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±«ÓãÖ±²¥ swimmer Bielby named one of top student-athletes in Canada

Published: 5 October 2010

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MONTREAL -- Steven Bielby of Pointe Claire, Que., Ìýa 21-year-old electrical engineering honours student with the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ men's swim team, has been named as one of the 2010 Desjardins CIS Top Eight Academic All-Canadians.

It marks the 15th time in 17 years that a ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ student-athlete has been a recipient of this award, a list composed of nine women and six men.

Bielby, a 5-foot-8 middle distance specialist, was among a nation-high total of 135 ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ student-athletes who qualified for Academic All-Canadian status, for having maintained an academic average of 80 per cent or better over the school year while competing in a varsity sport. In 2009-10, a record 2,299 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,256 set a year ago.

Other universities to surpass the century mark behind ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ included Laval (132), Alberta (128), Queen's (118) and Western Ontario (113). Rounding out the national top 10 were Dalhousie (97), Waterloo (92), Calgary (89), Guelph (85) and Saskatchewan (77).

Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually as Desjardins Top Eight Academic All-Canadians in the country.

Bielby, who was voted Team MVP for the second straight year, won four medals at the 2010 CIS championship meet, including a gold medal (1500m freestyle), one silver (400 m IM) and a pair of bronzes (200 IM, 400 free). His time in the grueling 1500 free was 15 minutes, 22.71 seconds, a Quebec university record. Bielby's performance at Nationals earned all-Canadian honours and qualified him to compete at the 2010 Mare Nostrum Series, a high-profile European tour of World Cup meets.

In the classroom, he achieved a stellar 3.86 grade-point average out of 4.0, the equivalent of a 96.5 per cent academic average. He qualified for the Principal's student-athlete honour roll and received the Uldis Auders memorial award, presented to the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ sophomore who best combines academics with athletics.

"I am incredibly proud of Steven's accomplishments and feel privileged to have the opportunity to coach him on a daily basis," said head coach Peter Carpenter. Ìý"It is always wonderful to see a hard worker rewarded for his efforts."

Joining Bielby as a recipient from the Quebec Student Sports Federation is Marie-Michelle Genois of Cap-Santé, Que., a basketball player and masters of biology student at Laval. Representing Atlantic University Sport are Alex Legge of Halifax, a basketball player and medicine student at Dalhousie, as well as Jacob Kilpatrick of Fredericton, a volleyball player and civil engineering student at UNB. The winners from Ontario University Athletics are Megan Brown of Guelph, Ont., a cross-country and track runner and physical education and health student at Toronto, as well as Dillon Heap of Waterloo, Ont., a football player and business student at Wilfrid Laurier. From the Canada West conference, this year's recipients are Jennifer Hinze of Vancouver, a volleyball player and cellular biology and genetics student at UBC, along with Thomas Hall of Winnipeg, at football player and kinesiology student at Manitoba.

"The high number of student-athletes who achieved 80 per cent reflects the commitment of coaches and athletics departments to ensure success in the classroom and playing field," said CIS chief executive officer, Marg McGregor.

"This year's Top Eight recipients have accomplished great things and symbolize the many outstanding student-athletes and universities across Canada. I look ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ to hearing great things about them in the years to come as they graduate and become leaders in our communities."

Bielby is the first ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ male to win the Top Eight honour since swimmer Alexandre Pichette in 2003. Previous ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ians include the late Dr. Strachan Hartley, a two-time recipient in football (2002, 2001), Alex Hutchinson (track, 1996) and David O'Hara (cross-country, 1995).

±«ÓãÖ±²¥'s previous female honourees include Jennifer Thomson (volleyball, 2008), Danielle Day (soccer, 2005), Carolyn McCabe (swimming, 2004), Sarah Ali-Khan (cross-country & track, 2002), Stephanie Welsh (track & field, 1999), Wendy Whelan (volleyball, 1998), Andrea Bacsfalusi (swimming, 1997),Ìý Anna Leong (swimming, 1996) and Julia Maughan (soccer, 1994).

