Acadia continues to set academic, athletic standard

I always try to attend Acadia's year-end celebration of the successes of its varsity athletes: I go as a fan as much as a journalist.

I like to attend the event for a number of reasons, not the least of which is, its neat to see all the student-athletes “cleaned up,” instead of dressed for competition on the field, ice or court - how I usually view them.

The real reason, though, is I appreciate being “blown away” by the sheer excellence of the young people Acadia attracts as student-athletes.

While the names and faces change with time, I've always marvelled at two things about Acadia.

The first is how the school manages, year after year, to attract such exceptional young people who are able - and capable, despite tremendously busy schedules - of making a difference athletically, academically and in the community.

Among other things, this is reflected in a larger-each-year number of Academic all-Canadians - a whopping 58 this year, the largest number ever, just about one in every three varsity athletes and at least one from each one of the school's varsity sports.

The accomplishment of football Axemen Kyle Markin and now-graduated Eric Neilson of being honored as both academic and athletic all-Canadians in the same season - and not once, but year after year - also blows me away.

The other thing that impresses me - in fact, has impressed me since I was an Acadia student myself (more years ago than I like to admit) - is how a school of less than 4,000 students can successfully compete, both athletically and academically, with schools far larger.

This past season, for a second consecutive year, Acadia teams won conference titles in two different varsity sports. Last year, it was football and hockey; this year, football and men's basketball, with the women's volleyball team narrowly missing making it three.

Acadia is one of only a handful of universities in Canada to have won national championships in five sports: for the record - basketball (three), hockey (two), football (two), swimming (two) and soccer (one).

For the past several years, Acadia has honored all-round success by its student-athletes with male and female Axe Citizen awards. This year's winners were both senior students, Kim Hurley and Jordan Sheriko - for Sheriko, it was his second straight award.

While I hate to single out individuals, Hurley and Sheriko, who have between them done just about everything it is possible to do as a university student-athlete, were exemplary choices for these awards. Both will make a difference in their post-university world.

I remember well my four years as a university student. While I was involved in a number of extracurricular activities - sadly, competitive sports wasn't among them - I found it kind of hard at times to keep all the balls in the air at once. To be able to excel as both an honours student, as many of Acadia's varsity athletes are, and as a full-time varsity athlete, as well as being involved in extracurricular and community activities, is truly something to celebrate.

Before I finish, I need to tip my hat to retiring Acadia chaplain Roger Prentice - not only one of Acadia's biggest fans, but he has redefined the role of a university chaplain to include both an interest in and a commitment to the welfare of student-athletes. Prentice, who retires this summer after 22 years as an extremely busy and active chaplain, was honored at this year's awards banquet by being made an “honorary Axeman.” It was only a small part of the debt the entire Acadia community owes this unassuming man.