College Days

Leaving the Sault to head to the University of Western Ontario was extremely tough even though my older sisters, Connie and Maria, already lived in London.  I was pretty shy and being in a big school, not knowing anyone, was an adjustment to say the least.  I missed home a lot.

I played varsity basketball although to be frank I mostly sat the bench.  I worked as hard as I could; replaying the words of my dad, “you only get out of it what you put in to it.”  I believed I was putting as much as I could into training and worked hard at practice, but it never seemed to be enough.  It wasn’t until much later in life that I realized why it didn’t work for me.  My heart was not in it.

I left Western and headed to Fanshawe College where I applied to Fitness and Health Promotion.  I quickly realized that Fanshawe was where I belonged.  I had the opportunity to play varsity basketball with my sisters Nancy and Maria and was coached by a wonderful, crazy man - Pete Campbell.  It was at Fanshawe where I met the love of my life, my husband Bill.  I often tell the story about my first tryout, sitting on B-gym floor and how Bill rolled a basketball over to me.  Love at first sight, without a doubt!  Within the first few weeks of the course, I knew this is what I was meant to do.  To think of making a living doing something I was so passionate about filled me with excitement and to play a game that I loved was a dream come true. 

After graduating, Bill and I remained at Fanshawe to coach the varsity Women’s team for seven years.  Each season, our passion for the game grew stronger, but it was time to start our own team; it was time to have a family.