teammates as a nominee; Kendra Wayling continues to be a “glue” player for her team. In her fourth year of competition her veteran leadership helped to steer the team to a 15-7 record and its first ever Canada West playoff berth. A CIS Academic All-Canadian, a UBC Okanagan Heat scholar-athlete and once again a team Co-Captain, she is a very competitive student athlete who is willing to fill whatever role her team requires.
The women’s soccer nominee Jennifer Kidd is in her fourth year, this Defender was once again a PACWEST All-Star and Provincial Tournament All-Star, and was also named the Defender of the Tournament for the PACWEST Championships, in which the team won Silver. Her drive and desire to win are contagious and she has been instrumental in the program’s quick rise to success. An extremely dedicated student athlete on the field and in the classroom, she is the recipient of the Provincial Academic Excellence award and an Academic All Canadian.
Michelle Blackburne the female cross country nominee is in just her rookie season with the Heat, this runner was the top PACWEST student athlete at the BC Athletics Provincial Club Championships, and a CCAA All-Canadian. A local product from West Kelowna, she exhibits an incredibly balanced lifestyle of academics, athletics and part-time work. Michelle is an active member of her team, has been very effective in building a positive atmosphere and she believes in sharing her time through volunteering in a variety of ways on and off campus.
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