Page 12 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 90

Home for the Summer!!

Cornwall and area post-secondary athletes

By Staff Writer

Name: Kaitlyn McLaughlin

C ornwall’s Kaitlyn McLaughlin will be starting her second year of biology at Algoma

University this fall. Whether on campus in Sault St. Marie or studying from home will
depend on where the province is relative to the COVID pandemic.
“I had originally chosen Algoma University because I fell in love with their biology program
and how small the community is. After being offered both an academic and athletic scholarship,
I decided it was fate and chose to pursue my dream of studying biology while playing basketball
as a shooting guard,” says this 18-year-old St. Joe’s graduate.
As a student athlete, Kaitlyn usually spends every day from the end of August to the beginning
of February practicing and training. “My overall experience so far with post-secondary athletics
has been very exciting, yet educational. I have learned many life lessons and am thrilled to
continue this journey,” she says.
Her favourite experience so far is defeating the number one ranked OUA team, something that
had never been accomplished by Algoma.
“My plan is to play university basketball for 5 years and obtain my bachelor’s degree in biology. Afterwards, I plan to attend veterinarian school
to become a vet or to pursue a career in research with animals,” she says.
For Kaitlyn, the best part about being home for the summer is spending quality time with her family and friends and working part time to
earn money for school. “Sadly,” says Kaitlyn, “when discussing COVID-19, my school has decided that all sports will be cancelled until at least
December 31, 2020, and classes will be online. They are looking into extending the basketball season from January to May, but nothing has been
confirmed.”

By Staff Writer
Name: Brianna Hill

T wenty-year old Brianna Hill grew up in Falmouth, Nova Scotia, and moved to Long Sault
this year. She graduated from secondary at St. Paul’s, a boarding school in New Hampshire,
with the class of 2018. Currently, Brianna plays center for the Williams College women’s varsity
ice hockey team in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
“I am going into my junior year,” says Brianna. “I am a double major in mathematics and
economics with a concentration in science and technology studies.” She chose Williams College
because it has a phenomenal hockey program and is also incredible academically. “It is the
number one ranked liberal arts school in the United States. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to
play for such an amazing hockey team and get the education of a lifetime.”
Brianna’s athletic regimen keeps her busy. “In the off season we skate twice a week, condition
twice week, and lift three times a week,” she says. “In season we practice every weekday then
play on weekends, and we lift 2-3 times a week.” And then there’s the work she puts into her
double major.
So far, her post-secondary experience has been nothing short of amazing. “I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to play hockey after
high school,” she says. In terms of a favourite memory, she’s hard-pressed to pick any single one: “If I had to choose, I would say it’s my freshman
year when we won NESCAC’s (our league) and played in the NCAA tournament.”
Brianna plans to play in Europe for one or two years after college, and then return
for grad school, after which she will pursue a career in finance for a major bank. In the meantime, she’s happy to be home. “Each summer, I look
forward to spending time with my parents,” she says. “I have a younger sister who plays hockey and is away as well. We went to the same high
school, but since I graduated, we haven’t gotten to see each other as much, so it is really nice that during the summers we get to hang out again all
the time. She will be attending Dartmouth College this fall and playing on their varsity ice hockey team.”
What she’ll do in September will be decided on July 1. “Our school will make a decision on whether or not we return in the fall. There hasn’t
been any discussion about returning to play just yet, but I’m sure it’ll follow shortly after that decision.”

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