Objectively, he is: he played in two high-scoring seasons for the Waywayseecapo Wolverines in the MJHL, and then he got recruited to UM. This year will be his third with the Bisons.

And if you need any more proof, he’s missing his right front tooth. Yes, it came from a puck.

But the truth is, Andrew constantly feels like an imposter.

Jumping from the MJHL to U SPORTS, he went from being at the top of his field, to feeling like he was back at the bottom again.

“You get to [U SPORTS] and you’re like, ‘OK, I’m not as good as I thought I was compared to some of these guys,’” says Boucher. “That definitely exploits your weaknesses big time off the start.”

The key to Andrew’s success, though, is that he has always been punching above his weight.

Growing up in Morden, MB, Andrew’s hero wasn’t Sydney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin, it was his older brother, Keane.

Keane would always include Andrew in hockey games: “He and his friends were always better than me because I was younger. So then I wanted to be just as good as them.” Andrew says.

As an Asper student majoring in accounting and finance, he commonly feels that same imposter syndrome.

“I know some of the Asper students are really, really smart and I’m sitting there in class while they’re talking and I’m just like, ‘Do I even belong here?’ Like they seem way above me.” Says Boucher.

Despite his initial doubts, he quickly uncovered a friendly community of fellow students. He could easily ask questions whenever he hit a block.

He also found out that “it goes both ways.” Everyone has different pockets of knowledge, and often, he could help the same people who had helped him with something else. Sometimes, you need to take assists from your supporting cast to get the goal.

Asper has also expanded his leadership skills; during his time playing hockey, he was captain of the Waywayseecapo Wolverines in his final MJHL year.

Group projects, where he learns how to delegate work and brings a team together to finish a paper in a professional setting has taught him “to become better at connecting with people I may not have talked to before.”

Learning and experience go hand-in-hand, and while at Asper, Andrew’s has adapted countless skills from the world of hockey to the world of business.

For example, knowing that as hard as you try, “you’re always gonna mess up. It’s bound to happen. The best players mess up all the time too.”

Bouncing back by taking accountability and making it up to your teammates “not only shows your true character but gives you an opportunity to learn and fix it in the future.”

And, of course, being on time: “In sports, if you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late.”

As the school year starts, Andrew shared his tips for fellow students:

Make Friends in Class:

What I do is I just sit by the same person a couple times and then as soon as a professor asks something, compare answers with your classmate.

If you’re unsure what you want to do, talk to people:

Everyone is doing a lot of different majors, so just talk to your classmates and ask them what they like about it. Why are they gonna pick that major? You might find that the reason they like it makes it more interesting.

And maybe try a few classes out and figure out when you’re most engaged. No one likes doing homework, but if you can find a class where you don’t mind doing the homework, I’d say that’s maybe an avenue you should try.

Make the most of your BComm experience:

Join a student group at Asper or the university. I have a lot of friends who have joined clubs, and three years down the line, those are some of their best friends. And enjoy sports games. It’s free. You can invite people out and you can have something to talk about without having to make conversation the whole time. It’s something easy to do.

Once again, free, which is crazy.

—

The Asper School of Business is bursting with opportunities to develop your potential, have fun outside of the classroom, network with new connections and discover new interests and connections. Learn more about the Asper student experience here.

“Other than the people in the top brass, it sounds like a lot of people were caught off-guard,” said Dobie, who spent 29 seasons as head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons. “I mean, high school officials, university officials — nobody saw this coming.”

Dobie retired in 2024 after 50 seasons pacing the sidelines. He says in his decades involved in the game, he’s never seen the landscape change as much in one day as it did this week. 

To read the full article, please visit the CBC website

Here’s what to expect: 

Doors open at 12:00 p.m.

• Enter through Gates 1, 2 or 3 at Princess Auto Stadium
• Free parking in U lot off Chancellor Matheson Rd.
• New Bisons apparel, along with the Mondetta x UM collaboration, will be available at the Merch Pop-up on the concourse!

Bisons Homecoming Football Game 

• Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium 
• Cheer on the Manitoba Bisons vs. Alberta Golden Bears! Be part of the excitement and celebrate the NEW Bisons logo! 
• Enjoy music from Morgan Grace at halftime!

Kid’s zone  

• Billy the Bison’s B-day Party
  • 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on the concourse near the Gate 3 entrance
  • Join UM’s beloved mascot, Billy the Bison, and mascot friends from around the city! Kids can enjoy carnival games, face painting, and loot bags. Arrive early and get a free cupcake!

