TORONTO, Ont. – For just the third time in University of Guelph history, a Gryphon student-athlete has earned the prestigious distinction of being selected to the group of
U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians.
Zoe Sherar in 300m final at 2019 U SPORTS Championships
Zoe Sherar, a national champion and multiple U SPORTS gold medalist with the Gryphons track and field program, will head to Ottawa in late January for the Governor General's Commendation Ceremony at Rideau Hall where she will be recognized alongside seven other student-athletes from across the country for her outstanding athletic, academic and community service achievements during the 2018-19 season.
"I'm extremely honoured to receive this recognition alongside the other athletes," says Sherar, who is now in her third year at the University of Guelph where she majors in economics and geographic information systems. "Something like this certainly provides motivation to continue to do what I've been doing. I'm always looking to find new ways to be engaged with the work I'm doing, and I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by people here at U of G who are also passionate about what they're pursuing. It's motivating to be around people like that."
The Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation was founded by the Right Honourable
David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, who first honoured Canada's Top 8 student-athletes in 2013.
U SPORTS student-athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian 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 varsity teams.
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four U SPORTS conferences are selected annually to make up the Top 8.
"The list of Academic All-Canadians continues to grow each year," said
Graham Brown, President and CEO of U SPORTS. "The success of the Top 8 is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes on the field of play, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities across the country."
As the official supporter of the student-athletes selected as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians, Sherrard Kuzz LLP will continue to support the travel, accommodation and hospitality of the group in the lead-up to the Commendation at Rideau Hall. All eight student-athletes will also receive a customized ring from Baron, the Exclusive Provider of championship rings and recognition jewelry for U SPORTS.
2018-19 U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians:
Zoe Sherar - University of Guelph (OUA), Women's Track & Field
Seth Friesen - Brandon University (Canada West), Men's Volleyball
Anna Mollenhauer - University of Victoria (Canada West), Field Hockey
Slater Doggett - Queen's University (OUA), Men's Hockey
Grayg Noireault - Université de Montréal (RSEQ), Men's Soccer
Frédérique Beauchamp - Université Laval (RSEQ), Women's Basketball
Liam Elbourne - St. Francis Xavier University (AUS), Men's Soccer
Ciera Disipio - Cape Breton University (AUS), Women's Soccer
Gryphon Athletes Named Top 8 Academic All-Canadians in U of G history:
2018-19 - Zoe Sherar (Track & Field)
2007-08 - Brae Anne McArthur (Track & Field)
1996-97 - Laurie Halfpenny (Soccer)
Zoe Sherar entered a new stratosphere as an athlete during the 2018-19 U SPORTS Track and Field season.
At just 19-years-of-age, Sherar stole the spotlight in what proved to be an unforgettable sophomore season. Over the course of two days in late February at the 2019 OUA Track and Field Championships in Toronto, Sherar earned three separate trips to the top of the podium while helping lead the Gryphon women's team to their fourth straight conference banner. Sherar took home an OUA gold medal in the women's 300m, and followed that up with two more gold medals in the relays where she helped the Guelph Gryphons establish new OUA meet records in both the women's 4x200m and 4x400m relays.
Two weeks later, Sherar would somehow take her performances to an even higher level with an exceptional showing at the national level. At the 2019 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg (March 7-9), Zoe once again took home three gold medals, this time, helping her 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams establish new U SPORTS record times, while also setting a University of Guelph record time in her gold medal-winning performance in the women's 300m.
Zoe's time of 37.79 seconds in the 300m was the fifth-fastest ever recorded at the national meet. Sherar's 4x200m relay team broke the Canadian senior and U23 records, thanks in part to her incredible splits. Sherar's outstanding performance at the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships helped the Gryphons women's team capture their second consecutive national title, and fourth in school history.
Throughout her sensational 2018-19 track season, Zoe was equally adept in the classroom, where she maintained an impressive 85.7 percent average while successfully navigating a change in her academic major. In mid-September of 2018, Zoe shifted her academic focus away from statistics and began to pursue a pair of new disciplines, with the Toronto native minoring in economics as well as geographic information systems. Drawn to the University of Guelph's arts and sciences program because of the wide range of unique specializations offered, Zoe excelled in both disciplines throughout her sophomore season, honing a variety of skills, ranging from the use of mapping software, to long-form written essays analyzing a variety of current social and scientific issues. Zoe also proved to be a valuable resource for her fellow students, as she spent a second consecutive year volunteering as part of U of G's "Peer Helper Program."
