After more than 30 years since its start, UFV’s athletics department inducted their inaugural Hall of Fame class on Friday. Inductees were chosen for one of three categories: builders, athletes, or teams. The five inductees included former athletic director Jane Antil, former basketball coach Pat Lee, women’s basketball athletes Carolyne Lucy and Tracy MacLeod, and the 1987-88 men’s basketball team.
Tracy McLeod – Women’s Basketball 1990-1992
What did you enjoy about your time at UFV?
Basically, just the team that we had and the coaching that was going on. We had some great coaches and the comradery. We had a good bunch of girls and we were all really driven basketball players and that worked really, really well. It’s really just the people that we were surrounded with and going to practice with every single day, the community atmosphere, the campus. I remember loving the fact that we spend a lot of time talking in the commons. In between classes we would sit and everybody would come to the commons and we would sit and talk on the couches. And then on the road it’s all about bonding and being together and eating together. It was always team suppers and we always traveled together and it was always the guys and girls together. I loved the atmosphere and I loved being able to connect that way. It’s a blast.
What was your favourite moment throughout your time at UFV?
Definitely going to nationals in 1992. That was my second year and we got the silver medal, so going to nationals was huge. We went down to Forest Grove, Oregon too and we just had a blast going down there. I remember this trip like it was yesterday because we were talking to the girls after the game and they were like, ‘You guys have jeans on?’ And we said ‘Yeah.’ They asked, ‘Did you stop and go shopping while you were here?’ and we said ‘No, we just came, we were worried about time and it took us a little while to get down there. We asked why and they said, ‘Our coach told us not to laugh at how you guys were going to be dressed. Our coach told us that you were going to be coming in toques and mukluks and big huge parkas.’ I think they thought we were going to be Inuit people. That was seriously one of the bonding moments of our trips, just how we chuckled and laughed. We all totally remember that and we were flabbergasted, and we kicked their butts too on top of that — pretty good for dog sledders and seal clubbers. That was a memorable moment, going down to the States and being asked cultural questions, and having the experience of going and playing in the U.S., that was cool too. That and going to nationals. We had some awesome girls on the team and we were all hams too. We’d get the job done on the court and everything, we were ballers, but we were funny and we enjoyed each other’s company and just talked with each other and bugged each other. We were a family; we were a bunch of sisters.
What does it mean to you to be a member of the Hall of Fame?
It is so cool, especially with how my story ended. I feel totally privileged because all through my high school career, I wanted to be a starter on a university team. That was my goal and I was very driven towards that goal and I wanted to reach that goal. I ended up doing that. I was so shocked but it was such an awesome surprise because it was me being acknowledged for everything that I worked hard to do, and to become and to strive for. I honestly had no idea, I don’t remember being named to the all-conference teams. To know that I had the highest scoring record that no one had beat, it was shocking and it was such a huge honour, but I didn’t really realize how good I was I think. It’s such an amazing feeling. Everybody there that met me and introduced themselves to me really brought home just what an amazing institution you guys have, and you have such an amazing culture there. Everybody supports everybody and it’s genuine. It just reaffirmed that I made the right choice in going to college before university, and I made the right choice of colleges, and I did work hard and I got recognized for my hard work and my achievements, and that I did my job for you guys and the institution.
Carolyne Lucy – Women’s Basketball 1985-1988
What did you enjoy about your time at UFV?
Being a Cascade meant representing the Fraser Valley and the many talented women basketball players we had and still have.
What was your favourite moment throughout your time at UFV?
When you love playing a sport like basketball, having the opportunity to play at UFV was extremely important and the relationships / friendships you build. The best was making it to the nationals in our very first year. You don’t realize at the moment how special that was until you look back at that accomplishment. Being a student athlete is a lot of hard work but extremely rewarding. It was also fun traveling with a bunch of cute guys on the men’s team.
What does it mean to you to be a member of the Hall of Fame?
Being inducted to the Hall of Fame is a huge honour especially at the same time as coach Lee who made UFV basketball what it is today at the school. UFV is a great institution for all students and student athletes, my time at the school learning and playing basketball was a memorable time I will never forget.
Pat Lee – Men’s Basketball Coach 1995 – 2007
What did you enjoy about your time at UFV?
It was fun to be able to recruit the kind of players you wanted, and I found it a new challenge to coach at a university level. I was already in Abbotsford and had already coached younger grades, but at this level you had the opportunity to recruit and go and watch them play and build the team you wanted.
What was your favourite moment throughout your time at UFV?
For me, it’s not about the wins, it’s the journey, it’s what happens along the way. It’s getting to know the players and watching them form lifelong bonds. Those are the moments that stand out to me the most over my time there. To bring a team in and watch them work together and become friends.
What does it mean to you to be a member of the Hall of Fame?
I don’t like to bring fame or glory to myself but it was very nice of them to bring us back like that. It was quite an honour. I would have liked them to highlight more of the players but I was really grateful to be honoured.
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
UFV Cascades History Timeline
1983 – Men’s Basketball established
1985 – Women’s Basketball established
1987 – Men’s Soccer established
1989 – Women’s Soccer established
1992 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA silver medal
1994 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA silver medal
1995 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA silver medal
1996 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA silver medal
1997 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA bronze medal
2000 – Men’s and Women’s Rowing established
Men’s Basketball wins PacWest championships, CCAA championships, and CCAA gold medal
2001 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA silver medal
2002 – Men’s Basketball wins PacWest championships, CCAA championships, and CCAA gold medal
2003 – Men’s Golf established
2004 – Men’s and Women’s Volleyball established
Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA bronze medal
Men’s Basketball wins PacWest championships, CCAA championships, and CCAA gold medal
2005 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA silver medal
2006 – Women’s Basketball wins PacWest championships and CCAA bronze medal
2007 – Men’s Golf wins CCAA bronze medal
2008 – Men’s Golf wins PacWest championships and CCAA bronze medal
2009 – Men’s Golf wins PacWest championships
2010 – Women’s Soccer wins Canada West gold medal and U Sports bronze medal
Men’s Golf wins CCAA silver medal
2011 – Men’s Golf wins CCAA bronze medal
2012 – Men’s Basketball wins Canada West silver medal
Men’s Golf wins PacWest championships
Women’s Volleyball wins CCAA bronze medal
2013 – Women’s Basketball wins Canada West bronze medal
Women’s Volleyball wins PacWest championships, CCAA championships, and CCAA gold medal
2014 – Women’s Soccer wins Canada West silver medal
