CALGARY, ALTA - The Mount Royal Cougars sit at the top of the Canada West Conference after U SPORTS released the Academic All-Canadian total for the 2019-20 season. A record total of 76 Cougars received the distinction, an incredible 44.7% of the school's varsity student-athletes. This is the highest percentage in Canada West and Mount Royal ranks 10th of 56 schools across the country.
Since 1988, U SPORTS student-athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian (ACC) status 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. This has been a point of emphasis and pride for the Cougars Athletics and Recreation department.
"Academic performance in the 2019-20 season exemplifies the first step in our Cougars continuing to build our High Performance Culture annually. While not every student-athlete achieves AAC distinction each year, the pursuit of that distinction and the subsequent growth year over year by our Cougars in the classroom lays the groundwork for all other goals and accomplishments we pursue," said Manager of Varsity Athletics, Rob Godfrey.
The Cougars have consistently led the charge in the Canada West through the last eight years since joining the university ranks. In the 2012-13 season, 47 student-athletes received ACC honours and have now increased this number to 76 in 2019-20.
"Three years ago we conducted an audit of our varsity department, which led to some incredibly valuable feedback, enhancements, and ultimately the High Performance Strategic Plan for Cougars Varsity Athletics. Since living the new plan for the past two seasons and seeing the impact our Integrated Support Team staff members have had on our mental and physical well being, greater successes are being realized across many of our varsity programs in the classroom and during competition," Godfrey added.
A pivotal role in this success is Mount Royal Athlete Service Coordinator, Ciara Lane.
"We've made huge strides towards building academic supports for all our student-athletes so that the message is loud and clear - you're a student first and an athlete second. My end goal is to make sure that every student-athlete is going to cross the stage to get their degree and hopefully they'll have a few Canada West or U SPORTS medals around their neck as they're doing so," said Lane.
Academic success led the way for the most successful athletic season in 2019-20 in Cougars history. The school's first Canada West medals were received by Men's Soccer (bronze), Women's Hockey (silver) and Women's Volleyball (bronze). It was a record setting year as this was the farthest each of these teams had made it in Canada West playoffs. Both the women's hockey and volleyball team's placements also landed them a berth at their respective U SPORTS National Championships.
November 02, 2019: Canada West Men's Bronze Medal soccer game between the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the Mount Royal University Cougars. Mount Royal won 3 - 1
These successes are a true testament to Cougars student-athletes and their dedication to the classroom. While there is great responsibility on the senior athletes, first years that enter each program are also held highly accountable to the High Performance Culture.
"The biggest and most valuable traits we're seeing in our Cougars student-athletes when it comes to their academic success is resilience. They all come with a really great work ethic and phenomenal time management skills, but the last 12 months have really tested their resilience and they've risen to the occasion hugely. Time and time again they continue to show how they can overcome whatever challenges life throws at them - it's amazing," Lane added.
The Cougars will continue to build off of these successes and continue to develop the High Performance Culture in years to come.
Canada West press release
U SPORTS press release
Written by Jarron Mueller
