WRES: Conference's major award winners honoured after CW championships

CALGARY - Saskatchewan's SueAnne Harms and Alberta's Aidan Stevenson took home the conference's top individual wrestling honours after the CW Championship Saturday.

Harms won gold in the 53-kilogram class with decisive victories, standing out among her peers. Stevenson helped his team to a second-straight and conference-leading 14th overall championship title. He did it with a fantastic individual performance in the 82-kilogram category.

Meanwhile, Calgary's Mark Schwichtenberg and Saskatchewan's Myan Phillips were named the CW Rookies of the Year after eye-raising first-year performances on the big stage.

Owen Dawkins earns Coach of the Year honours for both men and women after leading his Golden Bears and Pandas to the title sweep at home. This is the sixth time Dawkins has completed the sweep in his 14 years at the helm of this program. He's won the men's Coach of the Year an additional three times while leading both programs to a combined nine conference titles.

Rounding out the major award winners is a Saskatchewan duo. Allison Kuzub and Drake Buechler have earned the Student-Athlete Community Service Awards for their excellence in sport, academics and in the community.

CW WRESTLING MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Women's Wrestler of the Year: SueAnne Harms

Men's Wrestler of the Year: Aidan Stevenson

Men's Rookie of the Year: Mark Schwichtenberg

Women's Rookie of the Year: Myan Phillips

Women's Student-Athlete Award Winner: Allison Kuzub

Allison Kuzub excels in the classroom and on the mat while making a huge difference in her community. The 2022 CW champion worked her way to an impressive 90% average last year while training at an elite level and volunteering at the Erindale Animal Hospital, the Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation and WCVM "Vet-A-Vision". Through the three organizations, she ensures the best quality of life for animals while increasing public education and assisting veterinarians. She's on track to graduate from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine while maintaining a high-level athletic career.

Men's Student-Athlete Award Winner: Drake Buechler

Drake Buechler earned silver in the 61-kilogram category at this year's CW Championships, while posting accomplishments outside the athletic arena that are just as impressive. Buechler maintained an 84% academic average last year while helping the younger generation achieve their goals and learn life lessons. He coaches high school wrestling camps and practices while officiating tournaments for multiple groups. He is also an active member of the Huskies Athletic Council, volunteering to raise money for Jim Pattison's Children's Hospital, delivering food hampers with the Dream Brokers program, and teaching gym classes with Huskie Homeroom. Outside of this, he somehow still finds time to deliver toys and food to families in need over the holidays.

Men's & Women's Coach of the Year: Owen Dawkins