As a peer helper, Zoe worked at the info desk on the third floor of the University Centre where she helped answer academic-related questions from fellow students as well as provide information regarding resources available to students on campus.
In the Guelph community, Zoe's impact was also widespread, with the All-Canadian track athlete taking part in the
Start2Finish Running & Reading Club. This after-school program saw Zoe regularly visit Brant Avenue Public School in Guelph, where she volunteered with elementary school children (grades 3 to 6) to address the need for enhanced literacy and physical activity among children experiencing poverty and deprivation in their communities. The program culminates in the Start2Finish 5K running and reading challenge and an awards ceremony recognizing each child's achievement at the end of the school year.
Zoe also spent the summer of 2018 interacting with local children (ages 7-to-14) as a camp counselor with the Gryphon Track & Field summer camps.
Sherar also represented the Gryphon Track and Field team at the "Bowl for Kids Sake" event in March. The annual fundraising event from the University of Guelph's Department of Athletics has raised over $100,000 over the past decade-plus in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph.
Following her exceptional 2018-19 season, both on the track as well as in the classroom and community, Zoe also added several standout international accomplishments to her already memorable year. In the spring and summer of 2019, Zoe traded in her Gryphon colours for a Team Canada logo as she went on to represent her country on multiple occasions. In May, Zoe took home Canada's lone medal from the 2019 IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan after teaming alongside fellow Gryphon Philip Osei to help Canada capture silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Zoe Sherar at 2019 FISU summer universiade in Naples, Italy
In the process, Zoe was part of a mixed 4x400m relay team that established a new national record with a time of 3:16.78. Sherar also narrowly missed reaching the podium in Japan in the women's 4x400m relay team.
Two months after her standout performance at the World Relays in Japan, Zoe once took her talents overseas, this time traveling to Naples, Italy as a member of the Team Canada delegation for the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade (July 3-14, 2019). There, Sherar finished 5th in the women's 4x400m relays, running alongside another fellow Gryphon student-athlete in Jenna Westaway. Sherar also competed in the women's 400m, where she ran to a 10th-place finish. Shortly after returning home from Italy, Sherar made her way to Montreal at the end of July to compete in the 2019 Canadian Track and Field Championships where she narrowly missed out on reaching the podium at senior nationals, finishing 4th in the women's 400m.
For more information on the other seven recipients of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadian listing, visit usports.ca.
PAST RECIPIENTS --- U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians
2017-18
AUS: Ciera Disipio, Soccer, Cape Breton University / Sven Stammberger, Basketball, Dalhousie University
RSEQ: Amélie Augé, Track and Field, Université de Sherbrooke / Francis Carter, Wrestling, Concordia University
OUA: Alina Dormann, Volleyball, University of Toronto / Nick Vanin, Football, Western University
CW: Kate Pexman, Volleyball, University of Calgary / Edward Ilnicki, Football, University of Alberta
2016-17
AUS: Anna Dunn-Suen, Dalhousie University (Volleyball) / Eric Locke, St. Francis Xavier University (Hockey)
RSEQ: Fabiola Forteza, Université Laval (Rugby) / Louis-Mathieu Normandin, Université de Montréal (Football)
OUA: Katherine Bearne, University of Ottawa (Soccer) / Osvald Nitski, University of Toronto (Swimming)
CW: Margaret Casault, University of Alberta (Volleyball) / Geoff Gray, University of Manitoba (Football)
2015-2016
AUS: Elenor Henry, Mount Allison (soccer) / Geoff Schemitsch, Acadia (hockey)
RSEQ: Gabrielle Lapointe, Laval (soccer) / François Jarry, McGill (cross country/track & field)
OUA: Cindy Nelles, McMaster (rugby) / Colin Behenna, Waterloo (hockey)
