Fifth-year standout Michael Braithwaite earned top honours as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues rowing program announced their 2009 team award winners.

Braithwaite of Duncan, B.C., was selected by the coaching staff as the team’s oarsman of the year. Named the CURA oarsman of the year, the Varsity Blues captain captured gold at both the OUA and CURA championships in the men’s single sculls. He was recognized as Varsity Blues athlete of the week twice in the fall and was also awarded the prestigious Petro Canada - COC partnership FACE award.

As a member of the Canadian national under-23 team, Braithwaite became the first Canadian to win a medal in the men’s heavyweight single sculls when he captured a bronze medal at the 2009 under-23 world championship regatta in the Czech Republic. Rowing Canada also awarded him its international achievement award for his 2009 FISU world rowing under-23 championship bronze medal performance.

For his leadership, Braithwaite was also selected by team members as the Varsity Blues Kiran van Rijn Memorial Award winner. This is awarded in recognition of an individual that exemplified with distinction attributes that helped forge the pillars of a strong team.

Lauren Brown earned the 2009 Varsity Blues oarswoman of the year honours. The team captain won gold at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta – U of T’s first medal at Henley in 14 years. Similarly, the Toronto native led the Blues to their first medal at the Head of the Charles regatta as apart of U of T’s gold medalist women’s lightweight coxed four. Brown also rounded out the year with two third-place finishes at the OUA championships.

First-year rower Kate Sauks was named the team’s rookie of the year, while Elise Mackie picked up most improved rower laurels. Sauks, like Brown, was a member of the lightweight coxed four that won gold at the Head of the Charles regatta. Mackie, who only started rowing in 2007, boasted both gold and silver medal finishes at the 2009 OUA championships.

Rounding out the team’s award winners were Jonathan Santos and Kailyn Winick
who were named the novice oarsman and oarswoman of the year, respectively.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.