Broncos student-athletes experience classroom success

Broncos student-athletes experience classroom success

OLDS, Alta. - A key pillar of the Olds College Broncos athletics program has always been balancing athletics and academics, and the Broncos came through in the classroom once again in the 2023-24 season.

On Friday, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) released its list of 2023-24 National Scholar Award recipients, which recognizes student-athletes who achieved honours standing. This means having a 3.5 GPA at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology over the full academic year while playing a CCAA sport (badminton, basketball, cross-country running, curling, golf, soccer and volleyball).

In total, 31 Broncos student-athletes were recognized as CCAA National Scholars, a sharp increase from the 20 student-athletes recognized for the 2022-23 season, while another 10 achieved equivalent honours standing outside of CCAA competition. The 41 total Broncos to achieve honours represents a quarter of the Broncos student body, with an additional 48 student-athletes maintaining a cumulative GPA between 3.0 and 3.49. In addition, seven student-athletes produced perfect 4.0 cumulative GPAs over the course of the season. 

Sydney Joyce (Dodsland, Sask./women's volleyball), Kami Tams (Taber, Alta./women's soccer) and Michael Authenac (Grande Prairie, Alta./men's soccer) each became three-time National Scholars, while Aidan Walsh (Courtenay, B.C./men's basketball), Julia Pedersen (Chestermere, Alta./women's volleyball) and Dilan Vargas (Swift Current, Sask./men's soccer) each becoming two-time National Scholars.

Meanwhile, on account of another season lost to injury, Haylee-Jo Heggie (Raymond, Alta./women's basketball) is now a seven-time National Scholar, with an aim of pursuing an eighth this season.

Below is the list of student-athletes who earned CCAA National Scholar status for the 2023-24 season, with an asterisk noting the student-athletes who maintained a 4.0 GPA.

  • Aidan Walsh, Men's Basketball

  • Corbin MacMillan, Men's Basketball

  • Kristen Dyck, Women's Basketball*

  • Caitlin Paul, Women's Basketball*

  • Danielle Judd, Women's Basketball

  • Haylee-Jo Heggie, Women's Basketball

  • Simon Puddicombe, Men's Soccer*

  • Sebastian Rezeanu, Men's Soccer

  • Lawer Amartey, Men's Soccer

  • Dilan Vargas, Men's Soccer

  • Alex Gutierrez, Men's Soccer

  • Matija Mitrovic, Men's Soccer

  • Michael Authenac, Men's Soccer

  • Liam Parsons, Men's Soccer

  • Tatum Gower, Women's Soccer*

  • Tayla Trudzik, Women's Soccer

  • Jessie Kurek, Women's Soccer

  • Alyssa Wachniak, Women's Soccer

  • Sadie Nygaard, Women's Soccer

  • Brynn Smith, Women's Soccer

  • Kami Tams, Women's Soccer

  • Carter Sinclair, Men's Volleyball

  • Jacob Wilson, Men's Volleyball

  • Kaycee Conan, Women's Volleyball*

  • Dani Bryant, Women's Volleyball*

  • Sarah Merkosky, Women's Volleyball*

  • Julia Pedersen, Women's Volleyball

  • Sydney Joyce, Women's Volleyball

  • Lexi Lafreniere, Women's Volleyball

  • Isabel Crashley, Women's Volleyball

  • Gabrielle Ralph, Women's Volleyball

  • Milan Schapowal, Women's Volleyball

As women's hockey is not in the CCAA portfolio, the following student-athletes received the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Academic Athletic Award:

  • Ireland Greenhough

  • Jenay Hyndman

  • Sydney Jack

  • Cienna Kinghorn

  • Jerika Pashniak

  • Keera Tiringer

  • Paige Urichuk

  • Kate Will

As the Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Association (CCRA) does not have an equivalent award, we would also like to recognize the following student-athletes for their academic achievements (Note - This list is subject to change on account of active DFS field placements):

  • Gracie Piper

  • Dalyce Shannon

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