Systems Design Engineering student Niki Shemirani has been named the University of Waterloo’s Athlete of the Year, receiving the Marsden Trophy at the 64th annual Athletic Awards Banquet.
A standout member of the Warriors squash team, Shemirani delivered a dominant performance at the OUA Championships, finishing the season undefeated and earning OUA Most Valuable Player honours. She helped lead the Warriors to a fourth‑place team finish and recorded one of the highest competitive ratings at the championship tournament.
Now in her third year of Systems Design Engineering, Shemirani is the first squash athlete to receive the Marsden Trophy since 2013. In 2025, she competed in the Pan-American Games in Brazil.
See the complete list of Athletic Awards Banquet winners.
Photo: Niki Shemirani (L) with Cameron Seth, fellow squash athlete and male athlete of the year winner. Credit: Steve Brooks