Community and alumni engagement 

• Alumni Lounge  
  • 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Pinnacle Club 
  • Reconnect with fellow alumni and faculty over bar service and live music.

• Speaker Series powered by the Free Press  
  • Join us in the Pinnacle Club for these exciting speakers!  
    • 12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Southwood Circle
    • Greg Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer, UM Properties, will lead a presentation about the future of the Southwood Circle development. 
    • 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Homegrown Drones with UM Knowledge Exchange
    • Join Annemieke Farenhorst (AVP Research) and Andrew Bowman (UM STARlab) and discover the drones and satellites built and used in Manitoba research on land, in the sky and in orbit. Get an up-close look at the ArcticSat, nanosatellite, research rovers and high-tech attachments like thermal cameras and radars which will all be on display.  
    • Halftime (approximately 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.) – Mondetta x UM
      Hear from UM alumni and Mondetta co-founders, Prashant and Ash Modha, as they discuss building a global brand from Winnipeg, rooted in sustainability and ethical production. Learn more about how Mondetta went from its iconic flag designs and retro flair, to its newest luxury boutique and partnerships with the Jets and now UM!

• Campus Tours and Scavenger Hunt  
  • Hourly from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
  • Register ahead of time to secure your spot for a guided campus tour or scavenger hunt.
  • Meet outside Gate 1 at Princess Auto Stadium for campus tours and the scavenger hunt. 

Educational and interactive activities on the concourse 

• Visit the following UM faculties and programs for engaging activities: 
  • UM School of Art: Craft table for creative fun 

• • Desautels Faculty of Music: Try a new instrument and make some noise! 

• • UM Heart Garden: Fill out orange hearts in support of the Heart Garden at UM 

• • UM Extended Education: Enjoy a game of cornhole 

• • UM Libraries/Archives: Discover historical photos and insights into UM’s history 

• • Price Faculty of Engineering: See drones and robots from UMUAS (Drone Team) and UMRT (Robotics Team) in action 

• • Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources: Pick up fun stickers 

• • IDEA START: Play a fast-paced board game themed around innovation, showcasing UM’s Innovation Hubs and I-VIC community outreach 

• • St. John’s College: Enjoy games for all ages, alumni nostalgia activities, and the chance to win SJC gear! 

• • UM Student Recruitment: Apply before December 1 for a chance to win a $5,000 tuition prize 

• Visit the faculties and programs on the concourse to learn more about: 
  • UM Faculty of Social Work 

• • Asper School of Business 

• • UM College of Nursing 

• • Faculty of Arts 

• • Indigenous Engagement & Communications 

• • Indigenous Student Centre 

• • Indigenous Leadership Programming 

• • Indigenous Birding Club 

• • Indigenous Student Recruitment 

Support our campus community 

• Bring a Tin for the Bin! 
  UMSU and the UM Food Bank are partnering for a food drive at the Bisons Block Party. We’ll be collecting food donations to support students in need and raise awareness about food insecurity on campus. Learn more about the most needed items. 

“This is what being a Bison is all about,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Michael Benarroch. “Homecoming gives us the chance to come together, celebrate our community and show what makes the University of Manitoba so special.”   

Tickets for the Bisons Block Party are free and available through Ticketmaster. For groups of 10 or more, please register here. 

To explore the full schedule of events and register, visit the Homecoming page. 

See you there! 

The University of Manitoba Bisons have entered a new era with a refreshed identity that reflects strength, unity and pride.

More than just a logo, it represents a renewed commitment to the spirit and community that connects student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans as One Herd.

Honouring tradition, looking to the future

The refreshed brand includes a forward-facing bison that celebrates the tradition while infusing fresh energy into the next era of Bison Sports excellence. It maintains the iconic brown and gold deeply rooted in Bison Sports history while incorporating blue elements that align with UM’s primary colour palette to ensure visual cohesion with the university’s broader brand.

“We are proud to reveal the refreshed look for this next chapter of Bison Sports history,” says UM President Michael Benarroch. “In the same way our student-athletes continue to redefine what success looks like, both on the fields of play and in their communities, we wanted a redefined look that encompasses the legacy of the Bisons while reflecting the vibrancy of our future.”

