OSHAWA, Ont. – Amber Edgerton of the women's rugby team, Devonne Henry of the men's rugby team and Jasean Elliott of the men's basketball team were named the Durham College athletes of the year on Wednesday night in an awards-filled evening celebrating hundreds of athletes, coaches, trainers and staff to end the 2025-26 varsity season.

Named OCAA Women's Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Edgerton was the leading force in a season that saw the Durham Lords win an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal in women's rugby. With a league-leading 24 tries and three converts, Edgerton finished the season with 124 points. After making a name for herself last season as the rookie of the year in OCAA women's rugby, she further elevated her game this season with Player of the Year, Championship MVP and League All-Star honours.

In an outstanding collegiate rugby debut, Henry absolutely dominated men's rugby in Ontario as the OCAA crowned him Player of the Year, Scoring Champion and a League All-Star. Durham earned a silver medal at Thompson Rugby Park, following an undefeated regular season campaign. The scoring champion closed out the season with 10 tries, 10 converts and three PK's for 79 points in six regular season games played.

Highlighted by a CCAA All-Canadian award, Elliott cleaned in a season where he was the league leader in both assists and steals. He finished the 2025-26 OCAA season as East Division Player of the Year, East Division Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Star. In 18 regular season games, Elliott averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game.
 
Sarah Clayton earned Female Freshman Athlete of the Year honours after a dominant season in women's rugby sevens, placing seventh in the OCAA in total points with 79 and fifth in tries scored with 15. Clayton was recognized as the OCAA Women's Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year and a Championship All-Star, while being named a League All-Star and a recipient of the All-Rookie Team award.

Owen Mailhot was named the "David Stewart" Male Freshman Athlete of the Year. Making a statement in his rookie season, Mailhot was named OCAA Men's Golf Top Rookie for the fall season and he earned OCAA Men's Golf All-Ontario Team honours. He finished fourth in a field of 34 players at the 2025 OCAA Golf Championships, only two strokes off of the podium.

Chloe Hercia and Teagan Marks were recognized for their leadership on and off the pitch this season with the "Bonnie Ginter-Brown" Leadership Award.

54th DURHAM COLLEGE ATHLETIC BANQUET AWARD WINNERS
 
"Margaret Greenley" Overall Female Athlete of the Year Award
Amber Edgerton - Women's Rugby
 
"William Avery Memorial" Overall Male Athlete of the Year Award
Devonne Henry - Men's Rugby
Jasean Elliott - Men's Basketball
 
Female Freshman Athlete of the Year
Sarah Clayton - Women's Rugby
 
"David Stewart" Male Freshman Athlete of the Year
Owen Mailhot - Golf
 
"Bonnie Ginter-Brown" Leadership Award
Chloe Hercia - Women's Soccer
Teagan Marks - Men's Soccer

"Bert Dejeet Memorial Award" Top GPA
Taylor Wood - Women's Rugby & Basketball
Ripken Shaver - Men's Basketball
Connor DeLuca - Men's Rugby
Evan Brown - Men's Curling
 
#DC4DC Award
Women's Volleyball
 
SPECIAL AWARDS
 
Five-Year Award
Danika Johnston - Women's Rugby
Megan Bent - Women's Rugby
Morgan Salter - Women's Softball
Ryan Mattes - Men's Baseball
Brooke Young - Women's Volleyball
Alisia Lush - Women's Volleyball

Four-Year Award
Sean Michalicka -  Golf
Jocelyn Shelton - Women's Softball
Erik Smith - Men's Baseball
Eddie Borutskie - Men's Baseball
Daniella Kimevski - Women's Rugby
Chloe Hercia - Women's Soccer
Shelby Khan - Women's Soccer
Sage Thomas-Roberts - Women's Soccer
Jaime Pye - Women's Soccer
Teagan Marks - Men's Soccer
Deandre Watkis - Men's Soccer
Aiesha Lewis - Women's Basketball
Tia Chang - Women's Volleyball

Athletic Therapy Student Trainer of the Year
Noah Mossavat
 
Strength & Conditioning Commitment Award
Jessica Docherty - Women's Volleyball
Ryan Mattes - Men's Baseball

Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year
Benjamin Rocheleau
 
"Ken Babcock" Athletic Director's Award of Excellence
Abi Ansell - Game Day Staff
 
NuStadia Recreation Award
Emily Taylor - Women's Softball
Matthew Paredes - Men's Volleyball

TEAM-BY-TEAM AWARDS
 
Men's Baseball
"Boom Baker" MVP: Eddie Borutskie
"Bob Johnston" Rookie of the Year: Ryan McGivney
"Sam Dempster" Leadership Award: Malik James
Top Pitcher: Matt Jones
 
Women's Softball
"Richard Snowden" MVP: Emily Taylor
Rookie of the Year: Georgia Willsie
"Jim Nemish" Leadership Award: Jayden Bennett
Top Pitcher: Makayla Benz

Golf
"Gerry Pettit" Men's MVP: Owen Mailhot
"Ryan Hughes" Rookie of the Year: Colby Hercia
"Tyler Martin" Leadership Award: Cory Pharand
 
Women's Soccer
"Vaso Vujanovic" MVP: Julia Fontana
"Gail Reid" Rookie of the Year: Kadi Sutherland
"Gord Oliver" Leadership Award: Chloe Hercia
 
Men's Soccer
"Vaso Vujanovic" MVP: Michael Arfanis
"Mario Bombino" Rookie of the Year: Michael Arfanis
"Gord Oliver" Leadership Award: Zachery Hamedi
 
Indoor Soccer
Women's MVP: Jaime Pye
Men's MVP: Daniel Trueman
 
Women's Rugby
MVP: Amber Edgerton & Camryn Wood
Rookie of the Year: Sarah Clayton
Leadership Award: Hayden Venedam
 
Men's Rugby
MVP: Devonne Henry
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Payne
Leadership Award: Owen MacKinnon
 
Women's Basketball
"Bonnie Slaughter" MVP: Sarah-Jane Laplante & Telia Campbell
"Lindsay Panchan" Rookie of the Year: Kathy Orellana
Leadership Award: Aiesha Lewis
 
Men's Basketball
"Ted Harrison" MVP: Jasean Elliott
"Anthony Batchelor" Rookie of the Year: Jayden Genereux
"Ernie Rainbow" Leadership Award: Rudy Fakih
 
Women's Volleyball
"Stan Marchut" MVP: Elizabeth McFarland
"Carol Cruwys-Hart" Rookie of the Year: Julie Wong
Leadership Award: Brooke Young
 
Men's Volleyball
"Laurence Bishop" MVP: Jonas Felix
"David Dobson" Rookie of the Year: Jack Hendry
Leadership Award: Ravi Hunter

Curling
Women's MVP: Madison Davies
Men's MVP: Canyon Myers
Rookie of the Year: Carson Maki
Leadership Award: Vanessa Ng
 
Esports
Call of Duty MVP: James Zarafonitis
Counter-Strike 2 MVP: Nicolas Pineda
League of Legends MVP: Matthew Mason
Marvel Rivals MVP: Alex Beleaga
Rocket League MVP: Jared Greenwood
Super Smash Brothers Ultimate MVP: Star Solaiman
Valorant MVP: Ethan Minogue
Leadership Award: Nicolas Pineda