The School of Kinesiology & Health Science has announced the 2012 inductees for the York University Sport Hall of Fame. Five former interuniversity athletes are to be inducted during the dinner and ceremony on Friday, Sept. 21.
2012 Inductees
Joel Brough (BA ‘95) helped the York field hockey team win five provincial silver medals in her five seasons with the program (1987-1991, 1992-1993). The squad also won three national medals in that stretch, a silver in 1989 and bronze medals in 1988 and 1990. She earned three OWIAA all-star selections and was a three-time CIAU all-Canadian (1988, 1990, 1992), and was named to the CIAU championship all-star team in 1992. Brough represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona and also competed at the 1995 Pan American Games and two world championships.
Nancy (Watson) Popovich (BSc ‘85) was the setter for the dominant York women’s volleyball team in the 1980s. She led the squad to gold medals at the OWIAA provincial championships in each of her four years with the program (1981-85) and competed at the CIAU national championship tournament in each of those seasons. York won three national bronze medals during that time (1981-82, 1983-845, 1984-85), representing the best ever finish for the program. Popovich was named an OWIAA tournament all-star in her final season in 1985.
Allan Reddon (BA ‘87) was part of the dynastic York men’s gymnastics team in the 1980s. A member of the squad from 1982-85, he played a central role in helping York claim the OUAA and CIAU team championships in all three of his seasons. During that time, he won a total of 15 individual gold medals at the OUAA and CIAU championships. His best season came in 1983-84 when he was named York’s male athlete of the year after winning five provincial gold medals and five national gold medals. He was also selected as the recipient of the prestigious Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy that same season and later that year, represented Canada at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. A member of the Canadian national team for eight years, Reddon also competed at three world championships, two FISU Games and one Commonwealth Games.
Enzo Spagnuolo (BA ‘85) was a star for the York men’s basketball team from 1979 to 1984, helping the team to the provincial championship game in all four of his seasons and winning three OUAA championships in that stretch (1979-80, 1980-81, 1983-84). In 1983 he earned the E.C. Lebel Plaque as the OUAA East Division’s player of the year, and he was awarded the Kitch McPherson Trophy as most valuable player of the Ontario championship game in 1984. During his career, Spagnuolo was a two-time OUA all-star (1983, 1984) and earned CIAU all-Canadian honours in his final season in 1984.
Irvin Studin (BBA ’99, PhD ‘11) was an exceptional student-athlete for the York men’s soccer team from 1995-99. As a forward, he was a two-time all-Canadian (1997-98), a three-time OUAA all-star (1996-98) and served as the team captain in his final season. One of top scorers in York soccer history, he helped to turn the program into winning one, making two appearances at the national championships and earning a bronze medal in 1997. While at York, he also played with the Toronto Lynx on an amateur contract and represented Canada at the 1997 Maccabiah Games and the 1999 Pan-American Maccabi Games. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Studin was a top student. He earned academic all-Canadian honours four times (1995-98), the Murray G. Ross Award and was a Rhodes Scholarship recipient. He went on to earn two soccer “Blues” at Oxford University while playing for the men’s varsity team immediately after graduating from York before becoming an assistant professor and program director in the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.
Created in 1980, the Sport Hall of Fame honours individuals who have significantly contributed to York’s interuniversity sport program as athletes, coaches and administrators; and who have exemplified the spirit and ideals of York University sports in their professional and community life. The selection committee consisted of varsity alumni, current student-athletes and several university administrators.
The Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will take place at Montecassino Banquet Hall in Woodbridge, Ont. Tickets are $75 per person or $600 per table (eight seats) and can be purchased online at www.yorku.ca/alumni/halloffame.
For more information on the event, contact Kim Mathoney at 416-736-5982 or mathoney@yorku.ca.