RUGBY: Calgary's Menin takes home CW Player of the Year award

EDMONTON – For the third consecutive season, a Menin is the Canada West Rugby Player of the Year.

After sister DaLeaka claimed the conference's top individual honour the past two seasons, younger sister Kasselle has been named Canada West's top player, as the conference major award winners were unveiled Sunday, following Calgary's 27-8 win over Victoria to claim the CW rugby championship in Edmonton.

Highlights:

Along with Menin, UBC Thunderbirds Rori Wood and Tess Woldring also earned major individual awards, claiming the Rookie of the Year and Student-Athlete Community Service awards respectively.

Calgary's Simon Chi also took home a major award, claiming the title of CW Coach of the Year for a third straight season.

In addition to the conference's major awards, the Canada West all-star team was unveiled.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kasselle Menin

The Menin's can add another CW Player of the Year award to the family name, as Kasselle Menin has been named the conference's top player for 2018.

The fourth-year lock succeeds her sister DaLeaka as Canada West's top player. DaLeaka graduated from the Dinos following last season, but left the program in the more than capable hands of her sister, who guided Calgary to another conference title.

Menin, who has international experience with Canada's U20 women's program, was key to the Dinos 5-1 regular season, finishing with 25 total points – good for third on the Dinos and tied for sixth in the conference.

While she helped offensively for Calgary, it was her play at lineouts, kick off, and on defence that made the difference for the Dinos.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rori Wood

Highly-touted recruit Rori Wood made her Canada West rookie season count.

A product of the Westshore RFC program, Wood played on the international stage as a member of team Canada's U-18 squad prior to joining the Thunderbirds.

In her first season at the university level, Wood was critical to UBC from the lock position, earning playing time right away from head coach Dean Murten, suiting up for every minute this season for the Thunderbirds.

Wood proved to be just what UBC needed in the pack this season. Despite being a first year, she was a leader on the team and was willing to put her body on the line.

With ball in hand, she was dangerous in enclosed spaces using good foot work and leg drive, while her vision and speed were on display all season in open field.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE: Tess Woldring

Tess Woldring has combined competitive excellence on the pitch, with community service off it.

The third-year UBC Thunderbird has given back to the sport as a rugby coach at Scott Creek Middle School in Coquitlam, B.C., volunteering at the school for the last two seasons. In addition to her volunteer service, the Kinesiology student posted a 3.8 GPA during the 2017-18 academic year.

On the field, Woldring represented British Columbia this past summer at the Canadian Rugby Championship in Saskatoon, helping her come into the 2018 CW season ready to take the next step athletically. This season, Woldring started every game for UBC, playing the full 80 minutes in most of them, which is an accomplishment for a prop in the modern game.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Simon Chi

Simon Chi's run as Canada West's top coach continues.

In his ninth season as the Calgary Dinos head coach, Chi is once again the conference Coach of the Year, marking the third consecutive season he's claimed the honour.

Since taking over the Calgary program, Chi has built his team into a perennial Canada West contender, racking up a CW regular season record of 27-10-1, including a 5-1 mark in 2018.

Chi has led Calgary to the last three Canada West conference banners, and is now looking to guide the Dinos to their first national title.

2018 CANADA WEST RUGBY ALL-STARS

Position / Name / University / Eligibility / Hometown / Program 

Prop / Jayne Isherwood / Alberta / 4 / Vancouver, B.C.

Prop / Sarah Klok / UBC / 2 / Abbotsford, B.C.

Hooker / Alix Evans / Alberta / 4 ​ / Sherwood Park, Alta.

Lock / Kasselle Menin / Calgary / 4 / Vulcan, Alta.

Lock / Abby Duguid / Lethbridge / 4 / Edmonton, Alta.

Back Row / Courtney Holtkamp / Alberta / 2 / Rimbey, Alta.

Back Row / Alyson MacDougall / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, Alta.

Back Row / Gurpreet Dhaliwal / Victoria / 5 / Abbotsford, B.C.

Scrum Half / Berlyn Seselja / Calgary / 2 / Surrey, B.C.

Fly Half / Caitlin Sears / Lethbridge / 3 / Sherwood Park, Alta.

Center / Shoshanah Seumanutafa / UBC / 2 / Vancouver, B.C.

Center / Madison Aberg / Victoria / 4 / Calgary, Alta.

Back Three / Ali Wicklum / Alberta / 3 / Calgary, Alta.

Back Three / Taejah Thompson / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, Alta.

Back Three / Paige Farries / Victoria / 4 / Red Deer, Alta.