University of Regina women's basketball player Cara Misskey was named the recipient of the President's Award, headlining the 2025-26 Varsity Sports Awards on Friday night at the Conexus Arts Centre.

The award recognizes the student-athlete who best represents the combination of above-average academic and athletic performance during their career. Misskey is the second women's basketball player in a row to win the award, with Jade Belmore winning it in 2025.

Misskey was named a Canada West All-Star and second-team U SPORTS All-Canadian for her stellar 2025-26 campaign. She averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists and led the Cougars to a 17-3 regular season record. She became the school's all-time leader in assists (426) and finished her career fourth in steals (175) and 10^th in points (1083).

Men's swimmer Ovesh Purahoo and women's soccer player Payton Enns were the other finalists for the award.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Shelaine Pritchard (Women's Track & Field)

• Pritchard wins this award for the second consecutive season for her 2025-26 season in which she won her first career U SPORTS gold medal and broke the University of Regina record in the pentathlon with 4187 points. At the Canada West Championships, she picked up three medals, placing second in both the long jump and shot put and third in the 60-metre hurdles.
• Other finalists: Cara Misskey, Amy Swayze

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Marshall Erichsen (Rams Football)

• Erichsen enjoyed one of the greatest seasons by a running back in school history, breaking the U of R single-season record with 11 rushing touchdowns and became the first Ram to rush for over one-thousand yards, finishing with 1026. He was named a Canada West All-Star and a first team U SPORTS All-Canadian.
• Other finalists: Olufemi Akinloye, Lodie Kenyi

COACH OF THE YEAR – Michaela Kleisinger (Women's Basketball)

• Kleisinger earned Coach of the Year recognition after she guided the women's basketball team to a 17-3 record in Canada West play in her first season as interim head coach. The team finished with the second-best record in the conference and were Canada West semi-finalists.
• Other finalists: Mark McConkey, Sabrina Nettey

VOLUNTEER COACH OF THE YEAR – Udo Baecker (Women's Soccer)

• Baecker returned to the women's soccer coaching staff in 2022 as a support coach. He was previously an assistant coach for the Cougars in 2001 and 2002, the program's first two seasons in Canada West. He has been involved in the province for many years and is one of the most recognizable faces in Saskatchewan's soccer scene.
• Other finalists: Jeff Stusek, Janice Rumpel

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Amy Swayze (Women's Hockey)

• Swayze immeditely stepped into a crucial role in her first year with the program, playing in 17 games in net. She was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team after posting a .935 save percentage and 2.14 goals against average on the year.
•  Other finalists: Lilly Vande Graaf, Hadiza Kasim

MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Ty Gorniak (Rams Football)

• Gorniak earned the Rams starting kicking job directly out of high school. He became the youngest Ram to ever record a point and went 17-for-23 on field goal attempts, including a 44-yard game winning field goal on Oct. 18 at Alberta. He was named a Canada West All-Star and second-team U SPORTS All-Canadian
• Other finalists: Alec Teichler, Isaac Currie

STUDENT TRAINER OF THE YEAR – Mackenzie Magel

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING INTERN OF THE YEAR – Ally Schneider

TEAM MVPs
Men's Basketball – Lodie Kenyi
Women's Basketball – Cara Misskey
Rams Footbal – Marshall Erichsen
Men's Hockey – Jackson Doucet
Women's Hockey – Amy Swayze
Women's Soccer – Peyton Enns
Women's Swimming – Chloe Hegi
Men's Swimming – Matthew Brough
Women's Track & Field – Shelaine Pritchard
Men's Track & Field – Olufemi Akinloye
Women's Cross Country – Harper Lebell
Men's Cross Country – Ian Teichler
Women's Volleyball – Jordy McEachern
Men's Curling – Carter Williamson
Women's Curling – Chloe Johnston
Men's Golf - Micah Tangjerd
Women's Golf – Caitlin McGregor