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ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS LIST OF THE TOP CIS EIGHT ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIAN AWARD



2009-2010
AUS: Alex Legge, Dalhousie (Basketball) / Jacob Kilpatrick, UNB (Volleyball)
QSSF: Marie-Michelle Genois, Laval (Basketball) / Steven Bielby, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Swimming)
OUA: Megan Brown, Toronto (X-Country - T&F) / Dillon Heap, Wilfrid Laurier (Football)
CWUAA: Jennifer Hinze, UBC (Volleyball) / Thomas Hall, Manitoba (Football)

2008-2009
AUS: Isabelle Miles, UNB (Soccer) / Christopher Morrison, Saint Mary's (Hockey)
QSSF: Paméla Filiatrault-Veilleux, Laval (Swimming) / Emmanuel André-Morin, Montreal (Volleyball)
OUA: Noelle Montcalm, Windsor (Track & Field) / Keith Beavers, Waterloo (Swimming)
CWUAA: Kayla Dykstra, Victoria (Basketball) / Kyle Ross, Regina (Hockey)

2007-2008
AUS: Justine McMillan, Acadia (Cross Country) / Niklas Rademacher, Dalhousie (Volleyball)
QSSF: Jennifer Thomson, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Volleyball) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia (Wrestling)
OUA: Brae Anne McArthur, Guelph (Track & Field) / Brad Rootes, Brock (Basketball)
CWUAA: Adrianne Vangool, Saskatchewan (T&F) / Benjamin Schellenberg, Winnipeg (Volleyball)

2006-2007
AUS: Katie Hollinshead, Dalhousie (Soccer) / Colin Sinclair, UNB (Hockey)
QSSF: Audrey Lacroix, Montreal (Swimming) / David Foley, Sherbrooke (Track & Field)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (X-Country - T&F) / Justin Hall, Queen's (X-Country - T&F)
CWUAA: Katie Davidson, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Jay Langager, Lethbridge (Hockey)

2005-2006
AUS: Christine Terese Chislom, StFX (Cross Country) / Jeff Weiler, Dalhousie (Volleyball)
QSSF: Marylène Laplante, Laval (Volleyball) / Nicolas Murray, Laval (Swimming)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (X-Country - T&F) / Joel Scherban, Lakehead (Hockey)
CWUAA: Kristen Hagg, Alberta (Hockey) / Chris Meehan, Trinity Western (Volleyball)

2004-2005
AUS: Hilary Burn, Dalhousie (X-Country - T&F) / Tyler Dyck, StFX (Hockey)
QSSF: Danielle Day, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Soccer) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia (Wrestling)
OUA: Allison Oosterhuis, Western Ontario (Soccer) / Ian MacLeod, Toronto (Swimming)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (Hockey) / Paul Deniset, Manitoba (Hockey)

2003-2004
AUS: Natalie Oake, St. Thomas (Hockey) / Daniel Hudgin, Moncton (Hockey)
QSSF: Carolyn McCabe, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Swimming) / Simon Therrien, UQTR (Soccer)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
OUA: Lulu Bursztyn, McMaster (Wrestling) / Sagar Desai, Western Ontario (Basketball)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (Hockey) / Adam Ens, Saskatchewan (Volleyball)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

2002-2003
AUS: Marieke Gardner, Dalhousie (Soccer) / Kjetil Vaage, UNB (Soccer)
QSSF: Marie-Hélène Giasson, Laval (Swimming) / Alexandre Pichette, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Swimming)
OUA: Alison Mills, McMaster (Volleyball) / Robert Smart, Carleton (Basketball)
CWUAA: Maria Gallo, Alberta (Rugby) / Blair St. Martin, Alberta (Hockey)

2001-2002
AUS: Andrea Faryniuk, Dalhousie (Track & Field) / Tim Mullen, Saint Mary's (Soccer)
QSSF: Sarah Ali-Khan, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (X-Country & T&F) / Strachan Hartley, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Football)
OUA: Lauren Fratesi, Ottawa (Swimming) / Alexandre Hayes, Ottawa (Swimming)
CWUAA: Jacqueline Lavallee, Saskatchewan (Basketball) / Jeff Zorn, Alberta (Hockey)

