Brown and Heap named CIS Desjardins Top Eight Academic All-Canadians
OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly announced Tuesday the student-athletes honoured as Desjardins Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2009-2010 season.
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 2009-2010, a record 2,299 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,256 set a year ago.
Five universities had over 100 CIS Academic All-Canadians last year including McGill (135), Laval (132), Alberta (128), Queen’s (118) and Western Ontario (113).
Rounding out the national top 10 were Dalhousie (97), Waterloo (92), Calgary (89), Guelph (85) and Saskatchewan (77).
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually as Desjardins Top Eight Academic All-Canadians.
The 2009-2010 winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Megan Brown of Guelph, Ont., a cross-country and track runner and physical education and health student at Toronto, as well as Dillon Heap of Waterloo, Ont., a football player and business administration student at Wilfrid Laurier.
“The high number of student-athletes who achieved 80 per cent reflects the commitment of coaches and athletics departments to ensure success in the classroom and playing field,” said CIS chief executive officer, Marg McGregor.
“This year’s Top Eight recipients have accomplished great things and symbolize the many outstanding student-athletes and universities across Canada. I look forward to hearing great things about them in the years to come as they graduate and become leaders in our communities.”
ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)
Name: Megan Brown
Hometown: Guelph, Ont.
University: Toronto
Program: Physical Education & Health
Sport: Cross Country & Track and field
Megan Brown wrapped up a superb university career in 2009-10 when she captured her third CIS individual title in cross-country running and three individual medals at the CIS indoor track and field championships, including gold on 1500 metres and a pair of silvers. The Varsity Blues female MVP in both cross country and track and field and the UofT’s female athlete of the year, she also claimed OUA gold in cross country and a pair of first-place finishes at the conference’s track meet, on 1000 and 3000 metres.
In 2009-10, she maintained a 3.90 grade point average in the final year of her physical education and health degree. She received the Tom Longboat Award as well as the Hector Phillips Scholarship, which recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and leadership.
Brown, whose dream is to pursue a career as both a motivational speaker and mentor for young girls in sport, was chosen as an Ambassador for the last Canada Summer Games. Currently involved in public speaking in the community, she hopes to obtain a PhD from the University of Toronto and would like to write a book targeted at adolescent females.
Name: Dillon Heap
Hometown: Waterloo, Ont.
University: Wilfrid Laurier
Program: Business Administration
Sport: Football
Dillon Heap was sensational in 2009 in his third season with Wilfrid Laurier’s football team. Named a first-team OUA all-star as both a receiver and kick returner and a CIS first-team all-Canadian on special teams, he set no less than five school records, established a single-season CIS mark for most punt return yards (912) and ranked first in the country in all-purpose yards, 885 more than any other player. He went on to receive the President’s Award as WLU’s male athlete of the year.
A two-time Academic All-Canadian, Heap achieved a 10.17 grade point average out of 12 in 2009-10 in his third year of a business administration degree. He received the Academic Achievement Award which combines top academic achievement with outstanding athletic performance.
As a member of The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, he left Wilfrid Laurier to complete a two-year mission in Chile from September of 2006 to September of 2008. He is currently an academic mentor at WLU as part of the Athlete Academic Success Program (AASP).
ALL-TIME OUA RECIPIENTS
2009-2010: Megan Brown, Toronto (X-Country - T&F) / Dillon Heap, Wilfrid Laurier (Football)
2008-2009: Noelle Montcalm, Windsor (Track & Field) / Keith Beavers, Waterloo (Swimming)
2007-2008: Brae Anne McArthur, Guelph (Track & Field) / Brad Rootes, Brock (Basketball)
2006-2007: Jackie Malette, Windsor (X-Country - T&F) / Justin Hall, Queen’s (X-Country - T&F)
2005-2006: Jackie Malette, Windsor (X-Country - T&F) / Joel Scherban, Lakehead (Hockey)
2004-2005: Allison Oosterhuis, Western Ontario (Soccer) / Ian MacLeod, Toronto (Swimming)
2003-2004: Lulu Bursztyn, McMaster (Wrestling) / Sagar Desai, Western Ontario (Basketball)
2002-2003: Alison Mills, McMaster (Volleyball) / Robert Smart, Carleton (Basketball)
2001-2002: Lauren Fratesi, Ottawa (Swimming) / Alexandre Hayes, Ottawa (Swimming)
2000-2001: Karina Verdon, Ottawa (Hockey) / Andrew Kwiatkowski, Western Ontario (Basketball)
1999-2000: Kristine Spekkens, Queen’s (Volleyball) / Alex Hayes, Ottawa (Swimming)
1998-1999: Nathalie Côté, Ottawa (X-Country - T&F) / Bob McGill, Queen’s (X-Country - T&F)
1997-1998: Rebecca Chambers, Toronto (Track & Field) / Tim Cowan, McMaster (Swimming)
1996-1997: Laurie Halfpenny, Guelph (Soccer) / Russell Jones, Toronto (Swimming)
1995-1996: Vicki White, Ottawa (Soccer) / David Kantor, Queen's (Volleyball)
1994-1995: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / David Kantor, Queen's (Volleyball)
1993-1994: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / Craig Donaldson, Western Ontario (Hockey)
For a full list of Top 8 recipients please visit the CIS website.
