U-of-L recognizes 63 student athletes as Academic All-Canadians

“What we focused on here in Pronghorn Athletics is rather than force everyone into a particular mold, we went to each team, each coach and said, ‘Ask your student athletes what works best for them? What will help them succeed academically?’ and then we just made it a focus,” McInnes continued.

He also credited the veteran athletes for setting a strong example for those just joining the Pronghorns, and to the coaches as well, saying they wouldn’t have the success they’re seeing now without their dedication to student growth.

Cole Midtdal – one of this year’s Academic All-Canadians and a fourth year swimmer at the university – agreed that the support structure in crucial.

“I think a lot of it comes down to the team dynamic, I don’t think I could do as well in the pool or in school without my teammates, they really definitely keep me accountable and all the training that we put in there, all the hard work, all the successes that come in the pool, definitely contribute to me in the classroom,” stated Midtdal. “It’s a lot of late nights and a lot of early mornings, but I think it pays off in the end.

“It’s a lot of time and effort, I mean, definitely now that I’m in my fourth year I got a routine, so it’s a bit more managable compared to the first year, but you definitely got to take a hit with the social life, you can’t go out and be partying it up like you know you want to,” Midtdal added.

The athletes will also receive the Deb Steacy AAC Scholarship, and will have a special recognition dinner hosted by U-of-L President Mike Mahon and his wife, Maureen.

Women’s hockey had the most All-Canadians this year at eight, followed by men’s soccer and women’s swimming, which had seven each.

Since the creation of the All-Canadian program in 1990, 912 Pronghorn athletes have attained the distinction.

by Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

U-of-L recognizes 63 student athletes as Academic All-Canadians

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