U of A Athletes Sweep 2026 U Sports Awards
Volleyball and track stars Abby Guezen and Ryder Rattee both named athlete of the year, making it the second such double sweep.
The University of Alberta claimed both top U Sports athlete-of-the-year honours Wednesday, becoming only the second university in recent memory to sweep the prestigious awards.
Volleyball player Abby Guezen was named female athlete of the year after leading the Pandas to an 18-2 record, a Canada West championship, and Alberta's first national women's volleyball title in nearly 20 years. Sprinter Ryder Rattee earned male athlete of the year after an undefeated individual season despite a lingering back injury — and set a new U Sports record in the 300 metres along the way.
Rattee claimed three titles at nationals. His performance was remarkable given the persistent injury he carried through the season, underscoring both his determination and his pure speed.
The last time a single university claimed both awards was 2012, when McGill's Ann-Sophie Bettez and Marc-André Dorion won. Winners receive a $5,000 scholarship, a trophy, and a commemorative ring.
U Sports encompasses nearly 15,000 student-athletes competing across 58 Canadian universities. For Edmonton, it's a significant achievement — and a sign of the athletic pipeline the university is building.