86 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians for StFX Athletics

On the morning of January 14th, StFX Athletics hosted its annual celebratory breakfast to honour the numerous student-athletes who received Academic All-Canadian status during the 2023-24 school year. To be named an Academic All-Canadian the individual must have achieved an 80% average or above while consuming a year of U SPORTS eligibility.

This year StFX Athletics honoured a total of 86 Academic All-Canadians, increasing from the previous year’s 82 student-athletes. Of the 86 recognized; forty-three were first-time recipients, sixteen were second-time recipients, thirteen received the honour for the third time, and twelve student-athletes were honoured for their fourth time. Most outstanding, however, were X-Women Soccer players Christina Gentile and Amanda Smith who became five-time USports Academic All-Canadians! X-Women Soccer demonstrated their academic commitment with 73% of their team earning the distinction, the highest of any team in athletics. X-Women Basketball followed in a close second, with 60% of their team named Academic All-Canadians. Leo MacPherson, Athletic Director for StFX Athletics, presented this year’s Athletic Director’s Awards for academic achievement, which are presented each year at the breakfast to the male and female student-athletes who achieve the highest average. This year, the top male academic was presented to Rogan Betts on X-Men Basketball, a third-year BBA student from St. John’s, Newfoundland. The top female academic was presented to Ava Elgood on X-Women Soccer who is from Almonte, Ontario and in her second year of human kinetics.

Being honoured with Academic All-Canadian status is a tribute to the hard work of these athletes day in and day out as they strive to achieve excellence both in competition and in the classroom. First-year education student Kendra McDonell on X-Women rugby states, “I am incredibly proud to have been recognized for this achievement. Student-athletes put in work all year round, as much as we do on the field, it’s just as important to work hard in the classroom”. These athletes will continue their commitment to upholding academic excellence as they finish out the 2024-25 academic year, striving to earn the distinction of Academic All-Canadian once again.

The complete list of 2023-24 StFX Academic All-Canadians can be found at: https://www.goxgo.ca/general/2024-25/releases/20250110mzur6o