Awards
Thomson Rivers Athletics | Fourty-seven student-athletes honoured with Academic All-Canadian status for 2019-20 season

U SPORTS Staff
U SPORTS proudly announced Monday the student-athletes selected as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2019-20 season.
On the men’s side, the nominees are UBC Thunderbirds swimmer Markus Thormeyer, Laurentian Voyeageurs basketball player Kadre Gray, Laval Rouge et Or cross country runner and track sprinter Jean-Simon Desgagnés, and fellow track and field star Matt Coolen of the Dalhousie Tigers.
This year’s female honourees include swimmers Kelsey Wog of the Manitoba Bisons, Marie-Lou Lapointe from the Montreal Carabins and Isabel Sarty representing the Dalhousie Tigers, along with Queen’s Gaels multi-sport star Sophie de Goede, who competes for the school’s women’s rugby and basketball teams.
"We are extremely proud of the Top 8 for their overwhelming academic success during the 2019-20 season. Faced with immense challenges, this year’s class of Academic All-Canadians adapted remarkably to altered COVID-19 learning environments, demonstrating their leadership in the classroom and in their respective communities.”
Dick White - Interim CEO of U SPORTS
The selection of the Top 8 follows last week’s announcement of over 4,900 U SPORTS student-athletes who achieved Academic All-Canadian status in 2019-20, having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one or more of their university’s U SPORTS varsity teams. Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four U SPORTS conferences are selected annually to make up the Top 8.
In the lead-up to this year’s event, U SPORTS is set to run a national promotional campaign in collaboration with long-standing partner Sherrard Kuzz LLP, highlighted by a Top 8 alumni feature series, a leadership development program and professional mentorship. Led by former U SPORTS student-athletes, Sherrard Kuzz continues to serve as the Official Supporter of those selected to the Top 8 and the U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian Program.
“The opportunity to support the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians has been our pleasure and honour. High-performance student-athletes are hard-working and resilient, they take nothing for granted and are always striving to get better at what they do. They are precisely the people corporate Canada, including firms like ours, want and need as part of our future Canadian executive leadership teams. The combination of athletics and academics created balance and discipline throughout my university experience. Without athletics, I would never have succeeded academically.”
Michael Sherrard - Managing Partner, Sherrard Kuzz & former men’s basketball student-athlete and coach, UNB Reds
All members of the Top 8 will also receive a customized ring from Baron, the Exclusive Provider of championship rings and recognition jewelry for U SPORTS.
For the All-Time Top 8 Academic All-Canadians, click here.
Markus thormeyer |
UBC Thunderbirds |
Swimming |
Delta, B.C. |
4th Year in 2019-20 |
Science |
Named U SPORTS Male Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive time last season, Markus Thormeyer dominated the pool with seven gold medals, setting two U SPORTS records in the process.
Thormeyer started the 2020 U SPORTS Championships with gold in the 200m freestyle and as part of UBC’s 4x100m freestyle relay team. He added two more podium finishes on Day 2, including the 100m backstroke with a new U SPORTS record time of 53.51, more than two seconds faster than the silver medalist from Calgary. His second record breaking performance of the meet came in the 200m backstroke with a time of 1:58.54, taking gold by more than three seconds.
With additional victories in the 100m freestyle and both the 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays, Thormeyer’s efforts went a long way to securing UBC’s fourth straight men’s U SPORTS national championship and fifth in the last six years.
In 28 career U SPORTS events, Thormeyer has captured 25 medals – all but two of them gold, while adding three consecutive CW titles and First Team All-Star honours.
Internationally, Thormeyer has represented Canada at several events including the 2015 Pan American Games, 2016 Olympics, 2017 FISU Summer Universiade, 2017 & 2019 FINA World Championships, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships.
Since coming out publicly in February after initially confiding in his Rio Olympic teammates, Thormeyer has served as part of Canada’s OneTeam to promote 2SLGBTQQIA inclusion in sports. He is also a member of Swimming Canada’s Athlete's Council, and helps lead UBC’s Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative on-campus team.
“Markus is an inspiring choice to represent UBC and Canada West as part of this country’s group of Top 8 Academic All-Canadians,” said Kavie Toor, UBC Managing Director of Athletics & Recreation. “Not only is he one of the best in the pool on the national and international stage, Markus has worked just as hard to become an outstanding student at UBC, one of the globe’s highest-ranked schools, and a leader in raising awareness and building support for LGBTQ+ student-athletes."
Thormeyer has also competed in the first two seasons of the International Swimming League (ISL), swimming for the New York Breakers in 2019 and the expansion Tokyo Frog Kings last fall.
