Kingston, Ont. (March 31, 2009) – Football player Jim Allin of Belleville, Ont., and women's rower Kristine Matusiak of Glenburnie, Ont., have been named Queen's University's top athletes for the 2008-09 athletic season.

Allin was awarded the Jenkins Trophy as the top graduating male athlete. During his four-year career at Queen's he collected four OUA All-Star selections including two this season, one on special teams and another at cornerback. He was a pivotal component of a Gaels squad that finished the 2008 campaign with a perfect 8-0 regular season record while earning a CIS All-Canadian selection.

Earlier this year he became the school's all-time leader in pass break-ups and in 2007 recorded the team's longest special team return at 117-yards. Allin was also chosen as the 2008 Male Athlete of the Year by his hometown of Belleville.

Graduating from the Faculty of Arts & Science with an honours degree in Life Science, the two-time Academic All-Canadian anticipates a selected in this year's Canadian Football League draft. In early March Allin opened scouts eyes by setting a CFL evaluation camp record in the shuttle run at 3.97 seconds.

Matusiak has been a key contributor to the women's rowing team for four seasons, claiming multiple medals at the provincial and national level. Her contribution has helped attain three consecutive OUA team championships and one national title in 2007-08. At the OUA level, she is a three-time champion in both the lightweight eight and lightweight four disciplines. Nationally, Matusiak continued her success claiming gold in the lightweight four at the Canadian University Rowing Championship three years in a row.

A former Agnes McLaughlin Scholarship recipient she is a two-time OUA Academic All-Star and has been recognized on the Dean's Honour list twice. Matusiak will complete her studies this spring earning two degrees – a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Bachelors of Science in Life Sciences.

Mutusiak is the second consecutive women's rower to have claimed the PHE'55 Alumnae Trophy with Connie Dayboll (Grimsby, Ont.), claiming last year's honour.

Earning the Alfie Pierce Award as the top rookies of the year were Scott Kyle of Singapore and Brienna Shaw of Vancouver.

Kyle was an integral part of the men's rugby team that secured an OUA silver medal in the fall. He led all rookies in the OUA east with two tries and was voted as the OUA east rookie of the year. Shaw had a breakout rookie season with the women's soccer team, claiming OUA east rookie of the year and an OUA first team all-star. Playing in 14 games she was an asset to the Gaels defense which allowed only nine goals.

The accolades continued for football's Thaine Carter of Nanaimo, B.C.m who was named the Jim Tait Memorial Award recipient given to an outstanding male athlete in a team sport. In November, Carter was the first player from Queen's to claim the coveted President's Trophy for the nation's top defensive player. As a two-time OUA All-Star he amassed 42.5 tackles, three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries leading the Gaels as the conference's top defence.

Kate McKenna of Oakville, Ont., captured women's soccer's second major award receiving the Award of Merit given to an outstanding female athlete in a team sport. The fifth-year keeper was selected as an OUA second team all-star finishing second in the nation with seven shutouts and posting a stingy 0.69 goals against average.

Kingston native Nick Pratt was honoured as the top male athlete in an individual sport by securing the Jack Jarvis Trophy. Pratt was a key component of the men's OUA championship team this season winning a gold medal in the lightweight eight and a silver medal in the lightweight four crews. He also won silver in the lightweight four and the lightweight single at the Canadian University Rowing Championship.

Leslie Sexton of Markham, Ont., was named the Marion Ross Award recipient as the top female athlete in an individual sport. Sexton, a member of both the Cross Country and Track and Field team was a CIS All-Canadian in 2007-08. Battling injury she earned a silver medal in the 3,000-metre event at the 2009 OUA track and field championship and represented Canada at the FISU World University Cross Country Championship in France last April.

Also recognized at the banquet was women's hockey trainer Robin Goody (Napanee, Ont.), and Queen's Journal Sports Editor Andrew Bucholtz (Vancouver) and (Napanee, Ont.). Goody was the recipient of the Hal Dunlop Shield awarded annually to a student trainer who has made significant contribution to the Athletic Therapy at Queen's. Bucholtz was recognized for his work at the student newspaper and his online blog.

Men's and women's rowing captured the Queen's top sporting moment from the 2008-09 season. The moments were voted on by fans with over 400 participants taking part. For full results from the top moments online poll visit: www.gogaelsgo.com/topmoments08-09

Last week Queen's honoured two individuals at the Competitive Club Awards Banquet. Graham Fulton (Baseball) of Vancouver and Erin Mills (Fastpitch) of Napanee, Ont., were awarded as the top male and female athlete of the year for Queen's University Competitive Club's.