AUS Swimming Awards - Bell named Female Coach of the Year

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2021-22 AUS swimming major award winners as selected by the conference's head coaches. Congratulations to Kris Bell, Acadia's Swim Team head coach who was named the AUS Female Swimming Coach of the Year.

AUS MEN'S SWIMMING MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Noah Mascoll-Gomes, Dalhousie University

The Atlantic University Sport men's swimmer of the year for 2021-22 is Noah Mascoll-Gomes from the Dalhousie University Tigers. This is Mascoll-Gomes' second consecutive MVP nod, his first with the Tigers.

A third-year commerce student and Academic All-Canadian from St. John's, Antigua, this year Mascoll-Gomes had seven individual wins, six relay wins and earned a U SPORTS qualifying time in five events. Throughout the 2021-22 season, he recorded more wins in the than any other male swimmer in the AUS.

Mascoll-Gomes is currently ranked first in the AUS and fifth nationally in the 100m and 200m freestyle. He was previously chosen as the AUS rookie of the year for the 2018-19 season.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Matthew Whelan, Memorial University

Matthew Whelan of the Memorial University Sea-Hawks has been named the 2021-22 AUS Atlantic University Sport men's swimming rookie of the year.

A first-year engineering student from St. John's, Newfoundland, he specializes in the 200m IM, 400m IM and 400m freestyle. Whelan got off to an impressive start with the Sea-Hawks this year, recording four individual wins, one individual second-place finish and two individual third-place finishes. He was also part of two relay wins, one second-place relay finish and three third-place relay finishes.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Oliver Keith, Mount Allison University

The 2021-22 recipient of the Jeremy Ingham Award for student-athlete community service is Oliver Keith of the Mount Allison Mounties.  

A fourth-year politics student in his third year of eligibility with the Mounties, Keith has seen success in the pool, classroom and the community. He is a dean's list student with a 3.82 GPA and serves as a dedicated team captain with the Mounties, known for consistently challenging himself and his teammates.

A volunteer with the Canadian Arthritis Society since 2014, Keith has contributed to the organization in many ways over the years, most recently as a camp counsellor at Camp Sunrise, an online summer camp for children with arthritis across Canada. As a person living with arthritis himself, he works closely with campers to create a sense of community and provide support as they navigate the challenges they face daily.

In 2021, he was awarded the Arthritis Society's National Mary Pack Volunteer of the Year Award, which is presented "to the most dedicated and inspirational volunteers and honors the contributions they make."

When not volunteering with the Arthritis Society, Oliver lends his time to the Nova Scotia Food Bank and the New Brunswick Youth Forum.

THE DAVID FRY AWARD (COACH OF THE YEAR): Lance Cansdale, Dalhousie University

In his 11th season as head coach of the Dalhousie Tigers swimming program, Lance Cansdale has been chosen by his peers as the recipient of the David Fry Award for Atlantic University Sport men's swimming coach of the year.

This marks the fourth time that he has earned the honour on the men's side; he has been named women's swimming coach of the year eight times.

During the 2021-22 season, Cansdale's well-decorated Tigers earned a first-place team finish at all three invitational swim meets. Heading into AUS championship weekend, six swimmers from his women's team and five swimmers from his men's teams have posted U SPORTS qualifying times.

AUS WOMEN'S SWIMMING MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Reagan Crowell, Dalhousie University

Atlantic University Sport women's swimming's swimmer of the year is Reagan Crowell from the Dalhousie Tigers.

A fourth-year psychology student from Lakeville, New Brunswick, Crowell won eight individual events, was part of seven relay wins and had U SPORTS qualifying times in six events during the 2021-22 season. She is also an Academic All-Canadian.

Crowell, in her third year of eligibility with the Tigers, is currently ranked first in the AUS in the 200, 400 and 800m freestyle.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kate Williams, Memorial University

Kate Williams from the Memorial Sea-Hawks has been named the 2021-22 AUS Atlantic University Sport women's swimming rookie of the year.

A first-year engineering student from St. John's, Newfoundland, she had five individual wins, two relay wins and four second-place relays during the 2021-22 season. Williams is currently ranked first in the AUS in the 200m backstroke, which she also holds a provincial record for.

A dedicated student who specializes in the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 200m freestyle, Williams has a 3.9 GPA.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Jillian Downey, Mount Allison University

The 2021-22 student-athlete community service award recipient is Jillian Downey from the Mount Allison Mounties. A fourth-year chemistry honours student from Saint John, New Brunswick, Downey balances her community work and athletics with busy academic schedule and a 4.2 GPA.

As the Mounties team captain, Downey is known as a positive and empathetic teammate and is the swim team representative on the Mount Allison Varsity Council. She gives back to the university community in a number of ways, including as a residence student tutor, who organizes and manages study sessions during exam periods, and as a teacher's assistant.

Downey is also a group leader for Mount Allison's Shinerama fundraising efforts for Cystic Fibrosis research, a member of the Mount Allison Health Care Outreach Club, a Relay for Life coordinator an active volunteer with various Mount Allison orientation week committees.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kris Bell, Acadia University

In his first season as head coach of the Acadia Axewomen, Kris Bell has been chosen by his peers as the Atlantic University Sport women's swimming coach of the year. This is the first time an Acadia coach has won this award.

In 2021-22, Bell's Axewomen achieved one second-place team finish and two-third place team finishes. Six swimmers from Acadia have already posted qualifying times for the U SPORTS national championship.

Bell comes to the Acadia swim team from the Toronto Swim Club, where he worked as an assistant coach with national and junior programs.

*****

The 2022 Subway AUS Swimming Championships, presented by Bell Aliant, get underway Friday, March 11 and run until Sunday, March 13 at Dalhousie University's Dalplex. 

No spectators will be permitted at this year's championship events, but all finals will be broadcast live at http://www.AUStv.ca.

The U SPORTS national swimming championships are being hosted by Université Laval in Quebec City from March 24 to 26.