QUEBEC CITY (U SPORTS) – The U SPORTS student-athletes announced last month as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2016-17 season were honoured in Quebec City on Friday morning.
All-Time Top 8 Academic All-Canadians
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, the newly-apppointed Governor General of Canada, presented the fifth annual Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation to the eight recipients, during a ceremony at the Citadelle of Québec, her official residence in Quebec City.
The Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation was founded by the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, who first honoured Canada’s Top 8 student-athletes in 2013.
Every year, a growing number of U SPORTS 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. Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four conferences are selected annually to make up the Top 8.
“The list of Academic All-Canadians continues to grow each year,” said Graham Brown, President and CEO of U SPORTS. “The success of the Top 8 is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes on the field of play, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities across the country.”
Profiles of each member of the 2016-17 Top 8 are available below.
CANADA WEST (CW)
Name: Margaret (Meg) Casault
Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.
School: University of Alberta
Faculty: Physical Education and Recreation
Program: BSc. Kinesiology
Sports: Women’s volleyball
Eligibility in 2016-17: Fifth Year
Having already established herself as one of the best players in University of Alberta Pandas volleyball program history, fifth-year outside hitter Meg Casault had a final season for the record books. Over the first four years over her varsity career, Casault proved she was one of the best outside hitters in Canada, earning three Canada West first team all-star spots, and three U SPORTS All-Canadian honours. However, Casault reached an entirely new level in 2016-17. The Edmonton, Alta., product torched the Alberta Pandas and Canada West record books, finishing her fifth season with 327 kills, 193 digs, and 378.5 points. That production earned Casault her fourth Canada West all-star and U SPORTS All-Canadian honour, as well as both the Canada West women’s volleyball MVP, and U SPORTS MVP.
Because of her outstanding final season, Casault also set new Alberta Pandas, and Canada West records for career kills (1,321) and points (1513.0), while becoming the first ever Panda to accumulate 1,000 kills, 900 digs, and 100 aces.
Her play was a large reason the Pandas led Canada West with a 22-2 conference record, before earning the program’s 11th Canada West championship in March. The Pandas would carry that success into the U SPORTS Championship, earning a national silver medal.
While her athletic achievements are noteworthy, what really set Casault apart was her work ethic not only on the court, but also in the classroom and in the community. She earned four U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian awards during her time at the University of Alberta, and was awarded the 2016-17 Kathlene Yetman Award, presented to the University of Alberta's top female Academic All-Canadian. She earned a 3.8 GPA in a very demanding BSc. kinesiology program at the U of A, graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology degree with distinction.
Meg was also a tremendous ambassador for University of Alberta student-athletes, spending countless hours in her community as an elementary school student-mentor at Richard Secord School. She was also active on campus, spending time as stimulation tester/gym monitor at the Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement.
“Meg is an extremely deserving recipient of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadian Award. Since her first year with the team she has shown a remarkable improvement in every aspect of the game due to her humility and commitment to continuous improvement, both on the court and in the classroom,” said Pandas head coach Laurie Eisler. “She is not only a leader on the court, but served as one of our team captains, and is an inspiration to all of us who have had the pleasure and honour to work with her.”
Name: Geoff Gray
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
School: University of Manitoba
Faculty: Engineering
Program: Engineering
Sports: Football
Eligibility in 2016-17: Fourth year
Geoff Gray had an award-winning and historic 2016 season with the University of Manitoba Bisons football team.
Gray, 23, completed his fourth season at Manitoba and was selected 2016 Canada West Outstanding Down Lineman of the Year plus conference all-star in 2016 at the guard position. For a second consecutive season the conference’s outstanding down lineman hails from Manitoba. Gray takes over the title from former Bison turned New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata, who won the award on the defensive side of the ball last year before being drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. At the guard position on the offensive line, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound. player was instrumental in opening holes for the running game and providing protection for the quarterbacks during the 2016 campaign. The Winnipeg native showed his durability as he started in all eight conference regular season games in 2016. Gray finished ranked No.1 in the CFL’s Scouting Bureau – final Top 20 prospect in May 2016, ahead of the 2017 CFL Draft.
Gray also was named a 2016 U SPORTS football First Team All-Canadian at the guard position and was showcased when selected and played in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game in January 2017 and received praise before and after the Shrine Game from numerous NFL scouts and media. Later in the season, he held a successful pro day at University of Manitoba in front of eight NFL teams and scouts.
Gray has also excelled off the field as he has juggled academics and sports throughout his university life and registered a 4.42 GPA in fourth year of engineering while being a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian for a fourth consecutive year with Manitoba.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected Gray in the first round (eighth overall). He also signed as a priority free agent with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers on April 30, 2017. The versatile offensive lineman then joined and made the practice roster of the New York Jets as an NFL rookie for the 2017 season.
His community service has been involved with local football camps over the years, while also participating in Siloam Mission visit, which assists people in need in the inner-city.
"It's amazing when you look at all the young players who compete as student-athletes. In coaching, you see the tremendous grind on a daily basis, week in and week out, through the entire year,” stated Brian Dobie, head coach of the Bisons. “It's especially impressive when a young person in Geoff Gray who continually pushes his limits and excels in his chosen field of engineering as well as his sport, football. He represents the best of the best and continues to push the boundaries upwards in his initial season in the National Football League.”
Other Recipients:
ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)
Katherine Bearne - Ottawa (soccer), Osvald Nitski - Toronto (Swimming)
RÉSEAU DU SPORT ÉTUDIANT DU QUÉBEC (RSEQ)
Fabiola Forteza - Laval (Rugby), Louis-Mathiew Normandin - Montreal (Football)
ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)
Anna Dunn-Suen - Dalhousie (Volleyball), Eric Locke - St. FX (Hockey)