The University of Regina celebrated its 2018-19 athletic season on Thursday night with the 44th Annual Athletics Awards Night sponsored by SaskTel at the University Theatre. Track & field star Greg Hetterley received President's Award honours, becoming the third track athlete to do so in the last four years.

Hetterley just completed his fourth season at the U of R, winning U SPORTS bronze in the 1000-metre run and Canada West gold and silver medals while also setting a pair of school records. The Regina product has won two other medals at the conference meet in his career and was named the 2016 U of R Male Rookie of the Year, while maintaining a grade point average over 77% in the Faculty of Education.

Satomi Togawa was named the Female Athlete of the Year after being named a U SPORTS volleyball second-team All-Canadian and a Canada West first-team all-star. Togawa helped the Cougars to the best record in program history and racked up 858 assists, the second most in the country.

The Male Athlete of the Year award was presented to Brian Palaschuk after he earned two swimming medals at the U SPORTS meet. Palaschuk won silver in the 200-metre medley and bronze in the 400, and set four Cougars short-course records.

Track & field standout Joely Welburn is the Female Rookie of the Year, as she earned Canada West gold in the high jump and bronze in the 4x400 relay. Welburn also won bronze in the high jump at the U SPORTS meet and was named both Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.

The Male Rookie of the Year was awarded to Nick Barnard. Barnard came off a redshirt season and was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team, averaging over seven points and three rebounds per game.

Volleyball coach Melanie Sanford was recognized as the school's Coach of the Year, guiding the women's team to its highest win total and a home playoff series. Sanford was also named the Canada West Coach of the Year back in March.

Two athletes were inducted into the U of R's Sports Hall of Fame, as former Rams quarterback Teale Orban and basketball player Glen Nelson were honoured.

Major Awards
President's Award - Greg Hetterley (men's track & field)
Female Athlete of the Year - Satomi Togawa (volleyball)
Male Athlete of the Year - Brian Palaschuk (swimming)
Female Rookie of the Year - Joely Welburn (track & field)
Male Rookie of the Year - Nick Barnard (basketball)
Coach of the Year - Melanie Sanford (volleyball)

Team MVPs
Men's Basketball - Myles Hamilton
Women's Basketball - Kyanna Giles
Men's Hockey - Tyler King
Women's Hockey - Emma Waldenberger
Women's Soccer - Lauren Petras
Men's Swimming - Brian Palaschuk
Women's Swimming - Bree Crookshanks
Men's Track & Field - Greg Hetterley
Women's Track & Field - Joely Welburn
Women's Volleyball - Satomi Togawa