Caroline Ash and DJ Jackson named STFX Student-Athletes of the Year

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX Athletic Department honoured the athletic accomplishments of their varsity student-athletes at the Athletic Awards Gala held Wednesday evening at the STFX Saputo Centre. X-Women Cross Country/Track runner Caroline Ash was named the STFX Female Student-Athlete of the Year, while X-Men Basketball guard DJ Jackson received the STFX Male Student-Athlete of the Year title for the second consecutive year.

Caroline Ash is a fourth year Business student from Newmarket, Ont., with the AUS champion X-Women Cross Country team and the X-Women Track team. After claiming the AUS Cross Country individual bronze medal last season, Caroline ran to a silver medal finish at the 2025 championship, leading her squad to their fifth consecutive AUS banner. She garnered AUS first team all-star status and earned U SPORTS second team all-Canadian honors with her 8^th place finish at the national championship. She was a key member of the X-Women squad that took home the U SPORTS team silver medal at the national cross country championship last fall. Caroline enjoyed equal success on the track as she was a two-time gold medalist at the AUS championship, claiming top spot in the 1000m and 4x800m relay, while being recognized as the 2026 AUS female track athlete of the year. She followed up with an impressive bronze medal performance in the U SPORTS 1500m national race. She closed out the season competing with Team Canada at the FISU World Cross Country Championship in Italy where she paced 10^th overall in the 3k event. Caroline becomes the seventh X-Women Cross Country/Track athlete to be named the STFX Female Student-Athlete of the Year, with the most recent one being her teammate Eileen Benoit last year.

DJ Jackson is a second year Human Kinetics student from Mississauga, Ont., in his fourth year of eligibility as a guard on the X-Men Basketball team. He was honored for the second consecutive season as the AUS most valuable player and an AUS first team all-star, leading the country in scoring, averaging 22.5 points per game. DJ led the U SPORTS no. 8-ranked X-Men to a 17-3 regular season record, a first-place finish in the AUS regular season standings an AUS semifinal playoff berth. He garnered U SPORTS first team all-Canadian recognition for the second straight year, being honored as one of the top players in the country. DJ remains the 14^th X-Men Basketball athlete to win the STFX Male Student-Athlete of the Year award, having won the same award last season, with David Muenkat being the last X-Men Basketball athlete to win in 2023.

The STFX Community X-cellence awards recognize community initiative and involvement, volunteer experience and extra-curricular contributions outside of the student-athlete's varsity and academic experiences within the past academic school year. The 2026 Female Community X-cellence award was presented to Katie Murphy from the X-Women Rugby team, while the Male Community X-cellence award was co-awarded to Conlan MacKenzie from X-Men Cross Country/Track and Sam Taylor from X-Men Football.

Katie Murphy is a fourth year Human Kinetics student from Millvale, PEI and a scrum half with the X-Women Rugby team. One of the co-founders of the X Gives Blood Society, Katie serves as secretary and helped organize several fundraising and awareness events. She is an instructor with the KC Blades skating program, created and captained several intramural teams, is a trainer with the local U15AA Bulldogs hockey team, was a brand ambassador and participant with the STFX Pucks for Purpose organization, and was a volunteer with the Best Buddies program, being paired with community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Katie participated in an Immersion Service Learning trip to Guatemala, she coached U17 provincial girls rugby in PEI, volunteered time with Coastal K9 with rescue dogs, and was a volunteer with Mini U, engaging with local Paqtnkek elementary students who came to campus for various activities. Katie was a captain with Motion ball, raising funds and awareness for Special Olympians, as well as volunteering at several events – Coastal K9 3v3 hockey game, reading to children during Literacy Week and instructing at a Come Try Rugby event for youth. The recipient of the 2025 AUS Women's Rugby Community Service award, Katie was a Leader of Distinction with the STFX Leadership Academy and a member of the X-Women Rugby leadership group.

Conlan MacKenzie is a second year Business student from Antigonish, NS and a member of the X-Men Cross Country & Track teams. The 2025 recipient of the AUS Men's Cross Country Community Service award, Conlan was a varsity athlete coordinator and member of the head committee for Motion ball, which raised $40,000 for Special Olympics Canada. He is also involved with Unified at X for Special Olympians, has been a volunteer coach with the local Multisport youth program, and has been a Coastal K9 volunteer with rescue dogs. Conlan served as an assistant coach with the Dr. J. H. Gillis high school boys soccer team that won the reginal championship, and he has coached with the STFX Track & Field Club. He has lent his time to various community clean-up events, and volunteered at the L'Arche Fun Run.

