OTTAWA (CIS) – For the second time in as many years, a University of Toronto student-athlete has been named a Top Eight Academic All-Canadian as announced by Canadian Interuniversity Sport on Friday, Oct. 26.
 
The winners from Ontario University Athletics for the 2011-12 season are Toronto soccer player Darragh McGee (doctorate of philosophy) as well as Windsor track and field star Nicole Sassine (kinesiology and education). U of T wrestler Shujon Mazumder was an honouree last year.
 
“We are extremely proud of the high number of student-athletes who achieve CIS Academic All-Canadian status across the country. It speaks volumes about the quality of our students, coaches, support staff and Canadian universities,” said CIS president Leo MacPherson. “The Top Eight recipients represent the cream of the crop, and to be selected among over 10,000 of their peers is an exceptional accomplishment they should be proud of.”   
 
Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized as Academic All-Canadians, 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.
 
In 2011-2012, a record 2,610 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,398 set a year ago.
 
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians.
 
Other 2011-2012 recipients include Atlantic University Sport hockey player Miranda McMillan (mathematics) and track and field athlete Nathan Musoke (mathematics & physics), both from Dalhousie.
 
Representing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec are Laval rugby player Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid (medicine) and McGill hockey player Marc-André Dorion (physical and health education).
 
From the Canada West Universities Athletic Association, this year’s recipients are hockey players Hayley Wickenheiser from Calgary (kinesiology) and Kyle Ross from Saskatchewan (law).
 
Dorion, Wickenheiser and Ross are all honoured for the second time. Dorion and Wickenheiser were members of the select group a year ago, while Ross had received the distinction for the first time in 2008-2009 while studying at the University of Regina. 
 
“University life is full of challenges.  It’s about thinking critically and strategically, exploring new ideas, discovering oneself, learning from others, and carving out future goals,” said Beth Ali, director of intercollegiate and high performance sport. “Each and every one of these challenges is also reflected in university sport, which translates into untold opportunities for student-athletes to hone their skills, reach high inside and outside the classroom, and head out into the business world armed with practical life lessons that few graduates have attained.  Darragh is the epitome of a student-athlete.  He has been recognized on numerous occasions by his academic superiors and his performance on the field is incontestable.”
 
Name: Darragh McGee
Hometown: Donegal, Ireland
School: University of Toronto
Faculty: School of Graduate Studies
Program: Doctorate of Philosophy (Exercise Sciences)
Sport: Soccer
Eligibility in 2011-12: 4^th year
 
Darragh McGee, who is currently playing in his fourth and final season with the Varsity Blues men’s soccer team, had a remarkable campaign in 2011 when he placed second on the team with six goals in 12 league games en route to OUA East MVP status and a spot on the first all-Canadian squad for the second straight year. The 26-year-old team captain, who plays both midfield and defence, helped the Blues reach the OUA final and advance to the CIS championship last fall.
 
Before moving to Toronto, the native of Donegal, Ireland received a Master’s degree in the sociology of sport from Loughborough University in the UK. An Academic All-Canadian each of the past two years, he is currently completing his doctorate and spent the summer of 2012 in Ghana, researching the nexus between the phenomenon of trafficking, child labour and the realm of sport. He has been published in both book chapters and journals since 2010.
 
McGee has also been a guest speaker/lecturer at the 2011 Sport & Globalization Conference (U of T), the 2010 Athletic Achievement Awards (U of T) and the 2009 North American Society for the Sociology of Sport. He has volunteered as a Massey College intramural soccer coach and with the North Toronto Soccer Club.
 
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