Paquette, Dugrenier are Stinger idols for 2003-04

By John Austen

Even Simon Cowell would have been impressed. The insufferable judge on the hit television series American Idol would have been hard pressed to find anything negative to say about the two “Concordia Idols” chosen as Athletes of the Year at the annual Department of Recreation and Athletics awards banquet held recently in St. Laurent.

Football player Jean-Michel Paquette, the popular All-Canadian running back and Martine Dugrenier, an All-Canadian wrestler, were named the best of the 2003-2004 season.

The Dr. Robert J. Brodrick Award, presented annually to the top male athlete went to Paquette.

The extremely popular fifth-year running back was rewarded for his exceptional season with two spots the QIFC all-star team. He was named to the team as a running back and a return specialist. It was a unanimous vote for both positions.

He led the QIFC in three categories this season. He was the top rusher with 644 yards and three touchdowns in just six games. He was the top punt returner, averaging 16.1 yards a return. He also led the conference in all-purpose yards with 1,192 yards or 198.7 yards a game. The CIS also recognized his accomplishments, naming him a second team All-Canadian.

Dugrenier is considered one of the most dynamic and accomplished athletes to ever compete for Concordia University. In her five years, she has won four medals at the nationals, including three gold medals. She is a three-time CIS All-Canadian. Last month at the university championships, she dominated all four of her opponents and did not have a point scored on her.

She was so powerful and skilful they had no choice but to name her the outstanding female wrestler in Canadian university sports. In June, she will travel to Poland to represent Concordia and Canada at the World University Wrestling Championships. This is the third straight year she has been named Female Athlete of the Year.

Other major award winners included: Christian Giguere, football, Fittest Male Athlete; Patrice Theriault, hockey, Ron Lapointe Award for leadership, dedication and commitment to excellence; Marie-Pier Cantin Drouin, hockey, Fittest Female Athlete; Janna Gillis, hockey, Denise Beaudet Award for leadership, unselfishness and commitment to excellence; David Zilberman, wrestling, Male Rookie of the Year; Cecilia Anderson, hockey, Laurie Brodrick Award for Female Rookie of the Year; and offensive lineman Alex Oliveira, the Marvin Cooper Award presented to the student-athlete who has successfully overcome adversity through hard work, commitment and dedication.

David Comeau of the men’s hockey team and Sommer Christie of the women’s rugby team were acknowledged for their successful careers with Awards of Distinction. The Male and Female Academic Athlete of the Year Awards went to wrestling’s Tyler Marghetis, who has a 4.18 GPA in pure and applied math, and Kathleen Grzybowski, an arts education major with a 3.90 GPA and member of the women’s soccer team.

The Department of Recreation and Athletics also presented the 2003-04 Concordia Student Union with a Director’s Shield in recognition of their support over the past year.

The team MVPs are: Jamieson Boulanger, baseball; Philippe Langlois, men’s basketball; Jean-Michel Paquette, football; Phil Ozga, men’s hockey; Nick Bell, men’s rugby; Vincent Van Uytfanck, men’s skiing; Ammar Bedawieh, men’s soccer; Tyler Marghetis, men’s wrestling; M.J. Raposo, women’s basketball; Cecilia Anderson, women’s hockey; Sommer Christie, women’s rugby; Jessica Butler, women’s skiing; Jerusha Osborne, women’s soccer; and Martine Dugrenier, women’s wrestling.