He is the 12th Thunderbird to be recognized as a member of the Top 8 – the first since soccer star Chad Bush and fellow swimmer Rebecca Terejko swept the CW honours in 2015-16. Other UBC men’s swimmers honoured include Mark Versfeld (2000-01) and John MacArthur (1995-96).
Kelsey wog |
Manitoba Bisons |
Swimming, Breastroke Specialist |
Winnpeg, Man. |
4th Year in 2019-20 |
Agricultural & Food Sciences |
Kelsey Wog continued to shine in the pool last season, winning four national gold medals (50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke & 200m individual medley), and setting U SPORTS records in the 200m breaststroke and 200m IM. Wog’s 2:22.42 in the 200 breaststroke was the fastest time in the world in 2020, while her 100m breaststroke time of 1.06.44 was among the world’s fastest in the last calendar year, and completed a U SPORTS grand slam. At the CW Championships, she earned four gold medals (50m, 100m & 200m breastroke,100m freestyle), and a relay bronze (4x100m medley), setting a pair of records in the process.
Thanks to her stellar season, Wog was named the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award winner as U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year, to go along with her national Female Swimmer of the Year honours.
“Kelsey’s success comes from simple approach to improvement,” said Bisons head coach Vlastik Cerny. “She sets goals, works hard to improve every day and competes. When she reaches her goal, she sets a new one and repeats the process again. But one of her biggest strengths as a competitor is her resilience in times of struggle. She looks at stumbles as opportunities to improve which ultimately make her a champion.”
Academically, Wog finished the 2019-20 academic year with a 4.0 GPA out of a possible 4.5 in the Plant Biotechnology program in the Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences. In addition to academic and athletic pursuits, she serves as the swim representative on the University of Manitoba Athlete Council (UMAC), and contributes to community programs such as Bisons Against Bullying, Bison Book Buddies, and charitable initiatives such as Siloam Mission and Christmas Hampers for CanU. She is also a Bell Let’s Talk mental health advocate, a mentor to developing swimmers, and participates in school visits to share her experiences as a student athlete.
Looking ahead, Wog is preparing for the Canadian Olympic trials in April, with her sights fixed on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer. Internationally, she has represented Canada at the 2018 short course and 2019 long course FINA World Championships, the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, and the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade. In addition, Wog has competed in the first two seasons of the International Swimming League (ISL), leading the expansion Toronto Titans to the playoffs in their inaugural season last fall, after helping the Cali Condors finish second overall in 2019.
“Kelsey possesses a rare ability to focus and apply herself to the task at hand. This explains her successes as an athlete and a student,” said Bisons Athletic Director Gene Muller. “She is an example of concentration and commitment to performance. There have never been doubts about her talent, but the truly impressive aspect of Kelsey, is what she has done with her talent. We are so proud of her!"
She is the 13th Bison be nominated as a Top 8 Academic All-Canadian – the first since football’s Geoff Gray in 2016-17, and first female since volleyball’s Brittany Habing in 2013-14. Fellow Manitoba swimmer Amanda Mlodzinski received the honour in 1996-97.
Kadre gray |
Laurentian Voyageurs |
Men’s Basketball, Guard |
Toronto, Ont. |
4th Year in 2019-20 |
Health Promotion |
The accolades continue to pour in for Kadre Gray, who captured his eighth major award last season – a third consecutive OUA Player of the Year selection after earning the national MVP in 2017-18 and 2018-19, to go along with top rookie honours at both levels in his debut campaign.
The Toronto, Ont., native was once again at the forefront of Laurentian’s success, leading the country in scoring with 23.8 points per game, while finishing second in passing at 6.5 assists per contest. He was also adept at getting to the free throw line, once again topping the country with 174 makes, connecting at a 91.6 FT% clip (3rd in U SPORTS). Gray rounded out another multi-dimensional campaign with 6.5 rebounds per outing.
More than just this season being a statistical success for the decorated veteran, Gray added to what has become an illustrious post-secondary career on the hardwood. Last February, Gray became just the fourth male player to eclipse 2,000 points in OUA history. By season’s end, Gray took over the second spot on the all-time provincial scoring list, sitting at 2,072 points in just four years, behind RMC’s Kevin Dulude (2,092) and five spots back of U SPORTS all-time leading scorer Javon Masters of UNB (2,407). Gray capped off the campaign being drafted sixth overall by the Hamilton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), just two years after winning the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award as U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Year.
