Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame

Awards

Congratulations to all of the 2020–2021 Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Inductees for your Outstanding Contributions to Western Mustangs Athletics!

Due to COVID-19 Western Mustangs Athletic Alumni (WMAA) will officially announce Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Inductees at this year’s Virtual Homecoming Event on Saturday, October 17, 2020 and present the actual awards at the next Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, Friday, September 24th, 2021 in partnership with Mustangs Athletics and Alumni Relations. The presentation will be held on campus in the Great Hall and will be one of Homecoming 2021 Marquee Events.

Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Individual Inductees – 2020-21

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:

Jack Cowin, BA’64, Honorary LLD’00 - Lifetime Achievement Award

Jack played Football at Western from 1961 - 64, and was also on the Wrestling team 1961 – 64. He was a Football All-Star defensive tackle 1961 – 64 and was the George McCullough Award winner 1963-64 - Western Football’s MVP. Jack was also inducted into the Mustangs Wrestling Wall of Honour - OQAA Wrestling Champion in 1964. Jack has been very involved with Western, not just through Athletics. He was Chair of Western’s International Advisory Board and was installed as Western’s 22nd Chancellor. Jack Cowin has contributed to many leadership projects, Western initiatives, and has provided unparalleled support with multiple global initiatives. Join us for the virtual induction ceremony during Homecoming when we will share more about this Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Helen Luckman, MEd 1982 - Lifetime Achievement Award

Helen Luckman has been an important figure in the fight for women's athletics at Western. She received a diploma in Physical Education in Scotland. She later completed a Masters in Education in 1982 from Western. She has won numerous awards, was a founding member of the Women’s Athletic Alumnae serving as two-time President, and she was a Mustangs Field Hockey Coach 1976-78, 1981-84 and Tennis Coach 1984-86 – OWIAA Champions 1985. and served as Western's Vice-Chair Athletics from 1981-1986. Join us for the virtual induction ceremony during Homecoming when we will share more about this Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Amanda Anderson, Women’s Basketball

Amanda graduated as the 2nd All-Time scoring leader in the OUA and she is currently still the Career Leading Scorer at the University of Western Ontario. Amanda won the UWO F.W. P. Jones Female Athlete in 2009-2010. And she played professionally in Bielefeld, Germany after graduating. She has many other accomplishments that will be announced at the induction ceremony.

Jennifer Cotten, Women’s Track and Field

Jennifer may be Western’s All-Time best Track and Field Athlete. She is the first track and field athlete that was named the team’s MVP for each of her 5 years while a Mustang. She was a 7-time All-Canadian. Won 15 OUA Medals. She won 13 CIS Medals, was a 5x Labatt’s Trophy Winner as team MVP, was a 3x Don Wright Trophy Winner, and was a 2x F.P.W. Jones Award Winner as Western’s Female Athlete of the Year. During her final year as a Mustang she achieved her best point total at both OU’s and CI’s. Jen retired as a post-collegiate athlete in 2016. She has many other accomplishments that will be announced at the induction ceremony.

Michael Forgeron, Men’s Rowing

Michael attended Western 1984 – 1988 and helped the Men’s Mustangs Rowing team win OUA Championships in 1984, 1986, 1987. He also trained with the Canadian National Rowing Team 1989 - 1996 and won an Olympic Gold Medal, Barcelona, in Spain, 1992. He has many other accomplishments that will be announced at the induction ceremony.

Kristina Lemon, Women’s Softball

Kristina began her career at Eckerd College as a pitcher for the softball team in 2002. By the time she graduated from Eckerd in 2005 with a degree in psychology, the right-hander had amassed 766.2 innings pitched in 142 games. Kristina was induced into Eckerd College Hall of Fame in 2015. Her softball career did not end after her time at Eckerd. While in medical school at Western, Lemon played on the softball team for the Mustangs and won four regular season league championships, two provincial gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal. She has many other accomplishments that will be announced at the induction ceremony.

