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

On Tuesday night at the Heat含羞草研究社檚 annual awards banquet, the two were rewarded with the institution含羞草研究社檚 highest athletic honours.

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

Fagan, a Mt. Boucherie grad, paced the Heat women含羞草研究社檚 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.

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

含羞草研究社淚 feel so thankful to get this award, and I feel very good competing against such good athletes here.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 incredible,含羞草研究社� McCaw said of the award. 含羞草研究社淚 couldn含羞草研究社檛 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含羞草研究社檛 thank the people around me enough.

含羞草研究社淓ven though it含羞草研究社檚 an individual award, it含羞草研究社檚 a tribute to a lot of people in the Okanagan community and UBCO, so I can含羞草研究社檛 be more grateful,含羞草研究社� he said.

The 0ther major award winners were:

含羞草研究社� Student Athlete of the Year (male)含羞草研究社擫ars Bornemann, men含羞草研究社檚 volleyball

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

含羞草研究社� Student Athlete of the Year (female)含羞草研究社擲iobhan Fitzpatrick, women含羞草研究社檚 volleyball

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

含羞草研究社� Graduating player of the year (male)含羞草研究社擜lex Swiatlowski, men含羞草研究社檚 volleyball

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

含羞草研究社� Graduating player of the year (female)含羞草研究社擬egan Festival, women含羞草研究社檚 volleyball

含羞草研究社� Rookie of the year (male)含羞草研究社擪yle Hinchey, men含羞草研究社檚 volleyball

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

含羞草研究社� Rookie of the year (female)含羞草研究社擲ara McCreary, women含羞草研究社檚 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