Claire Daugulis helps lead Mustangs figure skating team to 3rd OUA victory

Photo courtesy of Claire Daugulis

For the third year in a row, Claire Daugulis and her teammates on the Western Mustangs figure skating team have earned top honors at the OUA Figure Skating Championships. Adding to the team total of nine medals at the event, Daugulis and partner Catherine McLean were awarded gold for their performance in the Junior Similar Dance category.

“The championship this year was an amazing experience, our team really bonded and we were all in it together. The level of competition put out by the other teams was the highest I have ever seen at the varsity level, so we really had to fight for it,” said Daugulis. “In the end, the team stepped it up and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of it.”

Daugulis has been a member of the Mustangs figure skating team for all four years of her undergraduate career, and was proud to be voted as team co-captain for the last two years. Last year, she was the recipient of the Bronze W award at the Mustangs athletic banquet, and also won gold at the OUA Championships along with McLean.

Outside of her varsity experience, Daugulis has had many opportunities to skate both competitively and professionally. She represented Canada at the ISU Junior World Championships in 2002 along with Bryce Davidson, and also toured with Disney on Ice throughout the United States, Southeast Asia and Australia before entering university.

“Hearing my own name as representing Canada on the ice was something I will never forget. It is a feeling that is hard to describe but it was really something to be able to represent my country,” said Daugulis. “My experience touring with Disney was amazing; I got to see so much of the world while doing something that I love to do. I will always remember that the places I had the opportunity to see and the friends I met while touring.”

Daugulis is currently completing her final semester of study at King’s and will graduate with honors in Sociology a minor in Criminology. She has been thoroughly satisfied with her decision to attend King’s and says she could not imagine attending university anywhere else.

“I love that King's is a small, intimate community and the fact that almost every professor knows my name and what I do outside of class,” says Daugulis. “It puts a personal touch on my academic life and makes me feel valued as a student here.”

Next year, Daugulis looks forward to beginning post-graduate studies in Public Relations at Western Continuing Studies or Sport and Event Marketing at George Brown College. She hopes to stay active in figure skating through coaching opportunities.

For more information on the Western Mustangs please visit: http://westernmustangs.ca/index.aspx