THUNDER BAY – By Christmas, Lakehead University’s female athlete of the year was all but wrapped up.
Leashja Grant, the Bahamian import brought in with much fanfare over the summer, was living up to her expectations, a record-setting double-double machine who really had no equal in Canada.
Grant led the Thunderwolves into the second round of the OUA playoffs, went on to win the league’s most valuable player award and was a first-team all-Canadian.
On Saturday it was her school’s turn to recognize her, at the annual athletic awards banquet at the Bora Laskin School of Law.
Grant said she had no expectations of just how great a fit she’d be at Lakehead, having lost out on her NCAA dream when visa problems denied her re-entry into the United States.
“You go everywhere and you just want to fit in. I think that’s the ultimate goal is to fit in and to prove yourself,” Grant said.
Did she ever.
Grant posted double-doubles in all but one of the 26 regular season and playoffs games she appeared in, led the OUA with 22.3 points per game and averaged 14.1 rebounds, again tops in the league as the Wolves finished 16-8, third in the OUA West.
It’s an incredible honour, Grant said.
“It’s a privilege and I’m just grateful for the opportunity because I went up against a lot of other great athletes here in Thunder Bay,” said Grant, who listed Jylisa Williams, the 2015 winner of the award, as someone she looks up to with admiration.
“I’m pretty excited.”
Thunder Bay’s Marco Palermo took home male athlete of the year honours, the wrestler winning on the strength of a silver medal performance at the OUA championship and bronze at the USport championship.
He also captured top spot in the Ontario juniors.
“I didn’t really expect it. I had some troubles this year,” he said.
Still, it’s a special honour from his hometown school.
“It’s great to represent Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay has a great community. The coaches are great, my teammates are great and my friends, it’s just awesome,” Palermo said.
Hockey’s Scott Gall earned male rookie of the year honours, after leading the team in scoring as a freshman, scoring 12 times to go with seven assists, dressing for all 28 OUA contests.
He was thrilled to be called up on stage.
“It’s a great honour,” he said. “It’s humbling.”
Track and field’s Rebekka Pyle grabbed the female freshman of the year trophy.
Other major awards included Dylan Butler and Rheanna Geisel capturing the Argus Award and basketball’s Jerika Baldin and Mor Menashe, joint winners of the Hank Akervall Award.
