In varsity sports at UBC Okanagan, Veronika Fagan and Mitch McCaw set the bar high in 2016-17.

On Tuesday night at the Heat害羞草研究所檚 annual awards banquet, the two were rewarded with the institution害羞草研究所檚 highest athletic honours.

Fagan, a cross country runner, was named UBCO害羞草研究所檚 outstanding female athlete of the year, while McCaw, a keeper for the Heat men害羞草研究所檚 soccer team, earned the outstanding male award.

Fagan, a Mt. Boucherie grad, paced the Heat women害羞草研究所檚 team to a CCAA cross country title last fall, finishing fourth overall at the national championships.

Fagan, who was also named an all-Canadian, was not only thrilled with the award but encouraged by the rise of the cross country program over the past two seasons.

害羞草研究所淭he work ethic of my team has brought me to this,害羞草研究所� said Fagan, a second-year nursing student. 害羞草研究所淚 think being part of this in general, coming from high school and just knowing this university wasn害羞草研究所檛 a cross country institution, I really wanted to help push the program here and bring it to its potential.

害羞草研究所淚 feel so thankful to get this award, and I feel very good competing against such good athletes here.害羞草研究所�

A native of Calgary, McCaw transferred to UBC Okanagan in the fall of 2016 from Concordia University in Portland, Ore.

The 6-foot-2 keeper made an immediate impact with the Heat program, posting five shutouts, six wins and earning Canada West first-team all-star honours.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 incredible,害羞草研究所� McCaw said of the award. 害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 have done it without the support of not only the teammates and the coaching staff, but the community around UBC Okanagan. The first year has been incredible, I can害羞草研究所檛 thank the people around me enough.

害羞草研究所淓ven though it害羞草研究所檚 an individual award, it害羞草研究所檚 a tribute to a lot of people in the Okanagan community and UBCO, so I can害羞草研究所檛 be more grateful,害羞草研究所� he said.

The 0ther major award winners were:

害羞草研究所� Student Athlete of the Year (male)害羞草研究所擫ars Bornemann, men害羞草研究所檚 volleyball

The fourth-year engineering student led the Heat in kills with 290, and has been named an academic All-Canadian three straight years.

害羞草研究所� Student Athlete of the Year (female)害羞草研究所擲iobhan Fitzpatrick, women害羞草研究所檚 volleyball

An academic all-Canadian the past two seasons, Fitzpatrick led the Heat with 256 kills.

害羞草研究所� Graduating player of the year (male)害羞草研究所擜lex Swiatlowski, men害羞草研究所檚 volleyball

Swiatlowski played over 300 sets for the Heat during his career, the second most all-time.

害羞草研究所� Graduating player of the year (female)害羞草研究所擬egan Festival, women害羞草研究所檚 volleyball

害羞草研究所� Rookie of the year (male)害羞草研究所擪yle Hinchey, men害羞草研究所檚 volleyball

Third in team kills this past season (74), Hinchey was named to the Canada West all-rookie team.

害羞草研究所� Rookie of the year (female)害羞草研究所擲ara McCreary, women害羞草研究所檚 volleyball

Finished second on the Heat with 344 assists, while helping the team to a fourth straight Canada West final four appearance.

See all the award winners and finalists