University of the Fraser Valley Cascades basketball star Maddy Gobeil and Golf Canada University/College Golf Championships winner Jackson Jacob were the big winners at the 2024 Cascades Awards event.
Winners were announced on Wednesday (April 10), with Gobeil and Jacob winning the female and male athlete of the year awards respectively.
Gobeil led the women’s basketball team to the U Sports National Championship for the first time in a decade and also helped the team earn a Canada West bronze.
The Kamloops product had an outstanding season, finishing second in CW in points per game (17.7) and steals (3.3), sixth in field goal percentage (.482), 11th in assists (3.3), 14th in three-point percentage (.329) and 25th in rebounds (5.8). Her efforts led her to be named a CW first team all-star and a U Sports second team all-Canadian.
Jacob scored a big win at the 2023 Golf Canada University/College Golf Championships with an eight-stroke victory. He finished at -17 for the event and his third round score of 63 set a new course record at host Fire Rock Golf Club in Ontario.
The Langley product also helped the Cascades men’s golf team earn bronze at Golf Canada Nationals and at the CW Golf Championships this year.
Cascades women’s soccer player Kiana Langston took home the female rookie of the year award.
She started every CW game this season and recorded 1,000 minutes played in her rookie year. The North Vancouver product scored three goals in the regular season and added one in the playoffs for UFV.
Men’s basketball player Ismael Hernandez captured the male rookie of the year award.
He averaged six points and 2.8 rebounds per game and contributed in the playoffs with 16 points and eight rebounds in two starts. The Spanish product figures to be a big part of the team next season.
Women’s basketball player Nikki Cabuco won the community athlete of the year award. The Port Moody product also earned the U Sports Sylvia Sweeney Award for her extensive work in the community.
Cabuco’s community involvement includes serving as a substance use coordinator working with young people aged 12 to 24, serving as a youth and family ambassador with Foundry BC, and volunteering with the BC Children’s Hospital to work with autism assessment and acute inpatient rehab programs to support and supervise patients and siblings while parents or guardians are in meetings.
Other awards winners included: rower Peter Inden (Jen Simpson Memorial Leadership Award), Sierra Cucheran (Cascades Crew Award) and Jade Davies (Student Therapist of the Year).
Cascades team MVPs for 2023-24 were also announced as part of awards night.
- Men’s basketball: Dylan Kinley
- Women’s basketball: Maddy Gobeil
- Men’s soccer: Carson Muter
- Women’s soccer: Alanna Sydenham
- Men’s golf: Jackson Jacob
- Women’s golf: Lucy Park
- Men’s volleyball: Jonas Van Huizen
- Women’s volleyball: Gabrielle Attieh
- Rowing: Rebekah Stokes
- Baseball: Lane Grunerud
