Team of the year: Martlet Hockey
On March 17, the McGill Martlets (14-6), fifth in U Sports’ national rankings, claimed silver at the National Championships after falling 1-0 to the Guelph Gryphons (19-3-3). The loss came after an upset victory over the top ranked Alberta Pandas (23-5) in the semifinals and a 10-2 quarterfinal win against St. Thomas (22-5-1) in the quarterfinals. The team also finished second in the RSEQ playoffs behind the Université de Montréal (UdeM) Carabins (15-4-1). Four Martlets earned all-star honours for their individual performances: Third-year forward Jade Downie-Landry and third-year goalie Tricia Deguire earned first-team all-league and second-team all-Canadian status, while second-year forward Kellyane Lecours and fourth-year defenceman Emilia Cotter were named to the RSEQ second team all-league.
Coach of the year: Rachèle Béliveau (Martlet Volleyball)
Martlet volleyball dropped only three regular season games this year and finished atop the RSEQ standings. Unfortunately, in the RSEQ championship series, they fell to the number-two seed UdeM Carabins two games to one. Despite the disappointing loss, Martlet volleyball Head Coach—and RSEQ 2018-19 Coach of the Year—Rachèle Béliveau can still count this as a successful season. With over 600 victories in her 28 years of coaching the Martlets, Béliveau is the has the most wins of any coach in McGill Athletics history, and she has inspired generations of McGill volleyball players.
Female athlete of the year: Jade Downie-Landry (Martlet Hockey)
Third-year Downie-Landry had another outstanding season for the Martlets: She was named to the RSEQ first-team all-league and the Canadian second-team all-league and won the RSEQ scoring title. At the U Sports National Championship, she earned all-tournament team status and tournament MVP honours. She was also awarded Martlet hockey team MVP as well as the Most Outstanding Scorer award. Downie-Landry—who scored or assisted on nearly half of McGill’s goals this season—has the 12th-most points of any player in Martlet history, sitting on an impressive list of Martlet hockey alumnae including Ann-Sophie Bettez and Katia Clement-Heydra.
Male athlete of the year: Sasha Lagarde (Baseball)
With 31 hits and 27 RBIs, the third-year outfielder from Pierrefonds, QC led McGill baseball in those categories and also posted the second-highest slugging percentage and third-highest on-base-plus-slugging on the team. In the team’s five games at the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association tournament in October, Lagarde went seven-for-15, scored 11 runs, and drove in nine. He earned all-tournament team status and the tournament MVP award after McGill’s fifth—and Lagarde’s third—consecutive Canadian University World Series title.
Female rookie of the year: Maria Gheta (Artistic Swimming)
In February, Gheta earned the top overall athlete award at the National Championship artistic swimming meet. She won two gold medals and one silver medal en route to McGill’s fifth national title in the last six years. She won her gold medals in the duet event, where she competed alongside her older sister Ioana, and the team event. She placed second with her solo routine. Previously, Gheta picked up three gold medals at the McGill Invitational in November; she added two golds and a silver at the Eastern Divisionals in January.
Male rookie of the year: Clement Secchi (Men’s Swimming)
At the U Sports Swim Championships on Feb. 21-23, Secchi came away with one gold in the 50m backstroke and two bronze medals in the 100m butterfly and 4x200m freestyle relay. He set new McGill and RSEQ short course records in the 100m and 200m backstroke. He also put together a team-best 24.94 second 50m backstroke which third-year teammate Samuel Wang beat in the subsequent heat. Secchi, who earned RSEQ first-team all-star status, was just as impressive at the conference championship meet: He won three gold and three silver medals to help the McGill men’s swim team to a second-place finish.
