Ambrose Lions 2025-26 Awards Gala Recap 

As the 2025-26 school year comes to a close, we wanted to take the time and revisit all the award winners from the Lions Gala! We will also be going over the award winners from each sport. 

The individual team awards given out include the most improved, most inspirational and most valuable players. These athletes represent Ambrose and Christ with positive leadership. We will also end with the Ambrose Lions athletics major award winners; Lion-Hearted Servant of the Year, Mel Sylvester Athletic Leadership, Rookies of the Year, Athletes of the Year. 

Thank you all for coming out to games and supporting our athletes no matter the result and packing the Lion's Den for every home game.  

Team Awards

Men's Basketball 

The 2025-26 season saw the coming together of a group with something to prove. The team earned a spot in the 2026 ACAC Men's Basketball Provincial Championships after an impressive buzzer beater win over the Briercrest Clippers in their final game of the season. Ambrose also took home an ACAC All-Conference First Team. 

We are thrilled to announce the award winners from men's basketball are: 

Most Improved Player - Paulo Cuesta

Most Inspirational Player - Jackson Earle

Most Valuable Player - Jarom Walton

Women's Basketball  

The Ambrose Lions' Women's Basketball team started the season with a bang, earning a 57 point win in their home opener, followed up a fall semester upset over the highly ranked SAIT Trojans. These were both small pieces in the improved record from the 2024-25 season with Aphia Ward stepping into her first year as Head Coach. We are thrilled to announce the award winners from women's basketball are: 

Most Improved Player: Juliana Hajduk

Most Inspirational Player: Hannah Brundage

Most Valuable Player: Andrijana Bokan

Women's Volleyball 

For the NINTH straight year, the Ambrose Lions' Women's Volleyball team made an appearance at the ACAC Women's Volleyball Championship. Alongside this impressive feat, the team brought home two All-Conference Awards.  We are thrilled to announce the award winners from women's volleyball are: 

Most Improved Player: Jenelle Martens

Most Inspirational Player: Emilie Pregal

Most Valuable Player: Brooklyn Deol

Men's Volleyball 

The Ambrose Lions' Men's Volleyball team finished the 2025-26 with historic achievmenets. For the first time in ACAC history, the men's volleyball team qualified for a spot at the Provincial Championship. They went on to complete their championship run with a consolation final win, earning them a program high fifth place finish. The team also walked away with an All-Conference nod. We are thrilled to announce the award winners from men's volleyball are: 

Most Improved Player: Kade Miller

Most Inspirational Player: George Zapach

Most Valuable Player: Noah Verhoef 

Men's Soccer/Futsal 

The Ambrose Lions' Men's Soccer/Futsal Team finished with the best performance in men's futsal program  history while exceeding expectations through the outdoor season. We are thrilled to announce the award winners from men's soccer/futsal are: 

Most Improved Player: Nate McFadyen

Most Inspirational Player: Aaron Hoey

Most Valuable Player: Isaiah McMahon

Women's Soccer/Futsal 

The Ambrose Lions' Women's Soccer Team saw massive leaps in performance this year, becoming the highest scoring Lions Women's Soccer Team in program history. We are thrilled to announce the award winners from women's soccer/futsal are: 

Most Improved Player: Sydney Gingras

Most Inspirational Player: Gracey Nichol

Most Valuable Player: Lindsay Hesjedal

MAJOR AWARDS & ACADEMIC AWARDS 

We were blessed to have 16 graduating athletes this year, spanning over five different degree programs:  

Chloe Kilgore, Kalli Pilon, Lindsay Hesjedal, Rylee Flamont, Matt Smith, Ryan Wieninger, Katelynn Cook, Brooklyn Deol, Elise Wagner, Emilie Pregal, Jillian Bieraugle, Rachel Barg, George Zapach, Emmanuel Fagite, Jackson Earle, and Guilherme Ferriera. 

Ambrose Athletics Academic Achievement Award. This award is given to any athlete who has received a 3.5 GPA or higher and is in 9 credits or more in their academic program at Ambrose. 

