The University of Victoria Department of Athletics and Recreation is pleased to announce first-year student-athletes Anais Chace, Sadie Schneider, and Adrianna Hilton as the recipients of this year's Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (GVSHOF) awards, established to support local varsity student-athletes attending UVic.

Anais Chace, a first-year women's field hockey player, is the 14th recipient of the Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award.

A rookie goalkeeper from Oak Bay High School, Chace started every game for the Vikes during the 2023-24 season, handling with grace the immense pressure of defending a national title. The first-year engineering student also earned Canada West and U SPORTS Player of the Week accolades for her performance during the conference championship.

Balancing the demanding schedule as a varsity athlete while studying engineering is no easy feat, but Chase says she has enjoyed the challenge. She hopes to pursue a project management and operations career and open her own engineering firm. On top of her academic goals, Chace hopes to one day represent Canada as a women's national team member.

"We are extremely proud to learn that Anais has been chosen as the recipient of the Bate Family Award. Anais is an amazing young woman who positively impacts both on and off the field. Anais finished our Canada West season strong by posting four straight shutouts in our final four games, helping guide our team to their fifth consecutive Canada West title. She was also instrumental in securing UVic's fifth consecutive U SPORTS championship," said Krista Thompson, women's field hockey head coach.

Sadie Schneider, a first-year women's rugby player, is the recipient of the fourth annual Sybil Verch Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award.

A standout for her athletic and community endeavours, Schneider is a graduate of Esquimalt High School, where she served as the co-president of the Esquimalt Youth for Change and Inclusion club and as a member of the Vital Youth Program. Aside from UVic's top-tier rugby program, Schneider selected UVic because of its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.

As a kinesiology student, Schneider is passionate about understanding the human body and hopes to one day combine her passion for human kinetics with her commitment to social justice work and philanthropy.

"Sadie is a hardworking athlete who continuously brings a positive attitude to the field and has immense potential as a student-athlete. She is dedicated to the sport of rugby and has been recognized for her efforts provincially and nationally at the age group levels. Sadie always has a smile on her face and brings an infectious energy to the team," said women's rugby head coach Brittany Waters.

First-year women’s soccer player Adrianna Hilton is the third-annual winner of the Simon Keith Foundation Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award.

A graduate of Stelly's Secondary, Hilton is described by her current and former coaches as having an exceptional work ethic and excellent character that positively contributes to her teammates and the community. A standout athlete in her first season with the Vikes, Hilton helped the Vikes women's soccer team reach the conference playoffs, earning a spot on the Canada West All-Rookie team.

The Simon Keith Foundation Award, created by Vikes men's soccer alumna Simon Keith, gives preference to an individual who has been involved or affected by an organ transplant or an organ donation. As a local soccer player whose family has been directly impacted by organ donation, it's fitting that Hilton is the 2024 award recipient.

Hilton is currently studying psychology and is interested in pursuing a career as a psychologist or therapist.

"Adrianna came into the season very fit and started every game as a rookie, filling the shoes of Vikes alumna Dari Cote in the left back position. She is a compassionate, empathetic individual and an all-around wonderful and kind person to have in a team setting. As one of our soccer camp instructors, she is reliable and accountable, and I really can't say enough good things about Adrianna," said Tracy David, women's soccer head coach.

The Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of athletes, teams and builders who have contributed to the history of sports in Greater Victoria and continues to work closely with UVic to support local athletes.

Sybil Verch Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award: Awarded to an undergraduate woman student entering UVic from a secondary school in the Greater Victoria region who competes on a Vikes varsity team.

Bate Family Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award: Awarded to an undergraduate student entering the University of Victoria directly from a secondary school in the Greater Victoria region who competes on a Vikes varsity team.

Simon Keith Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Award: Awarded to an undergraduate student whose life has been directly impacted by organ donation entering the University of Victoria directly from secondary school in the Greater Victoria region who competes are a Vikes varsity team.

Eligible students are required to submit an application by the specified date to the Senior Director of Athletics & Recreation. The partnership with the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame and the generosity of the donors who established these three awards make it possible to support current varsity student-athletes and attract future leaders to UVic's athletics programs. 

Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame award winners – past recipients:

2022-23: Tion McLeish, men’s track and cross country, Katie Bentley, women’s field hockey, Grant Barkway, men’s rowing<
2021-22: Marina Skakun, women's rugby, Charisse Faubert, women's rowing, Brooke Taylor, women's field hockey
2020-21: Jack DesBrisay, men's rowing & Mareya Valeva, women's swimming
2019-20: Janet Dawson, women’s field hockey
2018-19: Lockie Kratz, men’s rugby
2017-18: Shaye Tudor, men’s rugby
2016-17: Brayden Tate, men’s rugby
2015-16: Harbir Sidhu, men’s field hockey
2014-15: Michael Baart, men’s soccer 2013-14: Stephanie Polomark, women’s rowing
2012-13: Sarah Douglas, women’s soccer
2011-12: Patrick Psotka, men’s track
2010-11: Julia Schmidt: women’s swimming