TRU Volleyball sniper Sam Flowerday launching a serve during a Wolfpack match/via TRU Wolfpack
Nine different awards were handed out and the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed one new team inductee Thursday night at the WolfPack Annual Awards Night.
Rida Erlalelitepe of women’s volleyball and Sam Flowerday of men’s volleyball took home the centrepiece awards as the Sports Task Force Athletes of the Year.
Powering the ‘Pack to one of the best seasons in program history, Erlalelitepe was a first-team Canada West All-Star after finishing top ten in the nation in kills and kills-per-set.
In her first ever game with TRU, she set the Canada West record for most kills a four-set match.
Powered by Erlalelitepe, the women’s volleyball team put together one of the strongest seasons in program history.
For the second year in a row Flowerday captures the title of male athlete of the year after another outstanding season with the ‘Pack.
Originally from Australia, Flowerday was a second-team Canada West All-Star and became just the second member of the ‘Pack – and 25th in Canada West history – to reach the 1000 kill milestone.
Further to that, he ended his WolfPack career as the program’s all-time ace leader.
Flowerday is the first back-to-back winner of male athlete of the year since TRU joined the U SPORTS rank in 2005.
Hadley Schmidt of women’s volleyball and Asher Mayan of men’s basketball earned the Cliff Neufeld Leadership Awards.
TRU Volleyball Player Hadley Schmidt, winner of the 2025 Cliff Neufeld Award for Leadership/via TRU
A leader for her team, Schmidt has grown tremendously over her five years with TRU.
A four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, the product of Drake, SK spends countless hours volunteering in the community as well as on campus.
On the court Schmidt tallied over 400 assists for a squad that was ranked in the U SPORTS Top 10 all year.
Destined to go down as one of the all-time greats for the ‘Pack, Mayan earned the Canada West student-athlete community service award this past season.
He is a six-time Academic All-Canadian and a leader not only for his team but the entire department.
The product of Langley is fifth in program history with 943 career points and finished his career as the Canada West record holder in career free-throw percentage.
The 1999-2000 University College of the Cariboo Sun Demons women’s soccer team was inducted into the TRU Athletics Hall of Fame during the night.
Capturing the first Canadian College Athletic Association national championship in team history, the group was dominant from beginning to end going a perfect 13-0 en route to the title.
After claiming the BCCAA championship in convincing fashion, the ‘Pack defeated St. Thomas College 7-0, Humber College 2-1 and Medicine Hat College 2-1 to capture the Canadian collegiate crown.
TRU basketball star Asher Mayan on a fast break/via Allan Douglas
Lisa Bartucci, Kirstine Niemi, Sandra Redford were all named CCAA Tournament All-Stars with Bree-Ann Mailloux taking home national MVP honours.
The team was coached by the legendary Mike Bartram.
Matthew Hamilton of men’s volleyball and Danijela Kovacevic of women’s basketball earned the Dr. Roger H Barnsley Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards.
Capturing both the Canada West and U SPORTS Student-athlete community service awards, Hamilton is a shining example of a complete student-athlete.
A five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian with a perfect 4.33 GPA this past semester, he is a team captain and has suited up in over 75 games with the ‘Pack.
Earning a 4.2 GPA in upper-level business courses, Kovacevic is a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, as well as a standout on the court.
The product of Serbia led the ‘Pack in nearly every offensive category this year and will leave Kamloops in the top 10 of the program’s record books in assists and steals.
Rounding out the award winners were Rida Erlalelitepe of women’s volleyball and Dami Farinloye of men’s basketball who claimed the Newcomer of the Year Awards.
TRU Wolfpack Women’s Volleyball star Rida Erlalelitepe (#16) celebrates with her teammates/via Andrew Snucins
Picking up her second award of the night, Erlalelitepe was outstanding in her first season with the WolfPack.
The product of Izmir, Turkey led the ‘Pack in kills while finishing second in both aces and digs.
Erlalelitepe is the first dual award winner since TRU joined the U SPORTS ranks in 2005.
Leading the team in assists and rebounds while finishing second in points, Farinloye made an immediate impact in his first year with the ‘Pack.
The transfer from King University in Tenneessee came up clutch time and time again for a WolfPack squad that made their deepest run in the Canada West postseason since 2017.
Olivier Jumeau of men’s soccer earned the Director’s Award.
With the WolfPack for five seasons where he was a consummate teammate and a five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, Jumeau is always the first to step up and help with anything his team, the department or the Kamloops community may need.
The event also celebrated Canada West and U SPORTS All-Stars/All-Canadians and award winners, along with graduating student-athletes who were also honoured at the celebration.
The Major Award Winners were as follows:
Female Newcomer of the Year
Rida Erlalelitepe, women’s volleyball – Winner
Morgan Eichenberger, women’s basketball – Finalist
Male Newcomer of the Year
Dami Farinloye, men’s basketball – Winner
Marcus D’Andrea, men’s soccer – Finalist
Brandon Johnson, men’s volleyball – Finalist
Dr. Roger H Barnsley Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Matthew Hamilton, men’s volleyball – Winner
Domenico Comita, men’s soccer – Finalist
Asher Mayan, men’s volleyball – Finalist
Dr. Roger H Barnsley Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Danijela Kovacevic, women’s basketball – Winner
Jessye Large, women’s soccer – Finalist
Libby Meldrum, women’s volleyball – Finalist
Female Cliff Neufeld Leadership Award winner
Hadley Schmidt, women’s volleyball – Winner
Maria Banman, cheerleading – Finalist
Allie Shiyuk, women’s soccer – Finalist
Male Cliff Neufeld Leadership Award winner
Asher Mayan, men’s basketball – Winner
Jonathan Rinaldi, men’s soccer – Finalist
Mason Sodaro, men’s volleyball – Finalist
Director’s Award winner
Olivier Jumeau, men’s soccer – Winner
Sports Task Force Male Athlete of the Year
Sam Flowerday, men’s volleyball – Winner
Asher Mayan, men’s basketball – Finalist
Zac Robinson, baseball – Finalist
Sports Task Force Female Athlete of the Year
Rida Erlalelitepe, women’s volleyball – Winner
Danijela Kovacevic, women’s basketball – Finalist
Raiya Rumo, women’s soccer – Finalist
