THUNDER BAY – The Leashja Grant era at Lakehead University officially came to an end on Saturday afternoon.
The two-time Ontario University Athletics women’s basketball most valuable player added more hardware to her ever-growing collection, named the school’s female athlete of the year for the second straight season.
Grant, who plans to sign a contract in the next couple of weeks to continue her career overseas, a move she hopes leads to a chance at a shot at the WNBA, also picked up the Argus Award for her outstanding contributions to Lakehead athletics.
It was a great way to end her Thunderswolves career, the Bahamian-born forward said.
“I’m very humble. I’m just so appreciative of this moment. I’m just soaking it up,” said Grant, adding the annual awards banquet means it’s finally starting to hit home that the chapter in her life has all but come to a close.
“After the awards, I can’t believe it. I wish I’d spent my entire five years here, but everything happens or a reason.”
Out of high school, Grant joined the NCAA’s Texas Tech Red Raiders, but visa issues denied her the chance to return to the United States to continue her studies.
When LU coach Jon Kreiner came calling, she leapt at the chance to continue her basketball career. It’s a move that benefited both player and team.
Grant led the OUA in scoring and rebounds in back-to-back season and led Lakehead to No. 6 in the rankings.
“I didn’t think I was going to be as successful after taking a year off and after such devastation and not opening up to people and not allowing coaches to coach me. I was so shattered, but I’m glad I broke out of that and I was able to help Lakehead,” said Grant, who is not sure exactly where in Europe she’ll be playing next season.
Grant wasn’t the only back-to-back winner at the awards ceremony, held at the LU Outpost.
Thunder Bay wrestler Marco Palermo, who won gold at the U Sport wrestling championships, took home male athlete of the year honours for the second straight season.
Palermo, who is eyeing the world championships and the Olympic trials later this year, said it was amazing to be honoured by his hometown university.
“Last year I got third at (nationals) and I felt like I had to redeem myself. It was an extra challenge this year because I went up a weight class, but I was able to get that gold, so it was really a big accomplishment for me,” Palermo said.
Hockey’s Tomas Soustal and basketball’s Alston Harris shared male rookie of the year honours, while skier Shaylynn Loewen took home the female freshman trophy.
Departing guard Nick Burke of the resurgent men’s basketball team and volleyball star Jessica Korchak shared the Hank Akervall Memorial Award.
Nordic Skiing
- Rookie of the year (female) – Shaylynn Loewen
- Rookie of the year (male) – Malcolm Thompson
- Most valuable player (female) – Alannah Maclean
- Most valuable player (male) – Conor McGovern
Wrestling
- Rookie of the year (female) – Erin Clayton
- Rookie of the year (male) – Alex Richer
- Most valuable player (female) – Madison Clayton
- Most valuable player (male) – Marco Palermo
- Frank Schaller Award – Brody Evans and Megan Smith
Cross Country
- Most valuable runner (female) – Rebekkah Pyle
- Most valuable runner (male) – Jonathan Stoppa
Track and Field
- Most valuable runner (female, track) – Rebekkah Pyle
- Most valuable runner (male, track) – William McDonough
Women’s Volleyball
- Rookie of the year – Virginia Franks
- Coach’s Award – Clara Temoin
- Corrine Kollman Award – Rachel Sweezey
- Most improved player – Sydney Elliot
- Most valuable player – Rheanna Geisel
Men’s Basketball
- Most improved player – Zanyah Jones
- Best defensive players – Lock Lam
- Rookie of the year – Alston Harris
- Most valuable player – Nick Burke and Isaiah Traylor
Men’s Hockey
- Rookie of the year – Tomas Soustal
- Best offensive player – Daniel Del Pagio
- Best work ethic – Brennan Dubchak
- Best defensive player – Callum Fryer
- Most valuable player – Dylan Butler
Women’s Basketball
- Rookie of the year – Sofia Ainsa Lluch
- Most improved player – Tianna Warwick-Dawkins
- Best defensive player – Tiffany Reynolds
- Amanda Nesbitt Award – Karissa Kajorinne
- Most valuable player – Leashja Grant
OUA All-Stars
- First team – Leashja Grant, Madison Clayton, Marco Palermo
- Second team – Rebekkah Pyle, Rheanna Geisel, Ashley Gravelle, Jesse Leach
- Third team – Nikki Ylagan
- All-rookie – Sofia Ainsa Lluch
- Nordic Skiing – Noah Thompson, Geoff WayNee, Gavin Shields, Erika Mihel, Alannah Maclean, Shaylynn Loewen, Conor McGovern, Malcolm Thompson
U Sport All-Canadian – Leashja Grant