For more than two decades, the former Bison Sports logo served as a proud symbol donned by student-athletes as they competed and excelled on the national stage. Worn during many triumphant moments, it represented pride and determination as countless accolades were earned, including last season’s 2025 U SPORTS women’s volleyball title.

“We wanted a redefined look that encompasses the legacy of the Bisons while reflecting the vibrancy of our future.”

Shaped by the Herd

The refresh process began in 2024 with consultations across a wide range of stakeholders—including student-athletes, coaches, volunteers, parents, Recreation Services members, members of the Indigenous community, and others. Input was gathered through focus groups, a quantitative survey and brand audit to shape an identity grounded in voices from across the community.

“It was crucial to us that this process involved as many stakeholders from the community as possible,” says Douglas Brown, Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. “The Bison means so much to so many people, so we wanted to ensure their voices were heard.”

The new forward-facing bison symbolizes strength and determination, while the return to true brown and gold honours the past and unites all eras under One Herd. Clean lines, vibrant tones, and dynamic design elements, including a custom sports serif typeface inspired by bison hooves and horns, position the Bisons as confident, cohesive, and ready to face what comes their way. Every element was designed to foster belonging, pride, and the enduring spirit of resilience that defines the Bisons.

“It’s been no small undertaking to get to this place,” says Gene Muller, Director of Athletics and Recreation at the university. “It’s been a tremendous amount of effort from people across the university to create this new identity for Bison Sports, and we couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and care they’ve put in.”

“It was crucial to us that this process involved as many stakeholders from the community as possible.”

Colours of legacy

Brown and gold are deeply rooted in the Bisons’ identity, representing decades of achievements and traditions. The colours evoke warmth, resilience, and stability. Brown embraces the spirit of our core symbol–strength, determination and leadership. Gold symbolizes the Bisons’ pursuit of excellence, energy and achievement—qualities that resonate with athletic and academic success.

Looking ahead

All student-athletes will compete under the new logo beginning in the 2025-2026 season, including the highly anticipated 2026 U SPORTS National Track and Field Championships, March 5-7, 2026, hosted at the University of Manitoba.

“The unveiling of a new logo and getting to be a part of this is really special,” says Skyler Bruce, a second-year Bison on the men’s hockey team. “The name and look of the Bisons means something in Manitoba, and I think we will all look back on this as a very special time.”

Muller says he is excited to see the connection displayed so proudly. Muller says this new look “embodies everything it means to be a Bison and lead boldly.”

“The name and look of the Bisons means something in Manitoba.”

Starting this fall, our Junior Bisons teams and competitive rec club teams will also be sporting their own updated logos, which integrate the forward-facing bison head. These logos create a powerful visual representation of our collective strength as one herd and reflects the spirit and excellence of our programs and our institution.

Celebrate the new era at the Bisons Block Party

Join us for a public celebration of the new Bisons brand at the Bisons Block Party, happening September 20 from 12 to 5 p.m. during the Homecoming football game. In addition to the game, day’s events will feature a kid’s zone, Billy the Bison’s birthday party, speaker series and alumni lounge.

Tickets for the event are free using the promo code HOMECOMING25.

Merchandise with the new logo will also be available at Homecoming in the UM Bookstore and online after the event.

This refreshed Bisons brand will align with the university’s brand while continuing to reflect the strength, pride, and legacy that generations of student-athletes, coaches, and alumni have helped build. 

“This next phase is about building excitement,” says Gene Muller, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We’re developing a rollout that honours legacy while embracing the future of the Bisons.” 

Over the past year, the project team engaged with stakeholders across the UM community—including student-athletes, coaches, volunteers, Recreation Services members, parents, Indigenous community members, and others.  

These conversations confirmed what many already know: the current logo carries deep meaning. But there’s also strong support for an updated mark that better reflects the strength, determination and spirit of today’s Bisons. 

“We’re grateful for the voices that have shaped this process so far,” says Douglas Brown, Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. “We’re approaching the final stages with a sense of excitement and responsibility.” 

The refreshed brand will focus primarily on the Bisons logo, with complementary iterations also being developed for Junior Bisons and competitive recreation clubs. This will ensure alignment across all levels of participation and consistency across UM’s broader sport and recreation community. 

Stay up to date on the project at Bison brand refresh webpage. 

As reported on the Bisons site, Tachinski’s selection as Male Athlete of the Year marked the first time in the history of the Bisons football program that a student-athlete won Canada West Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year in the same season.

