StFX Athletics: Home to Leaders and Champions, Bringing Home Four AUS Championships in Five Days

The last week of October saw remarkable success for StFX Athletics, as four varsity teams earned AUS championships.

The X-Women Rugby team was the first to return to campus in white hats, as they defeated the UPEI Panthers 26-22 in Charlottetown on Wednesday, October 25th. This victory marks the program’s 23rd AUS banner.

The weekend that followed brought further victory to the X-Men and X-Women. The StFX Cross Country teams raced on Saturday, October 28th at the AUS Championships, hosted by the SMU Huskies. The X-Women delivered a dominant performance, finishing with 22 points, and claiming a first-place finish. Among the top seven finishers, five were proudly representing the White and Blue. Allie Sandluck secured the silver medal, and Eileen Benoit took home the bronze. The X-Men battled hard and finished in second place, with 43 points. The team was led by veteran Joel Gallant who placed 4th.

On Sunday, October 29th, both the X-Men and X-Women Soccer teams secured victories in the final matches of the AUS Championships, held in Sydney, NS. Both teams went head-to-head with the CBU Capers. The X-Women played first, prevailing 2-1. The X-Men closed out the weekend with a 2-0 shutout win. This marks X-Men Soccer’s first AUS banner since 1994, and the X-Women’s first championship win since 2016.

Behind every successful team, there’s an incredible coaching staff. Special shoutouts to Graham Kennedy (X-Men/X-Women Soccer) and Eric Gillis (X-Men/X-Women XC) for their well-deserved AUS Coach of the Year awards, with Kennedy earning two! Also, a big congratulations to Mike Cavanagh, who is wrapping up an impressive 25th season as head coach of the X-Women Rugby team.

I had the opportunity to speak with some of the veterans from the four recently crowned AUS Championship teams, to discuss what sets StFX Athletics apart.

They all highlighted the program’s standout culture, emphasizing the consistent efforts put in by both athletes and staff.

Katherine Culligan, fourth-year rugby player from Halifax, NS, offered her perspective on the culture within StFX Athletics, “It’s a culture of support and family and I think that comes through in all aspects”. When asked about what she believes provides the extra motivation to StFX athletes, Culligan mentioned the school’s small size and the Antigonish community, stating, “Coming from such a small school in a small town, we are constantly reminded of how many people support us and are looking up to us, so it gives us that extra bit of drive to achieve feats like AUS Championships. We are taught that regardless of our size or reputation, we can achieve great things if we lean on our culture”.

Sophie Beck, a fourth-year rugby player from Fall River, NS, and serving as Katherine’s co-captain, expressed similar thoughts. Beck spoke to the mentality of StFX Athletics, noting, “There are a lot of things outside of our control, but what we can control is our culture. Culture creates champions, and our Athletics Department is keenly aware of that. As a result, they have invested in our development, not just as athletes but as people. Across the board, our teams are full of wonderful people and great leaders”.

The StFX Athletics Department is no stranger to the concept of “punching above its weight class”. Eileen Benoit, a first team AUS Cross Country All-Star, also highlights StFX’s size as a unique advantage, stating, “At a small university, the sense of community is strengthened.”. Benoit, a third-year student from Windsor, NS, believes that the sense of community at StFX fosters a feeling of belonging that transcends the field, court, ice, and track. She emphasizes, “The support we receive from other teams, the wider StFX community, and the town of Antigonish goes deeper than our athletic successes because we come to know each other as people, rather than as another number.”.

The recent successes of our four varsity teams are a testament to the exceptional culture, sense of community, and spirit that defines StFX Athletics. As we celebrate the victories of the X-Women Rugby team, the X-Women Cross Country team, and both the X-Men and X-Women Soccer teams, it is important to recognize the dedication of the incredible StFX Athletics staff, as well as the unwavering support of all fans. Congratulations to all of our newly crowned AUS Champions!