Death, taxes, and Golden Bears & Pandas student-athletes setting records for academic success.

Once again, University of Alberta Athletics has set a new benchmark for U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians, as 164 Golden Bears & Pandas student-athletes from the 2021/22 year were honoured on Wednesday morning. 

Additionally, 18 golf and tennis student-athletes, which are not U SPORTS sanctioned sports, were named to the All-Academic Team. The 164 U SPORTS AAC’s sets a new University of Alberta record for a competitive season.

Highlights

• 164 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians breaks the record of 162 set in 2019/20.
• 189 Golden Bears & Pandas were honoured in 2020/21, however the consumption of eligibility was not a requirement during the COVID-cancelled season, raising the total number.
• 12 UAlberta Faculties were represented amongst the 21/22 AAC total, led by 41 from Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, and 36 from Science.
• The 11 AAC’s from the Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences set a new Faculty record.
• The University of Alberta’s All-Time U SPORTS AAC total now stands at 3,581, the most in Canadian University Sport history. McGill University ranks second all-time with 3,102. AAC’s were first recognized in 1991.
• Josiah Schakel (Golden Bears Football) and Haley Heffel (Pandas Wrestling) were named the Male and Female UAlberta Academic All-Canadian student-athletes of the year.
   

The criteria to be honoured as an AAC is maintaining an average of 80% or better over the academic year, while competing full-time for one of the university’s varsity teams.

“Our Academic-All Canadians represent the best of university sport, and it was a privilege to once again be able to celebrate their accomplishments in person. 

Having faculty representatives and senior administration there to meet and celebrate our Bears and Pandas made it even more special,” said Interim Director of Athletics, Katie Spriggs. “I’d also like to thank the faculties and entire campus community for allowing our student-athletes to succeed, as their support directly contributes to our achievements in sport and in the classroom.” 

Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics also handed out the Kathlene Yetman Trophy and the Mark Goodkey Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the Female and Male Academic All-Canadian student-athletes of the year.

2021 U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year, and Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner Josiah Schakel (Business) took home the Goodkey Trophy. Schakel is the first Bears Football player to win the award since Ed Ilnicki in 2018, and fourth all-time.

Schakel, a three-time Academic All-Canadian, led the nation in tackles per game in 2021.

He is a team leader with VOICE, a program created to actively combat Gender Based Violence on campus and in our community. He has also regularly volunteered with Special Olympics Edmonton, Edmonton's Santa's Anonymous, and the Edmonton Food Bank.

Pandas Wrestling champion and Faculty of Education student Haley Heffel was awarded the Yetman Trophy, becoming just the second ever Pandas Wrestler to be given this award. 

Heffel is a three-time Canada West gold medalist, and a four-time national medalist, which includes winning gold in 2020. 

She was also named the 2022 Canada West Female Wrestler of the Year, helping lead the Pandas to their 5th conference championship.