OTTAWA (CIS) – The Canadian Interuniversity Sport student-athletes announced last month (Oct. 21) as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2014-2015 season were honoured in Ottawa on Monday morning.
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presented the third Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation to the eight recipients, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, his official residence.
Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized as Academic All-Canadians, having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one - or more - of their university's varsity teams.
In 2014-15, a record 3,107 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,861 set a year ago.
No less than nine CIS member universities – four more than the previous year - had over 100 Academic All-Canadians last year, including Western (145), Alberta (128), Queen's (125), Laval (110), Calgary (108), Acadia (108), Toronto (104), Waterloo (104) and Manitoba (100). McGill (96) rounded out the national top 10.
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually to make up the Top Eight.
The 2014-15 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are Katie Ross (Bedford, N.S.), a two-sport athlete (soccer / basketball) and kinesiology student from Acadia University, and Cole Grbavac (Calgary), a hockey player and business administration student from St. Francis Xavier University.
Representing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) are University of Montreal's Katia Forcier (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.), a volleyball player and audiology student, as well as McGill University's François Bourque (Terrebonne, Que.), a basketball player and accounting major.
The winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are
Sasha Gollish (Toronto), a track and field athlete and PHD student from the University of Toronto, and Austin Kennedy (Windsor, Ont.), a football player and business student from the University of Windsor.
Last but not least, the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) recipients are basketball player Sarah Wierks (Chilliwack, B.C.), a kinesiology student from the University of the Fraser Valley, as well as football player Andrew Buckley (Calgary), also a kinesiology student from the University of Calgary.
"The record number of Academic All-Canadians speaks volume about the quality of our student-athletes, but also our coaches, support staff and our universities," said Graham Brown, chief executive officer of CIS. "To be selected among 12,000 of their peers is an achievement these exceptional student-athletes should be extremely proud of. They represent the very best of what university sport is all about."
ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)
Name: Sasha Gollish
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
School: University of Toronto
Faculty: Applied Science and Engineering
Program: PHD (Civil Engineering)
Sport: Track & Field
Eligibility in 2014-15: 4th year
To say that Sasha Gollish had a dream season with the Varsity Blues track and field program in 2014-15 would be a major understatement. In her fourth campaign with the team, the Toronto native was named the CIS athlete of the year in track events and female MVP of both the OUA and CIS championships after she helped the Blues women capture the conference banner for the first time since 2004 and the national team title for the first time since 1998. At the CIS championships in Windsor, she claimed five medals, including three gold, and helped set a Canadian senior record – and erase a 27-year-old meet standard – in the 4x800m relay.
Academically, Gollish, who already holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Engineering, is currently pursuing her PhD in civil engineering and was a straight A student in the winter 2015 semester. She is a two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and a recipient of the U of T's prestigious Hal Brown Scholarship.
Despite her busy athletic and academic schedule, Gollish still finds time to give back to the community. In recent years, she has been a volunteer with Fast and Female, an organization dedicated to empowering young women through sport; has won the Community Coach Developer Award presented by Investors Group; was director of the Ontario Cycling Association; and is also an Olympic level coach, specializing in mental training of entry-level athletes.
"I can use words such as leader, bright, talented, determined and committed to describe Sasha, however, words alone cannot define her passion to make a difference in her community," said Carl Georgevski, head coach of the Varsity Blues track and field program. "Academically, she is pursuing her PhD in order to discover innovative methods of teaching math to engineers. Athletically, she is chasing the Olympic dream and is currently only one second off the 2016 Olympic standard. In both areas, Sasha is striving to be the very best she can be."
ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS
2014-2015AUS: Katie Ross, Acadia (soccer / basketball) / Cole Grbavac, StFX (hockey)
RSEQ: Katia Forcier, Montreal (volleyball) / François Bourque, McGill (basketball)
OUA: Sasha Gollish, Toronto (track & field) / Austin Kennedy, Windsor (football)
CWUAA: Sarah Wierks, Fraser Valley (basketball) / Andrew Buckley, Calgary (football)
2013-2014AUS: Michelle Pryde, Acadia (soccer) / Adrian Robertson, UNB (hockey)
RSEQ: Mariam Sylla, McGill (basketball) / Cédric McNicoll, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Caroline Ehrhardt, Western (track & field) / Tyson Hinz, Carleton (basketball)
CWUAA: Brittany Habing, Manitoba (volleyball) / Jordan Baker, Alberta (basketball)
2012-2013AUS: Monica MacDonald, UNB (swimming) / Travis Gibbons, Acadia (hockey)
RSEQ: Émilie Chamard, Montreal (soccer) / Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill (football)
OUA: Alicia Brown, Toronto (track & field) / Steven Takahashi, Western (wrestling)
CWUAA: Jaki Ellis, Alberta (volleyball) / Paul Clerc, UBC (soccer)
2011-2012AUS: Miranda McMillan, Dalhousie (hockey) / Nathan Musoke, Dalhousie (track & field)
RSEQ: Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, Laval (rugby) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Nicole Sassine, Windsor (track & field) / Darragh McGee, Toronto (soccer)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (hockey) / Kyle Ross, Saskatchewan (hockey)
2010-2011AUS: Heather Ambery, UNB (soccer) / Daniel You, Dalhousie (volleyball)
RSEQ: Alexandra Lojen, Montreal (volleyball) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Erika Reiser, Windsor (track & field) / Shujon Mazumber, Toronto (wrestling)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (hockey) / Darren Mazzei, Victoria (cross country - T&F)
2009-2010AUS: Alex Legge, Dalhousie (basketball) / Jacob Kilpatrick, UNB (volleyball)
QSSF: Marie-Michelle Genois, Laval (basketball) / Steven Bielby, McGill (swimming)
OUA: Megan Brown, Toronto (cross country - T&F) / Dillon Heap, Wilfrid Laurier (football)
CWUAA: Jennifer Hinze, UBC (volleyball) / Thomas Hall, Manitoba (football)
2008-2009AUS: Isabelle Miles, UNB (soccer) / Christopher Morrison, Saint Mary's (hockey)
QSSF: Paméla Filiatrault-Veilleux, Laval (swimming) / Emmanuel André-Morin, Montreal (volleyball)
OUA: Noelle Montcalm, Windsor (track & field) / Keith Beavers, Waterloo (swimming)
CWUAA: Kayla Dykstra, Victoria (basketball) / Kyle Ross, Regina (hockey)
2007-2008AUS: Justine McMillan, Acadia (cross country) / Niklas Rademacher, Dalhousie (volleyball)
QSSF: Jennifer Thomson, McGill (volleyball) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia (wrestling)
OUA: Brae Anne McArthur, Guelph (track & field) / Brad Rootes, Brock (basketball)
CWUAA: Adrianne Vangool, Saskatchewan (track & field) / Benjamin Schellenberg, Winnipeg (volleyball)
2006-2007AUS: Katie Hollinshead, Dalhousie (soccer) / Colin Sinclair, UNB (hockey)
QSSF: Audrey Lacroix, Montreal (swimming) / David Foley, Sherbrooke (track & field)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (cross country - T&F) / Justin Hall, Queen's (cross country - T&F)
CWUAA: Katie Davidson, Manitoba (volleyball) / Jay Langager, Lethbridge (hockey)
2005-2006AUS: Christine Terese Chislom, StFX (cross country) / Jeff Weiler, Dalhousie (volleyball)
QSSF: Marylène Laplante, Laval (volleyball) / Nicolas Murray, Laval (swimming)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (cross country - T&F) / Joel Scherban, Lakehead (hockey)
CWUAA: Kristen Hagg, Alberta (hockey) / Chris Meehan, Trinity Western (volleyball)
2004-2005AUS: Hilary Burn, Dalhousie (cross country - T&F) / Tyler Dyck, StFX (hockey)
QSSF: Danielle Day, McGill (soccer) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia (wrestling)
OUA: Allison Oosterhuis, Western Ontario (soccer) / Ian MacLeod, Toronto (swimming)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (hockey) / Paul Deniset, Manitoba (hockey)
2003-2004AUS: Natalie Oake, St. Thomas (hockey) / Daniel Hudgin, Moncton (hockey)
QSSF: Carolyn McCabe, McGill (swimming) / Simon Therrien, UQTR (soccer)
OUA: Lulu Bursztyn, McMaster (wrestling) / Sagar Desai, Western Ontario (basketball)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (hockey) / Adam Ens, Saskatchewan (volleyball)
2002-2003AUS: Marieke Gardner, Dalhousie (soccer) / Kjetil Vaage, UNB (soccer)
