Olds College Broncos Honour Soccer & Futsal Standouts at Annual Awards Night
Soccer and futsal dominated the major award selections at the Olds College Broncos annual awards night on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Tiona Paton — from Morinville, Alta. enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree - Agribusiness — and Pedro Noschang — from Novo Hamburgo, Brasil enrolled in the Business Management program — were named the 2023-24 Broncos Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively.
It’s Paton’s second consecutive Broncos Female Athlete of the Year selection, and it was earned after the third-year striker secured Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) South All-Conference selections in both soccer and futsal, scoring a combined 27 goals in 25 matches between the two sports. For her career, Paton has two All-Conference selections in women’s soccer, while the 2023-24 season was the first time the ACAC awarded All-Conference selections in futsal.
On the men’s side, Noschang was a standout performer for the Broncos in both sports. Specifically in futsal, Noschang scored nine goals across 14 matches and became the inaugural ACAC South Men’s Futsal Player of the Year. He built on that recognition by being selected to the Second All-Tournament Team at the 2024 ACAC Men’s Futsal Championship in Lac La Biche, Alta., where the Broncos earned a bronze medal.
Joining Noschang on the Second All-Tournament Team in Lac La Biche was Simon Puddicombe — from Whitecourt, Alta. enrolled in Sports Management — who picked up the Broncos Male Rookie of the Year award after scoring 15 goals in 15 matches, including four goals in five matches in Lac La Biche.
On the women’s side, Alyssa Wachniak — from St. Albert, Alta. enrolled in Open Studies — completed the futsal haul by earning Female Rookie of the Year honours in a season where she took significant strides on the pitch and on the court, scoring five goals in 13 futsal matches while also providing a formidable defensive presence.
The Broncos also honoured their student athletes’ commitment to academics, athletics and the community through the Broncos Impact Athlete of the Year awards. Women’s volleyball captain Lexi Lafreniere — from Calgary enrolled in the Equine Reproduction Technician certificate — was named the Female Impact Athlete of the Year. She was a leader on the court and a volunteer coach for the women’s volleyball summer camp program while also taking the lead on a collaborative program with mental health services on campus.
Corbin MacMillan — from Youngstown, Alta. enrolled in Agricommerce — was named the Male Impact Athlete of the Year. As a second-year men’s basketball player, MacMillan was recognized for his extensive volunteer efforts with camps, gym classes and events at various schools in Olds, as well as spending his summers working with youth and church basketball for kids and adults to help foster their love of the game year-round.
The Broncos also celebrated academic excellence as a total of 11 student athletes shared the honour of being Academic Student Athletes of the Year after registering identical 4.0 GPAs in the fall semester.
The Broncos also introduced a pair of new awards. The Saddle Up Spirit Award was won by Kimberley Dunn and Kristy Hartt, the co-chairs of the 2024 ACAC Men's Volleyball Championship. As well, the Nu2U Community Spirit Scholarships were won by Matheus Franca (men's volleyball), Sydney Jack (women's hockey), Corbin MacMillan (men's basketball) and Rhett Tattrie (rodeo).
Please visit GoBroncos.ca for a complete list of award winners!