Bob Robinson, Men’s Wrestling

Bob won 5 First team colours as a Mustangs Wrestler: 1977 – 1980 and 1984. He is a 5-time OUAA, and CIAU, medalist as a Mustangs Wrestler. He also was a Purple Blanket Recipient 1984-85. In addition to his many accomplishments, Bob represented Canada on the 1984 Olympic Wrestling Team Member – 62 kg Summer Olympic Games – in Los Angeles, USA. He has many other accomplishments that will be announced at the induction ceremony.

David Sapunjas (a.k.a. The Sponge), Men’s Football

David won four First team colours as a Western Mustang 1986 – 1989. A dominant force during the '86, '87, and '89 seasons, Sponge was instrumental in helping the Mustangs capture the Yates Cup in 1986, 87, 89, winning the Vanier Cup in 1989; He graduated from Western with a Business Degree in 1990, going on to play in the CFL quickly becoming a dominant during his 7 year CFL career. Quote from Larry Haylor: “He is truly one of the greatest to have played at Western and in the CFL!” He has many other accomplishments that will be announced at the induction ceremony.

Men’s and Women’s Builder/Athlete

David Edwards –Builder – Women’s Volleyball/Ice Hockey, Athlete – Men’s Ice Hockey

David was recruited in hockey and while at Western became an outstanding player for the University, 1970-75 BA and BEd. David also loved volleyball. His love for the game began during his teaching and coaching career which began in the 1980s. He devoted hundreds of hours of volunteer coaching at the club and school level with many successes. Following a period as assistant coach at Western, he was hired as head coach for the Mustangs women's team in 2010 and won the OUA championships with that team. More details to be announced at the induction ceremony.

Dave Mills –Builder - Men’s & Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field, Athlete -Men’s Cross Country /Track and Field

David’s was a member of the Track/Cross Country teams 1978-80, 1981-83. His athletic career at Western saw him win 5 First Team Colours and he was a 9x OUA medalist (3x gold individual and relays), 6x CIAU (now USport) medalist, and 5x national champ in track & cross country. He went on to coach middle/long distance at Western 1984 -89, 1994-2002, 2004-2006 and has coached Canadian university champions, Western record holders, as well as Canadian champions and athletes that have represented Canada at World & Olympics. More details to be announced at the induction ceremony.

Team Inductions – 2020-21

2004 and 2005 Women's Rugby Teams

Coming into the 2004 CIS women's rugby national championships, the Alberta Pandas had won five straight national crowns. That streak was ended by the Western Mustangs, winning the first national title in program history behind tournament MVP Sarah DeLeeuw. The Mustangs returned to the national championship game in 2005, where they faced off against Alberta again. On the strength of a 22–0 victory, Western captured its second straight CIS title, allowing only 10 points in the entire tournament.

1990-91 Men’s Basketball

This team is celebrating their 30th anniversary of the 1990 National Championship Victory at this years’ 2020 Virtual Homecoming. The Head Coach was Craig Boydell. The overall Team Record 1990-91 was 33 Wins and 2 Losses. The team went undefeated throughout the year against non-conference opponents. This was the most games ever won by a Western team and the first time a team had won more than 30 games over all (previous high was 27). This record stood until 2001.

We would also like to congratulate our 2019 Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame Inductees:

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients 2019:

  • Dr. Peter Fowler
  • Bob Vigars

 

Individual 2019 Inductees:

  • Kelly Russell - Rugby,
  • Anne Benedetti – Lacrosse,
  • Eva Havaris - Soccer,
  • Becky Stevenson - Ostrom - Builder/Athlete in Rowing
  • Jude St. John - Football,
  • Andrew Nisker – Tennis,
  • Paul Thomas – Hockey,
  • Dr. Bob Barney – Builder

 

Team 2019 Inductees:

  • Women’s Team: Bob Vigars Era of X-Country 1981 – 1984
  • Men's Teams: Mike Yuhasz Era of Men’s Wrestling 1955-60

To view other past inductees please visit: http://metrasmuseum.ca/honours-and-awards/hall-of-fame/

To nominate a fellow Mustang who has made Outstanding Contributions to Western and Mustangs Athletics please visit: http://alumni.westernu.ca/connect/recognition-awards/western-mustangs-sports-hall-of-fame/