Mount Saint Vincent University’s Department of Athletics recognized the success of the 2024-25 season at the Annual Best of the Blue Awards last night.
This season, the Mystics celebrated two ACAA team championship titles and one individual championship title, three CCAA All-Canadian awards, seven major ACAA and CCAA awards, and 19 ACAA all-conference all-stars. ACAA men’s basketball player of the year Jaydan Smith was named the Mystics male athlete of the year, while ACAA women’s soccer player of the year Sacha Clark and first all-conference team women’s basketball player Marley Curwin were named female co-MVPs.
A fifth-year guard, Jaydan capped off his second season with the Mystics averaging 17.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading them to an 18-0 regular season record. He was named an ACAA first team all-conference, the league MVP and a CCAA All-Canadian for his efforts.
Fourth-year midfielder Sacha Clark led the Mystics to a conference title. Mystics in goals with 10 during the regular season, ranking her first in the conference to earn the title of women’s soccer player of year, ACAA first team all-conference honours and a CCAA All-Canadian in the process.
Marley Curwin, a fifth-year guard, helped lead the Mystics to first place during regular season play and a conference championship title. She led the conference in assists, averaging 4.9 per game, and was second in steals with 2.8 per game. She was named an ACAA first team all-conference and a CCAA All-Canadian.
COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
Team Awards
Cross Country Awards
Most Improved Runners: Erik Cabascango & Laurie MacDougall
Mystics of the Year: Amelia MacDougall & Koen Schlief
Most Valuable Runners: Madesen Allen & Mason Maxwell
Women’s Soccer Awards
Most Improved Player: Emma Bowser
Mystics of the Year: Ashley Neves & Maya Clapperton
Most Valuable Player: Sacha Clark
Men’s Soccer Awards
Most Improved Players: Cooper McVicar-Smith & Liam Chisholm
Mystic of the Year: Brett Maddox
Most Valuable Player: Alex Bellefontaine
Women’s Volleyball Awards
Most Improved Players: Haylie Jackson & Sarah Ryan
Mystic of the Year: Hannah Huntley
Most Valuable Player: Catherine MacPhail
Women’s Basketball Awards
Most Improved Players: Emma Empringham & Jenna Matheson
Mystic of the Year: Lily Newberry
Most Valuable Players: Marley Curwin & Amanda Pearcey
Men’s Basketball Awards
Most Improved Player: Adam Callaghan
Mystic of the Year: Jaxon Smith
Most Valuable Player: Jaydan Smith
Individual Awards
Sheila & Stephenie Allt Memorial Award
Morgan Gillis, Women’s Soccer
Emily Murphy, Women’s Volleyball
Tracy Barton Endowed Memorial Award
Beth Padfield, Women’s Soccer
Dyrick McDermott Memorial Award
Victoria Strickland, Women’s Basketball
Raymond & Helen Plato Memorial Award
Adam Callaghan, Men’s Basketball
Keigan Feron, Men’s Basketball
Rick & Andrea Plato Award
Demeric Mercer, Men’s Basketball
Alumni Varsity Prize
Ashleigh Marshall, Women’s Basketball
Michael Grechuk, Men’s Soccer
Windsor Flash Trophy (Highest GPA)
Ana Lucas, Women’s Soccer
Estel Iscan-Insense, Women’s Volleyball
Male Athlete of the Year
Jaydan Smith, Men’s Basketball
Female Athletes of the Year
Sacha Clark, Women’s Soccer
Marley Curwin, Women’s Basketball
CCAA Academic All Canadians
Madesen Allen, Cross Country
Kate Burton, Soccer
Sacha Clark, Soccer
Marley Curwin, Basketball
Morgan Gillis, Soccer
Ana Lucas, Soccer
Catherine MacPhail, Volleyball
Leah Mombourquette, Soccer
Amanda Pearcey, Basketball
Lauren Seamone, Soccer
Jaxon Smith, Basketball
Jaydan Smith, Basketball
Céline Sterckel, Basketball
Recreation Awards
Margaret Ellis Award
Amelia MacDougall
R.I.S.E. Awards
Commitment to Excellence: Gabrielle Duguay
Game Changer: Rachel Kamphuis
Rising Star: Jada Sawler
2024-25 Season Recap
The 2024-25 season saw our Mystics teams and student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom and in their respective sports.
First-year Mystic Madesen Allen had an incredible season to lead the cross country team. She won gold at the ACAA championships and was named Runner of the Year, helping lead the women’s team to a third-place finish. The men also finished in third place, with Mason Maxwell leading the way with a sixth-place finish at the conference championship. Both runners competed at the national championships, hosted by St. Clair University in Windsor, Ontario and had great runs.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams competed at the ACAA championships hosted by Crandall University in Moncton, N.B. The men lost to the STU Tommies in the semifinal, while the women topped the UNBSJ Seawolves in their semifinal to advance to the championship final.
They went on to defeat the UKC Blue Devils 3-0 to capture their 18th conference banner and earned a trip to the national championship in Squamish, B.C. The Mystics had a great showing, despite losing their first two matches 1-0, and went on to win their third and final game 1-0 to finish in seventh place.
Our women’s volleyball team finished the regular season in third place and faced Dalhousie in quarterfinal action at the ACAA championships, hosted by Holland College. Unfortunately, their season came to an end after a 3-0 loss to the Rams.
The basketball teams headed to Saint John, N.B., for the conference championships. The men’s team went in as the top-ranked team after a perfect 18-0 record, with a bye to the semifinal round. They defeated Crandall 91-74 to advance to the championship final where they faced the host, UNB Saint John. The Seawolves took the win, 77-64, bringing the Mystics season to an unexpected end.
The women also went in as the top-ranked team, defeating the St. Thomas Tommies in semifinal action to advance to the final, where they topped the Holland Hurricanes 72-62 to capture their third championship in four years.
A week later, the Mystics travelled to Fredericton for the national championship, where they lost all three games to St. Mary’s University, VIU and the host Tommies.
In addition to their athletic success, our student-athletes excelled in the classroom, with 32 Mystics named CCAA National Scholars during the 2023-24 season (announced in September 2024). We are also celebrating a record 13 CCAA Academic All-Canadians and a terrific academic record by all our student-athletes.
A huge thank you goes out to all of our coaches, managers, support staff, and trainers. We are so fortunate to have such an accomplished group of coaches and mentors. Thank you!