By Emad Agahi (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: March 27, 2013
“Starting at guard, at five-foot-seven from Chilliwack, British Columbia … Alexa McCarthy!”
Fans of the UFV women’s basketball team grew accustomed to hearing these words from the announcer this past season. The fourth-year kinesiology student started 19 games for the Cascades in 2012/13 and played in 25 of the team’s 29 games. Her all-around contributions on the court played a big role in the team’s achievement of a 21-8 record. While her team suffered an early exit in the national championship tournament last weekend, McCarthy was still able to achieve national recognition by the CIS at the season’s end.
Each year the CIS Women’s Basketball Coaching Association awards a player with the Sylvia Sweeney Award. This award is given to the player who best exhibits success in basketball, academics and service to the community. This year’s recipient was none other than UFV’s own, Alexa McCarthy. “I was surprised to find out, but [I] really appreciate any time I can represent my teammates and coaches in a positive way,” McCarthy stated on her reaction to the winning the award.
With the time that needs to be put into course work, basketball practices and travel to and from games, the life of a student athlete can be daunting for most. Not for McCarthy, who is able to not only balance her schedule to succeed in academics and basketball, but also spend countless hours of her time helping others in the community. Her major involvement in programs such as “Shoot for the Cure,” “Operation Red Nose,” and the “Walk and Knock” food bank drive had already earned her the UFV Athletics Community Service Award three times.
After winning the Sylvia Sweeney Award many more people from around the CIS will now be able to appreciate McCarthy’s efforts. As for McCarthy herself, helping other in the community is something she feels is necessary to do; the recognition is just a bonus.
“To be honest” McCarthy says, “it seems a bit odd to be recognized for doing things I feel so strongly about and that seem like the right thing to do.”
Certainly she has set the standard in student-athlete accomplishment. Commitment like McCarthy’s shows there is so much more a student can bring to his or her university and community, outside the classroom or the playing field.
