As the winter semester continues, hundreds of McGill varsity student-athletes are showing us once again that success on the field—or rink, or court, or track—can go hand in hand with success off of it. Top players in everything from alpine ski to volleyball are maintaining impressive results that go well beyond athletics.
In university sports, the Academic All-Canadian distinction is one of the highest honours an athlete can attain. To qualify, a player must maintain a Grade Point Average of 3.7. Over the years, hundreds of McGill athletes have earned the award and been recognized nationally for their outstanding ability to balance school and sport.
In 2017-18, Athletics & Recreation saw 108 athletes earn Academic All-Canadian honours, up from 93 the previous season. Among the consistently strongest-performing teams is the Martlets hockey squad, perennial contenders who have won four national championships over the past decade, but who clearly know how to bring home the gold away from the rink too. During the 2017-18 season alone, 10 of Martlet hockey's 25 players were named Academic All-Canadians.
"Being successful in both arenas (school and hockey) is in the fabric of their team," said Lisen Moore, Manager of Varsity Sports.
"We ask them every single day, 'How's school,' " said head coach Peter Smith, who recently won his 500th career game. "We recruit athletes who honestly enjoy school and will be successful in it."
Beyond drawing up powerplay formations and zone defences, coaches like Peter also serve to reinforce the McGill Athletics & Recreation mantra that encourages academic excellence.
"Part of our culture is creating an environment where they have the opportunity to do well," he said. "It's an environment that's conducive to success both on the ice and in the university."
The key to this success? Players credit the time management skills they learn balancing a hectic practice, training, travel, and game schedule with classes, labs, and study sessions.
Olivia Ramos, a third-year forward and Academic All-Canadian pursuing an English degree, said that the initial adjustment is challenging, but players adapt to the hectic pace. "You get into a routine and a rhythm of things," the New Westminster, B.C. native said.
Other McGill varsity student-athletes agree.
"You have 24 hours in a day and need seven to eight hours of sleep, so there is plenty of time to be productive," said Dominic Talbot-Tassi, a hockey defenceman and past winner of the prestigious Beliveau Award, which celebrates varsity athletes who have demonstrated academic achievement and leadership in student and/or community affairs. "I think hockey really helped me with that matter, in terms of dealing with very busy schedules and making the most out of every single free moment."
Swimmer Rebecca Gillis, another Beliveau Award winner who also received the team's Marie-Claude Saumure Award for combining excellence in athletics and academics, feels similarly. "My years as a varsity athlete have taught me so much about balancing different demanding aspects of life," she said.
Basketball bench boss Ryan Thorne--who recently guided his team to their first national title in 2017--explained that hard work in the classroom often correlates to on-court success for McGill's sports teams.
"Academically it is a highly competitive environment that our student-athletes exist in," he said. "They are motivated by excellence and the benefit to the program is that their success often results in more scholarship opportunities."
Taking advantage of university resources
Though balancing school and sport can be demanding, on-campus resources like Wellness and Life-Skills Workshops offer support and training to help students and athletes lead well-rounded lives. Athletes also have access to counselling services, student health services, and academic support like tutoring.
"Due to our intensive schedule, being able to book time with a tutor that fits your schedule is very beneficial," said Isaiah Cummins, a fourth-year Redmen basketball player studying computer science and physics. "Because the tutors are also students who have taken these classes, their point of view can really help in understanding complex or difficult topics."
Teams often have studying sessions while on the road, where players prepare for exams or work on projects together.
"Having people around you who are also studying and working hard on their academics pushes you to do the same," said Rachel Santini, an Academic All-Canadian Martlet hockey player studying mechanical engineering.
And it's not just undergraduate athletes who excel in the classroom; dozens of graduate students also compete at the varsity level, including three medical students who play for the Redmen soccer team. One of them, Benjamin Joanette-Pilon, echoed the sentiment that being around supportive teammates helps keep him on track.
"Having other players on the team in programs that require a lot of time and hard work does help," he said. "We motivate each other to study before and after practice and it helps the process a lot."
McGill athletes bring valuable leadership skills to the community
A dedication to serving the community is yet another factor that unites many of these high-achieving student-athletes.
Tia Lore, a sociology senior on the soccer Martlets, is spearheading a team initiative to develop sports programs for young women in Paraguay. Her teammates Olivia Lusterio-Adler (Education), Noemie Briollais (Political Science), Victoria Sturgess (Bioengineering), and Ruxandra Zamfir (Physical Therapy), for their part, have come together to create a peer tutoring and mentorship program for fellow varsity athletes. Lusterio-Adler was inspired to create the initiative after getting placed in an at-risk elementary school during one of her teaching placements.
She also praised Martlets soccer head coach Jose-Luis Valdes for encouraging his team to make an impact in the community. "He always encourages us to be ourselves and to step up to the plate as leaders in something we are passionate about," she said.
Throughout the 2018-19 varsity season, teams have also held breast cancer awareness games to raise funds for breast cancer research. Martlet soccer hosted their game in October, while basketball, volleyball, and ice hockey will be holding their events throughout the winter semester. The teams raise funds on their own and then sport pink jerseys during the games. Fans also have the opportunity to donate.
Whether in the game, the classroom, or the community, McGill student-athletes have proven that they will rise to the challenge. McGill Athletics & Recreation is proud of all varsity student-athletes and is excited about their potential as athletics competitors and leaders in their fields.
