Shortt and Rooney honoured as major swimming award winners

(ST. JOHN'S, N.L.) - The AUS major award winners were recognized poolside Sunday evening, along with the swimmers and rookies of the championship meet.  

AUS Major Awards 

AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award 

Abbey Stroud from the Mount Allison Mounties is the 2023 recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award.  

A senior swimmer with the Mounties from Stellarton, N.S., Stroud is an academic all-Canadian and a past recipient of the University President's Award and the Fran and Edmund International Exchange Award.  

She serves as a member of both Mount Allison's Social Justice Committee, and the Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative. 

In her home community, Stroud is a volunteer with the Alma Fire Department. She also serves as a volunteer coach with Pictou County Special Olympics, as well as with the Sackville Sharks swim team.  

Matthew Croft from the UNB REDS is the 2023 recipient of the Student-Athlete Community Service Award. 

A second-year swimmer from Dartmouth, N.S., and team captain for the REDS, Croft has demonstrated his dedication to excellence in academics, athletics and community service.  

He serves as co-president of UNB's International Swim Program—a student-run volunteer program that offers free water safety lessons for refugee and immigrant families in the greater Fredericton area. The program has grown considerably under his leadership.  

Croft also supervises the REDS' team fundraising swim camps and was the 2022 recipient of UNB's Red and Black Award. 

AUS Coach of the Year  

Dalhousie Tigers head coach Lance Cansdale was named AUS Coach of the Year in both men's and women's swimming.  

This marks his ninth time earning the honour in AUS women's swimming and his fifth win on the men's side.  

AUS Rookie of the Year 

Sophie Rooney from the Acadia Axewomen was named AUS Rookie of the Year in AUS women's swimming. Rooney is a kinesiology student from Halifax, N.S. 

Isaac Bahler (Red Deer County, Alta.) from the Dalhousie Tigers was named AUS Rookie of the Year in AUS men's swimming. 

AUS Swimmer of the Year 

In women's swimming, the 2023 AUS Swimmer of the Year is Dalhousie's Reagan Crowell—a fourth-year psychology student from Lakeville, N.B.  

In men's swimming, Gordon Shortt from the Acadia Axemen is the 2023 AUS Swimmer of the Year. He is a third-year business student from Simcoe, Ont. 

Championship Meet Awards 

Rookie of the Meet 

In addition to being named AUS Rookie of the Year, Acadia's Sophie Rooney was also named Subway Rookie of the Meet on the women's side of the Subway AUS Swimming Championship.  

On the men's side, Will Myrer from the Dalhousie Tigers earned Subway Rookie of the Meet honours. Myrer is a first-year engineering student from Dartmouth, N.S.  

Swimmer of the Meet 

Along with being named AUS Swimmer of the Year, Dalhousie's Reagan Crowell also took home Subway Swimmer of the Meet honours in AUS women's swimming. 

The Tigers' Noah Mascoll-Gomes—a fourth-year commerce student from St. John's, Antigua—was named Subway Swimmer of the Meet on the men's side. 

Full meet results can be found here.  

The U SPORTS national championships will take place Feb. 23 to 25 at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C. More information about the national championships can be found here.