CWUAA: Rebecca Terejko, UBC (swimming) / Chad Bush, UBC (soccer)
2014-2015
AUS: Katie Ross, Acadia (soccer / basketball) / Cole Grbavac, StFX (hockey)
RSEQ: Katia Forcier, Montreal (volleyball) / François Bourque, McGill (basketball)
OUA: Sasha Gollish, Toronto (track & field) / Austin Kennedy, Windsor (football)
CWUAA: Sarah Wierks, Fraser Valley (basketball) / Andrew Buckley, Calgary (football)
2013-2014
AUS: Michelle Pryde, Acadia (soccer) / Adrian Robertson, UNB (hockey)
RSEQ: Mariam Sylla, McGill (basketball) / Cédric McNicoll, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Caroline Ehrhardt, Western (track & field) / Tyson Hinz, Carleton (basketball)
CWUAA: Brittany Habing, Manitoba (volleyball) / Jordan Baker, Alberta (basketball)
2012-2013
AUS: Monica MacDonald, UNB (swimming) / Travis Gibbons, Acadia (hockey)
RSEQ: Émilie Chamard, Montreal (soccer) / Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill (football)
OUA: Alicia Brown, Toronto (track & field) / Steven Takahashi, Western (wrestling)
CWUAA: Jaki Ellis, Alberta (volleyball) / Paul Clerc, UBC (soccer)
2011-2012
AUS: Miranda McMillan, Dalhousie (hockey) / Nathan Musoke, Dalhousie (track & field)
RSEQ: Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, Laval (rugby) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Nicole Sassine, Windsor (track & field) / Darragh McGee, Toronto (soccer)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (hockey) / Kyle Ross, Saskatchewan (hockey)
2010-2011
AUS: Heather Ambery, UNB (Soccer) / Daniel You, Dalhousie (Volleyball)
RSEQ: Alexandra Lojen, Montreal (Volleyball) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (Hockey)
OUA: Erika Reiser, Windsor (Track & Field) / Shujon Mazumber, Toronto (Wrestling)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (Hockey) / Darren Mazzei, Victoria (X-Country - T&F)
2009-2010
AUS: Alex Legge, Dalhousie (Basketball) / Jacob Kilpatrick, UNB (Volleyball)
QSSF: Marie-Michelle Genois, Laval (Basketball) / Steven Bielby, McGill (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, McGill (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, McGill (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, McGill (Swimming) / Simon Therrien, UQTR (Soccer)
OUA: Lulu Bursztyn, McMaster (Wrestling) / Sagar Desai, Western Ontario (Basketball)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (Hockey) / Adam Ens, Saskatchewan (Volleyball)
2002-2003
AUS: Marieke Gardner, Dalhousie (Soccer) / Kjetil Vaage, UNB (Soccer)
QSSF: Marie-Hélène Giasson, Laval (Swimming) / Alexandre Pichette, McGill (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, McGill (X-Country & T&F) / Strachan Hartley, McGill (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, McGill (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, McGill (Track & Field) / David Dufresne, UQTR (Soccer)
OUA: Nathalie Côté, Ottawa (X-Country - T&F) / Bob McGill, 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, McGill (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, McGill (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, McGill (Swimming) / Alex Hutchinson, McGill (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)
1994-1995
AUAA: Jill Lawless, Acadia (Volleyball) / Vojtech Kucera, St. Thomas (Hockey)
QSSF: Caroline Vachon, Laval (Track & Field) / David O'Hara, McGill (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, McGill (Soccer) / Jason Della Rocca, Concordia (Wrestling)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / Craig Donaldson, Western Ontario (Hockey)
GPAC: Sandra Carroll, Winnipeg (Basketball) / Scott Koskie, Manitoba (Volleyball)
CWUAA: Erika Forster, UBC (Track & Field) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (Swimming)
Note: The 1996-97 honour was actually part of a "Top 10" Academic All-Canadian Group instead of Top 8 – back when there were five U SPORTS conferences (Some Canada West members were part of the Great Plains Athletic Conference). However, both of Guelph's previous winners came before former Governor General David Johnston established the Top 8 Commendation ceremony – meaning Zoe Sherar will be the first Gryphon to be honoured at Rideau Hall for this achievement.