2000-2001
AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (Basketball) / Steve Gallace, Saint Mary's (Hockey)
QSSF: Catherine Foley, Sherbrooke (Track & Field) / Strachan Hartley, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Football)
OUA: Karina Verdon, Ottawa (Hockey) / Andrew Kwiatkowski, Western Ontario (Basketball)
GPAC: Brandy West, Regina (Hockey) / Joey Mikawoz, Manitoba (Football)
CWUAA: Jen Dowdeswell, UBC (Field Hockey) / Mark Versfeld, UBC (Swimming)

1999-2000
AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (Basketball) / Aaron Barkhouse, Dalhousie (Soccer)
QSSF: Sara Russo-Garrido, Laval (Soccer) / Yannick Demers, Montreal (Swimming)
OUA: Kristine Spekkens, Queen's (Volleyball) / Alex Hayes, Ottawa (Swimming)
GPAC: Erin Soroko, Winnipeg (Basketball) / Shawn Peters, Regina (Track & Field)
CWUAA: Kelly Matheson, Calgary (Soccer) / Spencer Holt, Lethbridge (Basketball)

1998-1999
AUAA: Jolene Bourgeois, UNB (Field Hockey) / Jan Trojanowski, Acadia (Basketball)
QSSF: Stephanie Welsh, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Track & Field) / David Dufresne, UQTR (Soccer)
OUA: Nathalie Côté, Ottawa (X-Country - T&F) / Bob ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, Queen's (X-Country - T&F)
GPAC: Nadia Melon, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Shawn Peters, Regina (Track & Field)
CWUAA: Jessica Mills, UBC (Basketball) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (Swimming)

1997-1998
AUAA: Tracy McGee, UPEI (Field Hockey) / Peter Benoite, Memorial (Basketball)
QSSF: Wendy Whelan, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Volleyball) / Alexandre Émond, Montreal (Volleyball)
OUA: Rebecca Chambers, Toronto (Track & Field) / Tim Cowan, McMaster (Swimming)
GPAC: Kathy Hrehirchuk, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Darreb Peters, Regina (Track & Field)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (Soccer) / Mike Dalziel, UBC (Volleyball)

1996-1997
AUAA: Rachelle Beaton, Dalhousie (Track & Field) / Chris Diamond, UPEI (Soccer)
QSSF: Andrea Bacsfalusi, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Swimming) / Pierre Hudon, Laval (Football)
OWIAA / OUAA: Laurie Halfpenny, Guelph (Soccer) / Russell Jones, Toronto (Swimming)
GPAC: Amanda Mlodzinski, Manitoba (Swimming) / Phil Peters, Winnipeg (Volleyball)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (Soccer) / Mike Sieben, Alberta (Volleyball)

1995-1996
AUAA: Carla Edwards, Mount Allison (Volleyball) / Chris Diamond, UPEI (Soccer)
QSSF: Anna Leong, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Swimming) / Alex Hutchinson, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Track & Field)
OWIAA / OUAA: Vicki White, Ottawa (Soccer) / David Kantor, Queen's (Volleyball)
GPAC: Jackie Honey, Manitoba (Track & Field) / Mel McManus, Manitoba (Track & Field)
CWUAA: Liz Smith, Alberta (Soccer) / John McArthur, UBC (Swimming)Ìý

1994-1995
AUAA: Jill Lawless, Acadia (Volleyball) / Vojtech Kucera, St. Thomas (Hockey)
QSSF: Caroline Vachon, Laval (Track & Field) / David O'Hara, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Cross Country)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / David Kantor, Queen's (Volleyball)
GPAC: Renelda Friessen, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Wayne Weathers, Manitoba (Football & Wrestling)
CWUAA: Adair Duncan, UBC (Basketball) / Todd Langley, Victoria (Basketball)

1993-1994
AUAA: Kathy McNally, UPEI (Field Hockey) / Ron Whelan, StFX (Soccer)
QSSF: Julia Maughan, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (Soccer) / Jason Della Rocca, Concordia (Wrestling)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / Craig Donaldson, Western Ontario (Hockey)
GPAC: Sandra Carroll, Winnipeg (Basketball) / Scott Koskie, Winnipeg (Volleyball)
CWUAA: Erika Forster, UBC (Track & Field) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (Swimming)

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SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012

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