The 44 recipients' are: 

Rachel Barg, Jillian Bieraugle, Cassidy Black, Halle Blocha, Andrijana Bokan, Kasey Breitkreuz, Hannah Brundage, Edge Capuno, Israel Ceron Alsibar, Katelynn Cook, Jack Corrigan, Keira Crellin, Ashten Croswell, Brooklyn Deol, Jackson Earle, Emma Faith, Reece Fiwchuk, Rylee Flamont, Taylor Hart, Hannah Hawach, Lindsay Hesjedal, Aaron Hoey, Sara Jovin, Emma Johnson, Chloe Kilgore, Chloe Mak, Grace Meyer, Ella Mysko, Casey Needham, Dylan Pearson, Kalli Pilon, Emilie Pregal, Lilah Pratt, Jiya Samrai, Sam Shergill, Tessa Stockman, Jayna Thulien, Sadee Toews, Haley Tovell, Elise Wagner, Kya Wildeman, Ryan Wieninger, and George Zapach. 

The Ambrose Academic Team of the Year is awarded to the team with the highest average GPA. Currently, the Women's Volleyball team leads the way with a 3.60.  

Ambrose Servant Hearted Lion of the Year 

This award is awarded to one male and one female athlete who exemplify what service and community involvement is all about. These two individuals display the characteristics of service, generosity, care, and selflessness towards their teammates, Lions Athletics, Ambrose University, and the World. Their servant hearted leadership will show up in their attitude, actions, and allocation of their time. 

Female Servant Hearted 

This year's Female Servant Hearted Lion of the Year is someone who truly represents what it means to serve others with humility and love. One of her coaches described her as the heartbeat of the team. Not only is she incredibly intelligent, but she is also one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She is always the first to step up and help others. She regularly serves in Chapel and lives out her faith in a very real and visible way. This year, she faced a major challenge with an ACL injury in preseason. But what stands out is how she responded. She stayed present, continued to show up, and kept finding ways to support her team. She has a unique ability to make people feel seen and valued, and the light she brings to this community is undeniable. This year's Female Servant Hearted Lion of the Year is Chloe Mak from Women's Basketball. 

Male Servant Hearted 

This year's Male Servant Hearted Lion of the Year is someone who truly lives what it means to serve others. One of his coaches shared that his leadership is not loud or attention-seeking, but steady, intentional, and deeply impactful. He invests in his teammates through encouragement, accountability, and genuine care, always putting the needs of the group ahead of his own. Whether in practice, competition, or daily life on campus, he represents Ambrose Athletics with humility, integrity, and generosity. He doesn't just talk about servant leadership, he lives it. This year's Male Servant Hearted Lion of the Year is George Zapach from Men's Volleyball. 

Rookies of the year 

Our Athlete of the Year Award is given to a male and female who stands out above the rest amongst all our teams in the difference they make to their team and in how they bring value through their skill and leadership. 

Female Rookie of the Year Winner  

We all knew from the very first day she stepped on campus she would make an impact. Not only does she shine within her sport, consistently demonstrating her athletic ability, but she shines in the hallways of this school, on the bus for road trips and toward everyone that meets her. As a first-year, you are met with so many trials and tribulations when adjusting from high school to college. Our rookie was no exception facing in one year what many athletes encounter through their entire career. She was able to step up into roles whenever she was asked and solidified her position as a key contributor. She was seen starting almost every game and holding her own against the provinces very best competition. Regardless of the challenges, setbacks, and moments that continually tested her both in and out of play, the ways she responded always stood out. She stayed grounded. She learnt from her mistakes. She competed, reflected, and kept showing up. She capitalized when it mattered most, embraced her role, and continued to grow through every moment. Every coach hopes to find a player who contributes beyond expectations, someone willing to be vulnerable, to grow, and to give everything to the team. She is that player. This year, our female rookie of the year is Maggie Saunders from Women's Soccer! 

Male Rookie of the Year Winner 

The impact that our Male Rookie of the Year made from day one was nothing short of incredible. From the first whistle, he demonstrated the vast difference between when he was playing to when he was not. There was never a moment where he was not performing to the highest possible level and staying calm in moments of chaos. His composure and patience were a necessity in the teams most successful season to date. In his role he showed consistency and resilience under pressure, never faltering and being a person his teammates could always rely on for a strong performance. Beyond the impressive numbers on the stats sheet, what stood out was his reliability, his maturity, and the standard he brought to the group. Unfortunately, an injury cut his season short, but his impact had already been clearly felt. This impact was recognized beyond the walls of Ambrose University when he rightfully earned an ACAC All-Conference nod when he was named the top goalkeeper in the ACAC South Division. Not only did he become the first goalkeeper to receive this honour for Ambrose Men's Soccer, but he is also the first rookie. This year's male rookie of the year is Noah Nielsen from Men's Soccer! 

Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award Winner 

Our Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award Winner is perhaps our most prestigious award alongside our Athlete of the Year Award. It goes to a male and female who stands out in the way that they lead amongst their team and shine in their character in their attitude, work ethic, and the fruit of their lives. Ambrose University is also lucky enough to partner with the Calgary Booster Club to provide a $500 scholarship along with the award for those named Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award Winners, as well as Athletes of the Year. 

Female Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award Winner  

This year's Female Leadership award winner is a light that fills every room she enters. She is a tremendous leader on and off the court, one who sets the tone for everyone around her through sheer work ethic, consistency, and love. Despite any personal struggles she faces, she shows up every single day and gives her team everything she has, never making excuses and never asking for anything in return. She leads not only by example, but through her competitive yet deeply caring words, lifting teammates up even in her own difficult moments. She is so full of God's love that she naturally projects it onto everyone around her, always the first to hype up, high five, and encourage those beside her. She has worked incredibly hard to grow academically, and that same coachable, growth-oriented mindset shines through in everything she does. She never fails to treat others with genuine love and make them smile, including her coaches. This young woman embodies what it means to lead with both fire and grace. This year's Female Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award winner is Prissy Chuoi from Women's Basketall.

Male Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award Winner  

This year's Male Leadership award winner is the kind of person who makes everyone around him better, not through words alone, but through who he is at his core. He truly embodies a servant's heart, leading with humility and genuine care for others in everything he does. What sets him apart is not simply his performance, but the way he shows up for his teammates, his program, and his community off the court. He leads study halls, invests in the lives of those around him, and is always the first to ask how he can help. He served on the SALT team and has been a consistent source of encouragement and support for those beside him all season long. He is deeply engaged in the classroom and in his program, and his love for God is not something he simply talks about. It is something you see in his actions, his attitude, and his character every single day. His outstanding coachability, positive spirit, and relentless work ethic make him a model for what it truly means to be an Ambrose Lion.  This year's Male Mel Sylvester Christian Leadership Award Winner is Noah Verhoef from Men's Volleyball.

Athletes of the year 

Our Athlete of the Year Award is given to a male and female who stands out above the rest amongst all our teams in the difference they make to their team and in how they bring value through their skill and leadership. 

Female Athlete of the year Award Winner 

This year's Female Athlete of the Year is a force of nature, dominant, driven, and absolutely electric to watch. From the very first day of the season, she led by example, never hesitating to step forward into adversity, never allowing herself or those around her to make excuses, and always holding the standard high. She is the kind of player that other ACAC teams game plan around, and she delivers every single time. She was an ACAC All-Conference award recipient and ranked in the ACAC top 10 in multiple statistical categories, a reflection of the consistent, elite-level performance she brings night in and night out. But beyond the stats, it is her heart that truly defines her. She is a vocal leader and a beloved teammate, a steady, fierce presence who fosters vulnerability, trust, and belief among those around her. She is hard-working, deeply coachable, and embodies everything it means to be an Ambrose Lion. She also excels in the classroom as one of our Academic Award recipients. Without her desire and willingness to raise the bar, this team would not have found the success it did. This year's Female Athlete of the Year is Brooklyn Deol from Women's Volleyball.

Male Athlete of the Year Award Winner  

This year's Male Athlete of the Year is one of the most complete players in the ACAC, a multi-skilled, multi-dimensional force who makes his presence felt in every aspect of the game. He was named to the ACAC All-Conference South First Team, one of the highest individual honours in the conference, and a well-deserved recognition of the dominant season he put together. He led his team in multiple offensive categories while also ranking among the conference's best across the board, stacking contributions all season long with rare consistency. He was named Player of the Game multiple times and was a regular nominee for Athlete of the Week. Other teams face guard him and make him the first name on their scouting report, yet he finds a way to impact the game regardless. He was also our best defender, trusted to shut down the opposing team's most dangerous players. Beyond the court, he grew into his role as co-captain, expanding his leadership throughout the season. He is a kind, upstanding young man who is strong in the classroom, and this program is incredibly proud of who he is becoming. This year's male Athlete of the Year is Jarom Walton from Men's Basketball. 

Thanks to all the Lions fans out there for cheering on all our teams through another great season! Make sure you check out this site as well as our social media pages throughout the summer to learn about new player signings, sports camps, upcoming games and more! 

Have a great summer, Lions fan!