The St. Clair Saints once again had ample cause for celebration as they gathered on Thursday for the college's 57th annual athletic awards banquet at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. The event highlighted a remarkably successful campaign across the institution's sports programs, with teams demonstrating consistent competitiveness and postseason prowess.
A Season of Remarkable Achievements
Reid Innes, the college's Director of Recreational Services, expressed pride in the collective performance of the Saints' athletic department. "We are very fortunate as an institution," Innes remarked. "Across the board, our teams are competitive. They all qualified for post-season play and most made significant runs. Of the 13 teams, only four did not medal at the conference championship level."
The banquet served as an opportunity to recognize the key individuals whose dedication and talent paved the way for this institutional success. Among the evening's most prestigious honors were the Mason MacDonald Awards, presented annually to the top graduating student-athletes.
Top Honors for Outstanding Graduates
On the women's side, Essex high school product Judy Lafleur received the Mason MacDonald Award for female athlete of the year. Over five stellar softball seasons, Lafleur established herself as a program legend, appearing in a school-record 160 games. During her tenure, the Saints captured two championships while medaling in all five of her seasons.
Lafleur's statistical achievements are equally impressive: she finishes her career ranked in the top 10 in program history for career batting average (.445), runs scored (173), and hits (218). A five-time OCAA all-star selection and five-time OCAA all-academic member, she represents the ideal student-athlete. "She's just a true embodiment of what we hope all of our student-athletes can be," Innes said of Lafleur.
Kennedy high school product Mazin Tiea earned the Mason MacDonald Award on the men's side. After returning from playing collegiately in the United States, Tiea helped lead the Saints basketball team to the OCAA podium twice in just three seasons. His 1,081 points place him among the program's top 25 all-time scorers.
Tiea's individual accolades include being named twice as an OCAA West Division first-team all-star and defensive player of the year, along with earning All-Canadian recognition. "As an athlete, they go out and work hard and do what's expected, but on top of that these are great human beings and stewards for us," Innes noted about award winners like Tiea.
Additional Athletic Excellence Recognized
The Al Hoffman Award for outstanding athletic achievement was presented to two additional standout performers. Kiana Huggins received the women's honor after a remarkable volleyball season that saw her return to the Saints for one final campaign following a year at university.
Huggins' comeback season was nothing short of spectacular: she was named the OCAA's overall player of the year, West Division player of the year, and a first-team all-star while leading the Saints women's volleyball team to a program-best 14-2 record. "She was here for three years and did a lot of tremendous things," Innes recalled. "Fortunately, she decided to come back and use her final year of eligibility as a Saint and picked up right where she left off."
On the men's side, Holy Names high school product Matt Guenette earned the Al Hoffman Award for his quarterback excellence with the football program. Guenette's record-breaking season included being named the Ontario Football Conference's offensive player of the year while throwing a remarkable 35 touchdowns. His additional honors included OFC all-star recognition, national first-team all-Canadian status, and the Canadian Junior Football League's offensive player of the year award.
The evening's celebrations underscored not just individual accomplishments but the collective strength of St. Clair's athletic programs. With multiple medal-winning teams and exceptional student-athletes achieving both on the field and in the classroom, the Saints continue to build upon their legacy of excellence in Ontario college athletics.
