One of the more prestigious awards presented each year by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is the Academic All-Canadian Recognition Award, presented to the institution with the most student-athletes receiving Academic All-Canadian recognition.
This year RDC and NAIT share the award with both institutions having 10 student-athletes, who combine academic and athletic excellence.
“It says volumes about our program,” said RDC athletic director Keith Hansen.
“When you think you have to be an all-star and an honour student it’s a tough combination. I’d say the majority of our all-stars were honour students. It says a tone right there.”
Hansen added that close to 50 per cent of the student-athletes receive academic excellence awards at their year-end banquet each year.
“I truly believe the structure of the team means a lot.
“The athletes can’t play if they don’t do well academically, plus they have coaches who hold them accountable.”
The Academic All-Canadian honourees must attain academic honours in addition to obtaining one of the following athletic achievements: named to their conference first or second all-star team in soccer, volleyball, basketball or curling; earn a gold or silver medal in badminton; finish in the top seven men or women as well as finishing in the top third in the conference cross-country championships; or finish in the top three women or top five men at the golf championships.
Four members of the RDC soccer team — Queens Stephanie Tremblay, Lauren Good and Amber Regnier and Kings Brad Hughes — join Brooke Sutter and Kirsten Sorensen of the Queens volleyball team and Quentin Schmidt of the Kings. Cross-country runners, Melissa Cable and Jesslyn Begin and basketball Kings Eric Bakker round out the list.