外流影片

The old saying, 鈥渢here must be something in the water鈥� is meant to explain extraordinary things that we don鈥檛 quite understand. But in the case of 外流影片鈥檚 varsity sports program, the achievements of its teams and individual student-athletes are the result of deliberate and calculated strategies rather than some hidden influence due to Acadia鈥檚 proximity to the world鈥檚 highest tides in the neighbouring Bay of Fundy.

鈥淲e have a remarkable group of student-athletes,鈥� says Kevin Dickie, Acadia鈥檚 director of Athletics. 鈥淭he performance of our teams within our conference and in national rankings is one thing. The performance of individuals in their sport is another. And the academic achievement of our student- athletes across the board is a third thing. But when we combine every aspect and add it to the role these young men and women play in the community as role models and mentors, the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts.鈥�

Dickie is speaking about the way Acadia and its student-athletes achieve outcomes that are out of proportion with Acadia鈥檚 size. With a student body of approximately 3,500, Acadia is one of Canada鈥檚 smallest universities. But early in the 2015 school year, Acadia is already achieving success. Five of Acadia鈥檚 teams are ranked in the CIS Top 10 and three student-athletes have been named CIS Athletes of the Week. With 108 CIS Academic All-Canadians, Acadia is ranked sixth overall in Canada and with approximately 40 per cent of student athletes carrying an academic average above 80 per cent, Acadia鈥檚 proportion leads all Canadian universities.  In addition, this year鈥檚 AUS female Academic All-Canadian Top 8 recipient is Acadia dual-sport student-athlete Katie Ross, the third Acadia player in a row to make the trip to Rideau Hall to be congratulated by Canada鈥檚 Governor General. In fact, since the Governor General鈥檚 Award was introduced by the CIS three years ago, Acadia and McGill are the only universities to send a student- athlete to Ottawa three consecutive years.

鈥淲e ask a great deal from every member of our program,鈥� says Dickie. 鈥淏ut we find that it鈥檚 these high expectations that both attract and motivate our students. Our overall academic average is just above 75 per cent and our student-athletes contribute hundreds of hours of volunteer time every week. Many of our student-athletes are at Acadia today because of an interaction they had with our program when they were younger.鈥�

Dickie describes a commitment to academics that includes study sessions, a network of faculty advisors, and coaches who put academics before athletics. Acadia鈥檚 Academic All-Canadian results speak to that. He also explains that building the connection between campus and community is deliberate. Whether through youth sports camps, presenting to students in the network of Annapolis Valley Reginal School Board schools, working as a S.M.I.L.E. volunteer, or fundraising for one of many causes, Axemen and Axewomen are visible in the community. This, he says, ensures student-athletes remember that whether they are competing or socializing, they wear an invisible jersey and are, therefore, highly visible representatives of Acadia.

Having a long and proud history of athletic achievement in every sport helps foster a sense of Acadia pride. In the past five years alone, Acadia has claimed conference championships six times in four sports; football, hockey, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball, and, just this fall, women鈥檚 rugby. These recent titles build on previous teams that have won regional and national championships and produced student-athletes who have enjoyed successful careers that have ranged across the full spectrum including professional sports. This success has built a deep and loyal base of support for the varsity sports program, student-athletes, and the University.

鈥淥ur alumni are unbelievable,鈥� says Dickie. 鈥淲e are the big game in town. Our alumni are in the stands at games, they are members of our coaching staff and they lend financial and fundraising support for our facilities and scholarships. It鈥檚 unlike anything I鈥檝e experienced at any other university. Our student-athletes and coaches respond to this in a very positive way and I know student recruits notice it when they visit. This is a very special community and to see this link between the past and present makes everyone behind the scenes feel very proud to be part of this program.鈥�

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