Tachinski became the first Bison since 2002 and third overall to be named Canada West Player of the Year. He was second in efficiency in Canada West at 150.6, while setting career highs in passing yards (1662), passing touchdowns (11) and rushing yards (570), leading the Bisons to a 7-1 regular season record, and first place in the regular season (best result since 2007). In his career as starting quarterback, he’s won 15 games, leading the Bisons to a home playoff game in two of his three seasons as QB1, while also helping execute the largest comeback in school history (26 points against Alberta) on October 19.

Tachinski has 4,553 career passing yards and 1519 rushing yards as a Bison, with 28 passing scores and 21 rushing majors. His 1,305 career regular season rushing yards are the most of any quarterback in program history.

For the first time in 11 years, the Bisons women’s volleyball team are national champions. The No. 3 seeded Herd captured their eighth title in school history with a commanding 3-1 win (25-20, 25-19, 24-26, 25-16) over No. 5 seed Montreal on Saturday in front of a sold-out home crowd of over 3500.
 
It was a team effort all throughout. Manitoba hit .357 overall, Katreena Bentley had 47 assists, five different players had at least nine digs, four had at least five assisted blocks, and three tallied double-digit kills, led by Tournament MVP Raya Surinx’s 23.
 
It was fitting for a well-oiled Bisons unit whose relationships, in the case of seniors Bentley, libero Julia Arnold and left side Uchechukwu, date back well over a decade.
 
Ella Gray also stepped up off the bench with a massive save on serve-receive late in the third, and Chloe Ellerbrock – another multiple time Junior Bisons national champ with Arnold, Bentley and Uchechukwu, had two aces.
 
“I don’t know what to say. This team has just blown me away for the last three or four years. I’m so proud of this group. They’ve been such a treat to coach,” said head coach Ken Bentley, who earned his seventh national title in year 39 as bench boss.
 
“We stayed in this thing and did it with joy and purpose. They’re the team everyone wants to play for. I’m so proud of what they represent of our program and this university and for Bison Sports.”
 
Manitoba was a brick wall at the net in set one. Middle Brenna Bedosky got the party started with a stuff block to give Manitoba a 5-2 lead, and it was off to the races from there, as the Herd never trailed at any point.
 
Overall, the Bisons had seven total blocks, including three solos. Fellow middle Eve Catojo got in on the fun with three straight assisted blocks, and six different Bisons had at least one block in the set, while Montreal were held off the board in that category.
 
“Brenna in that first set, she just blocked everything. She was all over the ball,” said Bentley.
 
“The things we talked about, she was ahead of them and it showed. That was really though for them. They run a lot of back row attack and we really helped discourage that. We stayed in it with our blocking. Brenna was a real force in that first set and Eve, she’s our spiritual warrior. She’s been playing with a pretty bad back the last month. For her to play the way she did the last three days, she told me, coach, just wheel me out on Sunday. I’ve got to finish this up. She was just a beast.”
 
Surinx ended the set with an absolute rocket of a line shot from the right, recording her seventh kill of the set. She hit .462 overall while setter Katreena Bentley had 14 assists and Manitoba tallied just one attack error.
 
The Carabins took leads of 6-2 and 8-4 in the second set, but Manitoba willed their way back into the lead on the strength of their versatile defence.
 
Entering the third, five different players had at least five digs, led by libero Julia Arnold’s eight, as she withstood some monster attacks from a physical Montreal front row.
 
Catojo also stood in the pocket to keep a rally going with a massive back row dig on an attack from Florence Cloutier, and Surinx later put the ball away cross-court from the left for her 12^th kill to give the Herd their first lead at 12-11.
 
It was part of a run that saw Surinx put down four straight kills, as Manitoba didn’t trail for the rest of the set.
 
Entering the third, the back to back Player of the Year had 13 kills and a .379 hitting percentage with just two errors, while Manitoba had just five attack errors as a team compared to 13 for Montreal.
 
“I just loved [Surinx’s] persistence to keep hitting under duress,” said Bentley.
 
“We talked about that all the time. She just kept pulling the trigger and had real good confidence. But she also served great and defended well. She was real confident today and got after it.”
 
An Andi Almonte roll shot gave Manitoba a 6-5 lead in set two, and they out-scored Montreal 9-4 from there, forcing a Carabins timeout. Light Uchechukwu was big during the run with three kills and an assisted block, as the Herd continued to flex their depth.
 