“It has been a pleasure coaching Kadre. I have said in the past and will continue to say, his work ethic is amazing,” said Laurentian head coach Shawn Swords. “He continues to push himself to achieve new goals in the community, in the classroom and on the court. I look forward to watching what he will be able to do next.”
Academically, Gray placed on the Dean’s Honours List with a 9.1 GPA and 88 per cent average in 2019-20. In the community, he serves as the Vice Chair on the inaugural OUA Black, Biracial and Indigenous (BBI) Task Force, which aims to create a platform for positive change across the province. The BBI Task Force seeks to achieve these goals by building strategies to increase diversity and representation and to drive policy change in order to remove systemic barriers regarding racism.
Furthering these initiatives, Gray co-founded Uluntu, Lungisa, Usawa in 2017 – an organization that works with racialized youth to develop support groups, facilitate workshops, raise awareness, promote advocacy and empowerment and provide ally-training. Gray also gives back on the court and in the classroom, serving as a Laurentian basketball camp supervisor, as well as a peer-mentor and coach, teaching children both basketball and life skills while assisting with homework and reading and writing activities.
“Kadre continues to demonstrate not only his elite basketball talent, but also his ability to lead in the classroom and in the community,” said Laurentian Athletic Direct Peter Hellstrom. “Kadre is a prime example and a template for elite student-athletes all across our country. He has become a leader not only at Laurentian but in the Sudbury community as well. We are truly proud to have Kadre on our campus and forever being a Voyageur.”
Gray is the first-ever Top 8 Academic All-Canadian selected from the Voyageurs program.
Sophie de goede |
Queen's Gaels |
Women's Rugby / Basketball |
No. 8 / Guard |
Victoria, B.C. |
3rd Year in 2019-20 |
Commerce |
Sophie de Goede continued to shine for the Queen’s Gaels last season, adding yet another award to her decorated case. The two-sport star for the Queen’s women’s rugby and basketball teams, was the OUA’s top rugby scorer in 2019. She churned out an outstanding 76 points on the year, surpassing her closest competitor by 26, as a result of her three tries and 26 conversions.
Moving into on the Gaels’ all-time scoring list, the conference MVP nod is the second straight for the No. 8, after taking home U SPORTS Player of the Year honours in 2018. Following the Gaels’ first OUA championship title since 2013, de Goede led Queen’s to the national tournament where she tallied three tries and 10 conversions for 35 points – earning a silver medal and her third straight Tournament All-Star honours.
Throughout the rest of her now three years on the pitch, the commerce major has also claimed a trio of all-star nods at the provincial level, a pair of All-Canadian recognitions and both OUA and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year honours. On the basketball court, de Goede was named the Queen’s Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, and led the team last season to a 15-7 record, averaging 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Internationally, de Goede has four caps with Team Canada’s rugby side and hopes to earn roster spots in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics and the Women’s World Cup. She recently signed with Saracens of the English Premier League.
“Sophie's ability to excel in the classroom and on the pitch is a testament to her hard work, drive, and commitment to excellence as a student and an athlete,” said Gaels women’s rugby head coach Dan Valley. “Although the demands that are placed on a varsity athlete are challenging at the best of times, to watch Sophie not only manage but excel as a commerce student and member of two varsity sport programs speaks to her truly unique skill set. In this regard, Sophie is unlike any student-athlete in the country.”
A three-time Academic All-Canadian, de Goede excels in the classroom, having received the Chancellor’s Scholarship the last three years and the DI McLeod Dean’s List Scholarship in both 2018 and 2019. She is also active in the community in both her sports, serving as an assistant in 2017 with the Willows Elementary School Grade 4&5 Girls’ basketball team, fundraising for the annual U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Shoot for the Cure campaign to raise money to fight breast cancer, and volunteering at the Queen’s Rugby Academy teaching local high school athletes rugby skills.
In addition, she has participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure every year since 2014, taken part in the Live Different Builds humanitarian trip in Mexico in 2016, and assisted with the Gaels’ holiday community outreach project collecting donations for Martha’s Table last year.
“Sophie is really in uncharted waters here. “The time commitment she makes outside of the classroom far exceeds that of a normal athlete, not to mention a normal student, and yet she manages to balance all of her involvements while attaining academic excellence.,” said Gaels women’s basketball head coach Dave Wilson. “In my 38 years of U SPORT coaching, I have not seen another athlete or another person, reach such elite status in all of the different endeavours to which she devotes her time. It is truly remarkable!”
de Goede is the seventh Gael and second Queen’s female to earn the Top 8 honour, joining volleyball’s Kristine Spekkens in 1999-2000. She is also the eighth female multi-sport student-athlete to be recognized including the first in rugby and basketball.