QSSF: Marie-Hélène Giasson, Laval (swimming) / Alexandre Pichette, McGill (swimming)
OUA: Alison Mills, McMaster (volleyball) / Robert Smart, Carleton (basketball)
CWUAA: Maria Gallo, Alberta (rugby) / Blair St. Martin, Alberta (hockey)
2001-2002AUS: Andrea Faryniuk, Dalhousie (track & field) / Tim Mullen, Saint Mary's (soccer)
QSSF: Sarah Ali-Khan, McGill (cross country & T&F) / Strachan Hartley, McGill (football)
OUA: Lauren Fratesi, Ottawa (swimming) / Alexandre Hayes, Ottawa (swimming)
CWUAA: Jacqueline Lavallee, Saskatchewan (basketball) / Jeff Zorn, Alberta (hockey)
2000-2001AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (basketball) / Steve Gallace, Saint Mary's (hockey)
QSSF: Catherine Foley, Sherbrooke (track & field) / Strachan Hartley, McGill (football)
OUA: Karina Verdon, Ottawa (hockey) / Andrew Kwiatkowski, Western Ontario (basketball)
GPAC: Brandy West, Regina (hockey) / Joey Mikawoz, Manitoba (football)
CWUAA: Jen Dowdeswell, UBC (field hockey) / Mark Versfeld, UBC (swimming)
1999-2000AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (basketball) / Aaron Barkhouse, Dalhousie (soccer)
QSSF: Sara Russo-Garrido, Laval (soccer) / Yannick Demers, Montreal (swimming)
OUA: Kristine Spekkens, Queen's (volleyball) / Alex Hayes, Ottawa (swimming)
GPAC: Erin Soroko, Winnipeg (basketball) / Shawn Peters, Regina (track & field)
CWUAA: Kelly Matheson, Calgary (soccer) / Spencer Holt, Lethbridge (basketball)
1998-1999AUAA: Jolene Bourgeois, UNB (field hockey) / Jan Trojanowski, Acadia (basketball)
QSSF: Stephanie Welsh, McGill (track & field) / David Dufresne, UQTR (soccer)
OUA: Nathalie Côté, Ottawa (cross country - T&F) / Bob McGill, Queen's (cross country - T&F)
GPAC: Nadia Melon, Manitoba (volleyball) / Shawn Peters, Regina (track & field)
CWUAA: Jessica Mills, UBC (basketball) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (swimming)
1997-1998AUAA: Tracy McGee, UPEI (field hockey) / Peter Benoite, Memorial (basketball)
QSSF: Wendy Whelan, McGill (volleyball) / Alexandre Émond, Montreal (volleyball)
OUA: Rebecca Chambers, Toronto (track & field) / Tim Cowan, McMaster (swimming)
GPAC: Kathy Hrehirchuk, Manitoba (volleyball) / Darreb Peters, Regina (track & field)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (soccer) / Mike Dalziel, UBC (volleyball)
1996-1997AUAA: Rachelle Beaton, Dalhousie (track & field) / Chris Diamond, UPEI (soccer)
QSSF: Andrea Bacsfalusi, McGill (swimming) / Pierre Hudon, Laval (football)
OWIAA / OUAA: Laurie Halfpenny, Guelph (soccer) / Russell Jones, Toronto (swimming)
GPAC: Amanda Mlodzinski, Manitoba (swimming) / Phil Peters, Winnipeg (volleyball)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (soccer) / Mike Sieben, Alberta (volleyball)
1995-1996AUAA: Carla Edwards, Mount Allison (volleyball) / Chris Diamond, UPEI (soccer)
QSSF: Anna Leong, McGill (swimming) / Alex Hutchinson, McGill (track & field)
OWIAA / OUAA: Vicki White, Ottawa (soccer) / David Kantor, Queen's (volleyball)
GPAC: Jackie Honey, Manitoba (track & field) / Mel McManus, Manitoba (track & field)
CWUAA: Liz Smith, Alberta (soccer) / John McArthur, UBC (swimming)
1994-1995AUAA: Jill Lawless, Acadia (volleyball) / Vojtech Kucera, St. Thomas (hockey)
QSSF: Caroline Vachon, Laval (track & field) / David O'Hara, McGill (cross country)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (basketball) / David Kantor, Queen's (volleyball)
GPAC: Renelda Friessen, Manitoba (volleyball) / Wayne Weathers, Manitoba (football & wrestling)
CWUAA: Adair Duncan, UBC (basketball) / Todd Langley, Victoria (basketball)
1993-1994AUAA: Kathy McNally, UPEI (field hockey) / Ron Whelan, StFX (soccer)
QSSF: Julia Maughan, McGill (soccer) / Jason Della Rocca, Concordia (wrestling)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (basketball) / Craig Donaldson, Western Ontario (hockey)
GPAC: Sandra Carroll, Winnipeg (basketball) / Scott Koskie, Manitoba (volleyball)
CWUAA: Erika Forster, UBC (track & field) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (swimming)
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit
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For further information, please contact: Michel Bélanger
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Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Off: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
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