Manitoba had no errors in their first 15 points, with Bentley dishing the ball to everyone. Four different Bisons hit at least .400, but the Carabins withstood the barrage, coming back from six down.
 
The visitors took a 24-23 lead on an ace from Florence Cloutier, and Florence Lapointe ended the set in extras a few rallies later from the left to keep the match going. Overall, Montreal had 18 kills in the set.
 
Bedosky put down three blocks in a row in the fourth, and she and Catojo combined for five solos and 12 assisted, as Manitoba took a commanding seven point lead, and this time they kept the momentum.
 
Surinx turned it on in the latter stages of the set with three kills in a row, thanks to some great digs from Arnold and Almonte and from there, it was party city.
 
The Herd won the game on an error, securing their first national title in 11 years.

The Bisons are coming into the championship with a number of successes behind them. In 2024, the team won the program’s first Canada West Championship and followed up the feat with a bronze medal finish at the 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Uchechukwu, the team’s captain, said the team has been building its culture since they started playing together in the Junior Bisons volleyball programs. All five seniors participated in the club prior to their university debuts.

Julia Arnold and Katreena Bentley

“I think we’ve built a place where everyone cares for each other,” says fifth-year Light Uchechukwu. “We lift each other up and we play Bisons volleyball.”

“We practiced so much, and we worked so unbelievably hard in our formative years to gain the skills, teamwork and cohesion that it takes to be successful,” says fellow senior Katreena Bentley.

This season, the team who is #1 ranked Canada West and #2 ranked U SPORTS, has made a name for itself by breaking several regular-season program records, including libero Julia Arnold’s 1,333 digs and Katreena Bentley’s 2,853 assists.

“It’s really special because we’ve always played together, we’ve always worked together and for each other,” says Bentley.

Light Uchechukwu

The team will compete in the 2025 Canada West Championship Feb. 27-Mar. 1 on home court. Uchechukwu says the team, like always, will be going into each game believing they can win every single set.

“That motivates everyone else to believe that we can do this. They dig some of the most insane balls and motivate everyone to keep up.”

Head coach Ken Bentley, a six-time national champion as head coach with over 1150 career wins at the U SPORTS level, says this championship is going to be something special.

“To have a team like we have to host, I’m grateful for it,” says coach Bentley. “I never wanted to host just to host, so when we won the bid, I knew that this team would be in the prime wheelhouse of one of the teams that could win.”

Gene Muller, Director of Athletics and Recreation, says the entire community is excited to see the team play on their home court and take advantage of the home crowd.

Manitoba Bisons against the Trinity Western Spartans at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, November 15, 2019 (Dave Mahussier, Bison Sports)

“It’s truly been incredible to watch this team develop over the years and witness the incredible mark they’ve made on our volleyball program,” says Muller. “This is a powerhouse team, and I can’t wait for everyone to cheer them on and see firsthand all the hard work these amazing student-athletes have put in.”

The 2025 U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship begins Friday, Mar. 14. The Bisons make their tournament debut in Session 2 at 6 p.m. on Friday. The event will stream live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

For fans wanting to take in all the excitement of the weekend, Tournament passes are available now. Individual session tickets are also available.

Tournament Schedule

Friday, March 14

• 12 p.m. – Session #1: Quarter final 1
• 2 p.m. – Session #1: Quarter final 2
• 6 p.m. – Session #2: Quarter final 3 – Bisons first tournament appearance
• 8 p.m. – Session #2: Quarter final 4

Saturday, March 15

• 12 p.m. – Session #3: Consolation semi-final 1
• 2 p.m. – Session #3: Consolation semi-final 2
• 6 p.m. – Session #4: Championship semi-final 1
• 8 p.m. – Session #4: Championship semi-final 2

Sunday, March 16

• 1 p.m. – Session #5: Consolation final
• 3 p.m. – Session #5: Bronze medal game
• 7 p.m. – Session #6: Championship game

The official tournament draw will be released in March.

I hope you had a restful and productive break and are ready to tackle the remainder of the Winter term with your usual commitment and determination.  

We are receiving some questions from students about the bargaining process currently underway with UMFA, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty Association, that I would like to address. The university has met with UMFA twenty-nine times since the Summer term and continues to bargain in good faith, with the intention of concluding a collective agreement without a labour disruption. The university remains committed to a fair deal for UMFA and to ensuring an outstanding teaching and learning experience for students. Please be assured that the university remains open, and all classes and activities are continuing as usual.  

