Full CIS release available here: http://english.cis-sic.ca/sports/cis_news/2013-14/releases/top8
 
OTTAWA – Western Mustangs wrestler Steven Takahashi was announced earlier today as one of Canadian Interuniversity Sport's Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2012-2013 season.
 
In order to achieve Academic All-Canadian status students must maintain an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one - or more - of their university's varsity teams. 132 Western student-athletes received Academic All-Canadian status for 2012-13, more than any other CIS institution.
 
Among all of this year's 2,695 Academic All-Canadians eight, one male and one female from each of the four CIS regional associations, are selected to make up the Top 8. Takahashi and the seven other Top 8 members will be honoured at Rideau Hall in Ottawa later this fall.
 
To say that Steven Takahashi has had a stellar start to his university wrestling career would be an understatement. The native of London, Ont., whose father, Ray, was a two-time Olympian in the sport, was crowned individual champion in his weight class in each of his first three appearances at the OUA and CIS championships, while helping the Western men capture a pair of conference team titles and two CIS bronze medals. Despite being only 21 years old, he already possesses extensive international experience, including the Pan American Games, junior world championships and Universiade.
 
Takahashi also excelled in the classroom since he arrived on the London campus, earning recognition on the Dean's List and as a CIS Academic All-Canadian in each of the past three years. A recipient of numerous academic accolades over the years, he shows an 83.56 per cent average in his kinesiology program and is expected to graduate next June.
 
With his father being his coach at Western, the younger Takahashi is following in his footsteps and is a volunteer coach with the London-Western Wrestling Club.
 
"Since arriving at Western three years ago, Steven has represented the university and the Mustangs program as the epitome of what a student-athlete should be," says director of athletics Thérèse Quigley. "Steven's success in the CIS wrestling ranks is virtually unmatched and he has been just as successful in the classroom."