Jean-Simon Degagnés |
Laval Rouge et Or |
Cross Country / Track & Field |
Quebec City, Que. |
3rd Year in 2019-20 |
Medicine |
Jean-Simon Desgagnés had a standout year for the Université Laval Rouge et Or in the 2019-20 season, excelling both in cross country and track and field.
The hometown product from Quebec City won the RSEQ individual cross country title for the second consecutive season, earning First Team All-Star honours and being named the conference Athlete of Year as Laval also won its ninth straight team title.
Two weeks later, he led the Rouge et Or to a fourth place finish at the U SPORTS Championship race in Kingston, Ont. In his first two seasons, Desgagnés also recorded a second-place individual finish in the 2018 national race for First Team All-Canadian honours, and was named both the RSEQ and U SPORTS Male Rookie of the Year in 2017, after crossing the conference race in fifth place and helping Laval earn the national team bronze medal.
Equally impressive last spring on the track, Desgagnés earned a U SPORTS gold medal in the 3000m and a silver in the 1500m, after being named MVP at the conference championship with gold in both events. Once again, Laval was the class of Quebec with a seventh straight provincial title. In 2019, the medical student finished second in each race at the U SPORTS Championship and was named the RSEQ Track Athlete of the Year, a year after being named the conference Rookie of the Year.
Internationally, Desgagnés finished fourth in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade. He has also represented Canada at the junior level at the World U20 Cross Country Championships and U20 Pan Am Athletics Championships, where he won gold in the steeplechase event.
“Jean-Simon is an exceptional athlete who brilliantly manages his medical studies and his high-level performance as an athlete,” said Laval head coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe. “He sets an example for his teammates with rigor in training and his attention to detail. Since his beginnings at Université Laval, his good humor and positive attitude have been contagious.”
On the academic side, Desgagnés maintained an average of 3.91 out of 4.33 in the fall of 2019, 4.22 in the winter of 2020 and 4.29 in the summer session. He never had a grade lower than A in all his courses in the past year.
In the community, Desgagnés serves as tutor for Le Diplôme avant la médaille (The diploma before the medal). He is also an environmental and logistics volunteer at the Exocytose student café on campus.
“Not only has Jean-Simon stood out since joining our program, but he is constantly improving,” said Laval Associate Athletic Director Jean-Noël Corriveau. “His athletic performance is exceptional and his academic results are just as remarkable. For these reasons, Jean-Simon is an example for all his teammates.”
Desgagnés is the 13th member of the Rouge et Or and just the program’s third male to receive the Top 8 honour – the last going to swimmer Nicholas Murray in 2005-06. He is also the 11th recipient to compete in both cross country and track and field, and sixth male multi-sport student-athlete chosen overall.
Marie-Lou Lapointe |
Montreal Carabins |
Swimming |
Saint-Eustache, Que. |
5th Year in 2019-20 |
Social Work |
Marie-Lou Lapointe capped off her U SPORTS swimming career last season with a pair of medals at the national championship.
The social work major captured two bronze medals, finishing third in the 50m butterfly, while also helping the 4x100m freestyle relay team reach the final spot on the podium as well. The butterfly medal marked Lapointe’s fifth consecutive top-three time in the same event.
Three weeks earlier, Lapointe earned an RSEQ Second Team All-star nod with a five medal performance – three silvers (50m and 100m butterfly, 4x100m medley relay), as well as a pair of bronze medals (50m freestyle 4x50m medley relay). In all five of seasons of her career, Lapointe received First or Second Team recognition at either the conference or national level, while helping set an RSEQ record in the 4x200m freestyle relay in 2017 and being named the conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2016.
“Marie-Lou was was an extremely consistent athlete in her performance and always listened to her teammates,” said Carabins head coach Pierre Lamy. “At the beginning of her university career, the academic aspect was not easy for her and now she ends up with the title of top student-athlete. It is incredible!”
Academically, the social work major finished with a 3.729 GPA out of 4.3, and was the Carabins’ top student-athlete for the 2019-20 season. In the community, she helped bridge the gap between access to services in the low income population in the neighbourhood of Ahuntsic, Que., and gained equitherapy experience by working with young children with mental challenges and helping them ride horses with a therapist.
Following her studies, Lapointe aspires to work with the elderly and also launch a program for coaches and athletes to be better prepared when teammates require mental health support. She also hopes to assist athletes make the transition more seamless when they retire from their playing career.