I encourage you to visit UM’s Labour Relations website, where the university’s new package proposal, including a strengthened monetary offer, is posted. We will continue to provide bargaining updates on that website until a new collective agreement is reached. If there are any developments that specifically affect students, we will connect with you directly.  

As you ease back into the term, I also wanted to highlight some activities taking place over the coming week. Be sure to check out the events calendar for more happenings throughout the term: 

• Pet Therapy!! – On Tuesday February 25 head to the Student Wellness Centre, 162 Extended Education Complex, between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for some cuddles with canines! 

• On Wednesday, February 26 participate in the Spiritual Care – UM Drum Circles: Winter Wellness Series from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in 521 UMSU University Centre 

• Cheer on the Bisons Women’s Volleyball team during their playoffs! Best of three starts on Thursday February 27.  

• On Friday, February 28 support the UM Food Bank while enjoying local talent at the “Rocking with a Cause” concert. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 6 p.m. 

An International graduate student townhall is scheduled for Friday, February 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m. in 544/543 UMSU University Centre. Dr. Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, representatives from the International Centre, the UM Graduate Students Association, and I will be in attendance to discuss topics of relevance to International graduate students, including off campus working hours, the family open work permit, eligibility for the post-graduation work permit, and Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs). In-person registration is now full but participation via Zoom remains available to those interested in attending. Please register here.  

Looking ahead to the next month, March 3-7 is Student Success Week, which is designed to help you maintain momentum, stay on course, and finish the Winter term successfully. Drop by info tables in the Fireside Lounge in University Centre and participate in a variety of workshops and events facilitated by the Academic Learning Centre and campus partners. Learn more and see a list of programming online. 

An important feature of Student Success Week is Procrastination Awareness Week (PAW), a national campaign that the University of Manitoba co-hosts each year with academic institutions from across Canada. In addition to both live and pre-recorded workshops, PAW includes a virtual study hall, resource library, and opportunities to socialize with students from across all participating institutions. Check out the free online workshops, presentations, and events and register online. 

UMSU’s 106^th birthday celebrations are kicking off on Monday, March 10, followed by a fun week of events and activities, concluding with the UMSU Street Party on Friday, March 14. Keep an eye on instagram.com/myumsu for details. 

As you navigate the rest of the Winter term, remember that there are many resources and student supports available to you. Be sure to check them out. 

Take good care. 

…Laurie 

“I knew coming in to the faculty there would be things I’d learn that might impact my running, but it’s been so much more than I thought,” says Tyrell Davis, a third year Bisons track and field athlete. 

Davis, in his second year of the Bachelor of Kinesiology degree program in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, says it isn’t uncommon for him to think of a question during practice, like why he was cramping so much, only to find the answer in a class or chapter. 

He says finding these tangible connections between his passion and schoolwork is helping him find more joy in the classroom. 

“Because I’ve found how I can relate to the content, I think these last two years have been my best years academic-wise,” says Davis. 

The year might also be one of Davis’ best on the track. Going into the Canada West championship this weekend, Davis is the number two ranked 60-metre athlete in U SPORTS with a time of 6.71 seconds. 

Davis says the whole team is hungry to do well not only at Canada West but also at the national championships in early March. 

“My focus right now is to just be healthy going into Canada West,” says Davis. “Sharpen everything up so that I can put a full race together.” 

Tyrell celebrates a performance with a hug from a teammate. Fellow Bisons sprinter, Jordan Soufi, looks on.

Davis is currently ranked number one in the Canada West conference, right beside fellow Bison Jordan Soufi, who is ranked number two. Davis says the team is hungry to do well not only at Canada West but also at the national championships in early March. 

“I think everyone’s working towards that goal of a national championship,” says Davis. The men’s team finished second during the 2023-24 season. He says the team feels this season might be their “best shot to get the job done.” 

The track and field team are one of several Bisons teams heading into the post-season championships with goals of bringing home some hardware. The women’s volleyball team, currently ranked first in U SPORTS, is set to host the U SPORTS Women’s Volleyball National Championship on their homecourt and is looking to go higher than their silver medal finish last year. 

“It definitely motivates everyone else to rise to the challenge of the other teams,” says Davis. “Iron sharpens iron.” 

While Davis’ attention is on the upcoming Canada West Championship, taking place Feb. 21-22 in Regina, Saskatchewan, he is looking forward to continuing his work in the classroom and see what new paths open up for the future.