The Essex Red Raiders' twin brothers Braeden and Caleb Cavanagh both captured top honours at the WECSSAA student-athlete awards, with Caleb named male athlete of the year for big schools and Braeden winning the Hadre Cup for small schools.
Twins share spotlight
Braeden Cavanagh, 18, born two minutes earlier than his brother, said they learned of their awards simultaneously. “It means a lot because we’ve been pushing each other throughout our athletic careers and it’s nice to see both of us get rewarded,” he said.
The Holy Names Knights’ Ronny Adogah won the Hadre Cup as male student-athlete of the year for large schools. The Assumption Purple Raiders’ Saryna Milne received the Repko Cup for female student-athlete of the year for large schools, while the Erie Migration Coyotes’ Natalie Mann earned the female award for small schools. Each winner also receives a $2,500 bursary toward their education from the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.
Athletic and academic excellence
Braeden competed in hockey, volleyball and track and field. He was a first-team all-star in volleyball and a second-team selection in hockey, helping the Red Raiders reach OFSAA in volleyball while maintaining an average of over 88 per cent. “The award’s a good way to show my athletics skills and my academics,” said Braeden, who will study Kinesiology at the University of Windsor alongside his brother in the fall.
Caleb, 18, also excelled in multiple sports, though details of his specific achievements were not provided in the release.
The 17-year-old Adogah competed in football, track and field and wrestling. He helped the Knights to a WECSSAA title in football and an OFSAA Bowl victory, earning top lineman and first-team all-star honours. He did not allow a point at the WECSSAA wrestling championships and earned a bronze medal at OFSAA while maintaining an average of just under 83 per cent. “It means a lot, I just didn’t expect it,” said Adogah, who plans to return to Holy Names in the fall. “Sports mean a lot to me, especially football, (but) my parents have emphasized my whole life to have good grades.”
Balancing academics and athletics
Milne is enrolled in the challenging International Baccalaureate program at Assumption but did not want to miss out on athletic competition. “It’s extremely tough, it’s hectic, but it’s manageable,” the 18-year-old said. “I took it on because I wanted to challenge myself. I also enjoy sports, so I didn’t want to sacrifice my sporting career for academics.” Milne competed in basketball, track and field and cross country, was the WECSSAA AA league MVP in basketball and a first-team all-star, while maintaining an average of 92 per cent. She will attend the University of Guelph in the fall to study food science. “The staff (at Assumption) are very supportive,” Milne said. “I’m grateful for all of that support.”
The 18-year-old Mann competed in badminton, slo-pitch, volleyball and tennis for the Coyotes. She won OFSAA gold in girls’ doubles in the high school division in badminton and was a first-team all-star in slo-pitch.