“Marie-Lou is an exceptional athlete and person. Whether in the pool or in everyday life, she takes concrete actions to achieve her goals,” said Carabins athletic director Manon Simard. “She is the perfect example of the values that we want to convey to their student-athletes.”
Lapointe is the 10th Carabin and fifth female in the program named to the Top 8 – the last being Katia Forcie in 2014-15. She is also the 12th female swimmer, joining former Carabin Audrey Lacroix in 2006-07.
matt coolen |
Dalhousie Tigers |
Track & Field |
Halifax, N.S. |
5th Year in 2019-20 |
Engineering |
Matt Coolen wrapped up his U SPORTS track and field career on top of the podium. The Halifax native ran 8.02s to win national gold in the 60m hurdles, bettering his silver medal performance from 2019, setting a new Dalhousie record in the process, and being named a U SPORTS First Team all-Canadian. He also earned a fifth-place finish in the 60m dash, after capturing the races in both 2018 and 2019.
Two weeks earlier, the fifth-year engineering major won both events for the second-consecutive year at the conference championship, leading the Tigers to their 18th AUS title in 19 seasons. In all, Coolen has nine AUS podium finishes in the two races and owns three records. The five-time AUS All-Star was named the 2016 AUS Rookie of the Year, is a two-time AUS Male Track Athlete of the Year and was the 2019 AUS Championship MVP.
Matt was an era defining student-athlete on the Dalhousie track and field team,” said Dalhousie head coach Richard Lehman. “His ability to perform on demand on the highest stage was unparalleled and his ability to combine his athletic prowess with academic success and community involvement was incredible."
In the classroom, Matt completed his studies with a 3.76 GPA and boasted the Dalhousie Entrance and In-Course Scholarships, as well as the Graham Family and Athletic Awards. In the community, he serves as member of the coaching staff for age-class athletes with the Halifast Athletics Club. He also collects spikes and running shoes for Fairview Junior High School for track and field athletes without the means to purchase their own.
"Over his time as a Tiger, Matt has exemplified what it means to be a student-athlete. Consistently, he has excelled in the classroom, on the track and in our community,” said Dalhousie Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Tim Maloney. “As a three-time national medallist and four-time Academic All-Canadian, we are exceptionally proud to nominate Matt for the Top 8 Academic All-Canadian Award."
Coolen becomes the 15th Tiger selected to the Top 8 and the seventh male, with the most recent being basketball star Sven Stammberger in 2017-18. He is also the 12th male track and field student-athlete joining Nathan Musoke in 2011-12.
Isabel sarty |
Dalhousie Tigers |
Swimming |
Halifax, N.S. |
3rd Year in 2019-20 |
Neuroscience |
For the second straight season Isabel Sarty was the class of the AUS, taking home Swimmer of the Year honours, while also being named the 2020 AUS Swimmer of the Meet.
At the conference championship, Sarty topped the podium in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events – setting new AUS records twice in the 100m freestyle (heats and finals). She also set a new Dalhousie and Nova Scotia Senior record in the 200m freestyle. Later on, she earned another three gold medals as a member of Dalhousie relay teams, setting two more conference records in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley events – leading the Tigers to their 19th consecutive AUS women’s swimming conference title.
Her success continued at the U SPORTS Championship, where the Halifax native won a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle, while finishing just off the podium in fourth in the 100m and 200m freestyle events. Overall, Sarty has earned 20 AUS medals, is a three-time AUS All-Star, a two-time AUS MVP and AUS championship MVP, holds 15 conference records and was the AUS Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. She has also posted 13 finishes in the Top 10 at the U SPORTS meet.
Academically, Sarty finish with a 4.15 GPA, and has earned a number of awards in her three academic years including the Dalhousie In-Course Scholarship, Ross Stewart Scholarship, Shawn Dupuis Memorial Prize, MacKean Athletic Scholarship, Frederic MacMillen Scholarship and Dalhousie Alumni Leadership Scholarship.
In the community, Sarty is involved with several community initiatives including Special Tigers, the Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative, and the Tigers Varsity Council.
"Isabel is someone who always seems to excel, whether it is in the classroom, the pool or our community,” said Dalhousie Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Tim Maloney.” As a recent Rhodes Scholar nominee, Isabel has clearly demonstrated the ability to succeed in whatever she sets her mind to. A national medallist and Academic All-Canadian, we are thrilled to nominate Isabel for this award."
Sarty is the 16th Tiger selected to the Top 8 and the ninth female from the program, the last being volleyball’s Anna Dunn Suen in 2016-17. She is also the 13th female swimmer, and third in this year’s class alone.
Awards
Thompson Rivers Athletics