Barrington native wins major AUS rugby award

Barrington native and thirdyear Acadia University student Tomi Mccarthy has been selected as the recipient of the AUS (Atlantic University Sport) studentathlete community service award for 2018 Women’s Rugby.

Mccarthy, who began playing rugby in her senior years at Barrington Municipal High School, played prop for the Axewomen in their second game of the season on Sept. 16 at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, which they won by a commanding score of 77-17.

“Mccarthy is heavily involved in the community, volunteering her time with several causes,” reads the awards citation.

She is the co-ordinator for the youth outreach program, Rec Buddie, which helps guide at-risk youth in the Annapolis Valley area to make positive and constructive decisions and to embrace leadership roles they can take on to help other youth in the community.

Mccarthy is a leader and program organizer for Acadia’s SMILE program (Sensory Motor Instructional Learning Experience), working with children with autism to develop motor, cognitive and social learning skills.

Mccarthy also helps organize and run the Girls Night Out program within the Wolfville community where young girls are paired with female student athletes from Acadia who serve as role models. She is also involved in the Rookie Rugby initiative, working with Rugby Nova Scotia to introduce youth to the sport of rugby in a fun and engaging environment.

For her part, Mccarthy gives thanks to others for the opportunities she has.

“I’m so thankful for Acadia and the Valley’s communities for giving me the chance to do such cool stuff,” she says. “I’m happy to be given this award and excited to continue with these programs.”

Mccarthy is just the second player from the Axewomen to be honoured with this award since its inception in 2009. Acadia alumna Kelsey Brumm first took home the award in 2016, going on to claim the national honour.

Mccarthy now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the national award.