At Trent, fostering a culture of excellence is clear in our approach to academics, as well as athletics. This commitment is evident in the success of Trent’s Excalibur fencing team, which is consistently among the top-ranked university fencing teams in Canada. A significant factor in this success is the leadership provided by head coach Courtney McDonnell.  

Recently, McDonnell was selected as one of two Ontario coaches to participate in the Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program. This program provides female coaches with a unique opportunity to gain experience and mentorship in high-performance coaching at the Canada Games, one of the largest multi-sport events in the country. 

“It was an honour to represent Ontario in so many ways at Canada Games,” shared Coach McDonnell. “I gained experience with new levels of fencing and working with new coaches and athletes. It was fun trading my Trent green for Team Ontario red for the week.” 

Coach McDonnell’s selection for this program is a testament to her dedication and hard work in developing her coaching skills, as well as her commitment to advancing the role of women in sports. As a former student-athlete herself, named MVP of the Fencing team in 2012 and later the OUA Women’s Fencing Coach of the Year in 2019, McDonnell understands the importance of mentoring and providing opportunities for young women in sports.