U SPORTS proudly announced Thursday the student-athletes selected as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2018-19 season.
University of Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey defender, Anna Mollenhauer, was recognized as a Top 8 Academic All-Canadian. She became the fourth Vike to be named to the list.
All-Time Top 8 Academic All-Canadians
The elite group will be honoured at a later date at Rideau Hall, the official residence of workplace of the Governor General of Canada, in the nation’s capital.
The Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation was founded by the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, who first honoured Canada’s Top 8 student-athletes in 2013.
U SPORTS student-athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian status 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.
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four U SPORTS conferences are selected annually to make up the Top 8.
“The list of Academic All-Canadians continues to grow each year,” said Graham Brown, President and CEO of U SPORTS. “The success of the Top 8 is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes on the field of play, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities across the country.”
In just three years of play, Mollenhauer has won nearly all that there is to win in U SPORTS women’s field hockey.
In 2017, she was the Canada West Rookie of the Year and a finalist for UVic Rookie of the Year across all sports. Then in 2018, Mollenhauer returned to lead a senior-heavy class to the program’s first national title in 10 years, capturing CW and U SPORTS Player of the Year honours, U SPORTS All-Canadian honours and was a finalist for UVic Female Athlete of the year. It was also just the second time in program history a Vikes player had won the conference Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year nod in back-to-back seasons.
In the 2019 season, the Vikes squad had just two fourth-year players as senior leadership, with Mollenhauer, part of that captains squad for the second season in a row. The three-time Canada West All-star stepped up big at the U SPORTS National Championship on home turf, setting up the first game’s opening goal in a 3-0 win before burying two goals to secure a 3-1 victory and sweep of the best-of-three championship over Guelph. Mollenhauer hoisted the McCrae Cup with the Vikes for back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995, taking home Championship MVP honours.
“We moved Anna up for hits from the outside to generate more offence and she create more chances for herself and she is also very good on the penalty corners,” said Vikes Head Coach Lynne Beecroft. “We’re lucky to have her. She could have decided to go try out for the national team this year, but she wanted to get her studies done and play with this group.”
A humble, modest and lead-by-example type of teammate, Mollenhauer is well respected amongst her team and a charismatic and joyful player to coach. In addition, her efforts and achievements on the field are matched in her success in the classroom as she boasted an incredible 8.13 GPA (out of 9.0) through the 2018-19 school year in the Faculty of Education – seeing her name make the Vikes Honour Roll – while also earning an academic entrance scholarship in her first year.
In the community, Mollenhauer has helped coach the Rising Stars Field Hockey program for the past three years. She also serves as a coach In the Victoria Junior Field Hockey League.
“Anna is a world-class individual. An exceptionally talented international calibre field hockey player, Anna demonstrates a commitment to excellence in all that she undertakes-from her academic pursuits through to providing leadership to her teammates and community,” said Clint Hamilton, Director of Vikes Athletics and Recreation. “Anna is role model for our Vikes student-athletes teammates and we congratulate her on receiving this most important, and well deserved, accolade.”
Mollenhauer joins former Vikes Darren Mazzei (men’s cross country, 2010-11), Kayla Dykstra (women’s basketball, 2008-09) and Todd Langley (men’s basketball, 1994-95) on the Top 8 list.
As the official supporter of the student-athletes selected as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians, Sherrard Kuzz LLP will continue to support the travel, accommodation and hospitality of the group in the lead-up to the Commendation at Rideau Hall. All eight student-athletes will also receive a customized ring from Baron, the Exclusive Provider of championship rings and recognition jewelry for U SPORTS.