Sam Taylor is a second year Arts student from Milton, ON and a receiver with the X-Men Football team. The founder of the X-Men Tackle Cancer campaign in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Sam has lead, organized and implemented fundraising initiatives and events for cancer research. He has organized the annual 'Light the Night' event each October for the past three years to bring the community together in support of cancer awareness and fundraising, bringing a unique perspective as a Hodgkin Lymphoma survivor himself. Sam has served as summer coach with the U18 Burlington Stampeders football team in his hometown, he had lead recruiting tours on the STFX campus, and was an elite leader with the STFX Leadership Academy. He has lent his time at many events including Hockey Gives Blood, Motion ball, Service Learning youth bowling and the local Christmas parade.

Eric Gillis is the winner of the 2026 STFX Coach of the Year award. In his 8th season leading both the X-Women and X-Men Cross Country and Track programs, Coach Gillis was recognized as the AUS Women's Cross Country Coach for the fifth consecutive occasion. He guided the nationally ranked X-Women to their fifth straight AUS championship title, and an incredible silver medal finish at the U SPORTS championship. His X-Men Cross Country squad were the runner-up at the AUS championship and came 10th overall at the U SPORTS championship. On the track, Coach Gillis guided the X-Women to six medals at the AUS Track & Field Championship, including four gold and two silver, with the X-Men taking home two silver medals. The X-Women also earned an impressive pair of individual bronze medals at the U SPORTS track national championship. A five-time AUS women's cross country coach of the year and one-time AUS men's cross country coach of the year, this year marks the second time Coach Gillis has been awarded the STFX Coach of the Year award, having received the same honour in 2025.

The 'X-ceptional Award' which recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to contribute in a positive manner to STFX Athletics, was awarded to Chris MacNeil. Chris has been a dedicated supporter and enthusiastic fan of all STFX Athletics teams for more than two decades. Known for his engaging personality and genuine enthusiasm, he can always be counted on to offer a warm smile and words of encouragement to student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fellow fans alike. A proud and loyal supporter of the White and Blue, Chris regularly attends the majority of home games across all sports, while also occasionally traveling to cheer on the X-Men and X-Women teams on the road. He is a familiar presence - whether at the end of the X-Men Basketball bench, in the stands behind the X bench at other sporting events, or along the trails supporting STFX runners. Beyond his presence at varsity games, Chris's positivity is equally evident in Morrison Hall through his daily interactions in the workplace. His uplifting spirit and unwavering support have been deeply appreciated by generations of STFX athletes and coaches. Chris truly embodies what it means to be a Xaverian.

All first-year student-athletes were recognized and received their traditional STFX varsity pin from their respective head coaches, while graduating student-athletes received a framed varsity X for their contributions to their teams over the past four or five years. X-Men and X-Women student-athletes who received AUS and U SPORTS accolades were recognized for their achievements as STFX Athletics produced 40 AUS all-stars, 10 AUS all-rookies, 17 AUS major awards winners, eight U SPORTS all-Canadians and three U SPORTS all-rookies this past varsity season.

Two STFX teams – X-Women Cross Country and X-Women Rugby – were AUS conference champions, while STFX earned four AUS Track championship gold medals including Eileen Benoit (3000m), Caden Lee (1500m), Caroline Ash (1000m), and the X-Women 4x800m relay team. Benoit and Ash also garnered individual U SPORTS track bronze medals, and the X-Women Cross Country team were U SPORTS silver medalists.

Graduating student therapists and sports performance interns, along with student managers and social media interns from all STFX varsity teams were recognized for their contributions to the 2025-26 varsity season. Iron X Awards were handed out to members of each team for their dedication to sports performance and improvements in the varsity weight room and included the following:

A new set of awards were presented this year in honour of the late Father Stanley MacDonald, one of the most beloved alumni and supporters of STFX Athletics. The Father Stan Leadership Awards were voted upon by teammates, and are in recognition for leading with kindness and compassion, embodying the Xaverian spirit, and demonstrating what it means to be a true teammate - just as Father Stan did. The inaugural recipients of the Father Stan Leadership awards are as follows.

Individual awards for each varsity team were awarded to student-athletes and presented by each head coach. The winners are as follows.

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Photo credits to Bryan Kennedy