King's student-athletes honoured at Mustangs Awards
April 6, 2022
Congratulations to Deionte Knight, BA Major in History, who was named Western University Mustangs Male Athlete of the Year and was one of several King’s student-athletes honoured as part of the 81st Mustangs Awards, held on April 5, 2022.
As a defensive lineman, Knight helped the Mustangs football team win the Vanier Cup Championship this year. He won both the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) & U SPORTS J.P. Metras Trophy as Most Outstanding Lineman of the Year awards. After leading the country with 7.5 sacks on the season, Knight is expected to be selected in either the upcoming CFL or NFL drafts.
The Mustangs Athlete of the Year Award is presented annually to a male and female student athlete who has achieved outstanding success representing Western at the provincial and/or national level in the current intercollegiate season.
The ceremony, held in person at Alumni Hall, recognized all Mustangs team members, including their Bronze W and Graduating Ring recipients and each team's MVP.
King’s student-athletes who were named team MVPs included:
- Paige Baynham (Women’s Wrestling Co-MVP)
- Kaitlyn Booth (Women’s Hockey)
- Shona Branton (Women's Swimming)
- Gavin Eldridge (Men's Wrestling)
- Keon Edwards (Men’s Football)
- Nathaniel Mechler (Men’s Track and Field)
- Omar Shiddo (Men's Basketball)
- Rachel Van Bakel (Ringette)
The Mustangs Awards also included major award winners from the 2021-22 season, the Athletes of the Year, Purple Blanket recipients, the F.W.P. Jones Trophy and Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy winners.
Three King’s students, Brett Ellerman (football), Omar Shiddo (basketball) and Daniel Valente Jr. (football), received Purple Blankets. Purple Blankets are presented to student-athletes, usually in their graduating year. Winners are selected based on their academic and athletic achievements.
Shiddo and Knight were also named as finalists for the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy.
Dr. David Malloy, King’s President, and Joe Henry, Dean of Students, attended the ceremony to show their support for our student-athletes.
“I am so proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes inside and outside the classroom. They inspire us with their commitment, dedication and passion. We are so pleased with our partnership with the Western Mustangs so students can participate in high performance sport while attending King’s,” says Henry.
For more information on the Mustang Award winners, please visit https://westernmustangs.ca/news/2022/4/5/athletes-shine-at-the-81st-mustangs-awards.aspx.
Photo credit: Western Mustangs