Amanda Kuiper recently finished playing 16 years of volleyball including 6 years at Mohawk College, graduating from Recreation Therapy, Autism and Behavioural Science, Concurrent Disorders and Health Wellness and Fitness. Through her years at Mohawk and in the OCAA Amanda earned All-Rookie Team (2016-17), Second Team All-Star (2017-18), First Team All-Star (2019-20), and Second Team All-Star (2021-22). She is second in OCAA Records for career aces (213) and is tied for most aces in a match (13). Within Mohawk Amanda holds the record for most assists in a career (1500), received the Dr. Sam Mitminger Award (2019/20), Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year (2021-22) and Athlete of Distinction (2021-22). She finished her 6 years with a OCAA silver medal and an experience she wishes everybody could have.
Despite the accolades she has learned some of my most valuable life lessons through her time at Mohawk and has become a mental health advocate within varsity sport and throughout the campus. In 2020 Amanda was chosen to attend the Via Youth Summit in Vancouver to expand her knowledge in leadership with other youth from across Canada. She also received the Ray Lewis Youth Community Sport Service Award (2020) from Sport Hamilton which is presented to yearly to a high-level athlete in Hamilton’s post secondary schools for their involvement, commitment and volunteer work in sport.
After finishing her studies at Mohawk Amanda became an assistant coach for the Women’s Team for the 2022-23 season, who finished with an OCAA bronze. It gave her a new perspective of the sport and with that she now looks forward to beginning a new journey with Smash to learn new coaching skills and develop who she is on the side of the court. Amanda hopes to impact athletes and push them to be the best version of themselves.
