CALGARY – Calgary’s St. Mary University may be a small school, but the women’s basketball team is making some big waves this season.
And a lot of the players credit a teammate who’s carrying on after being told she might never play again.
Heading into the final weekend of play before the Christmas break, the St. Mary’s Lightning have 7 wins, with only one loss.
It’s a record good enough to earn them their first ever national ranking, now sitting at 14th out of about 100 teams across Canada.
One of the team leaders is 28-year-old Kassie Harkema, back in action after a car accident ten years ago left her brain injured.
Doctors said her basketball days might be done, but Harkema didn’t give up, gradually developing her skills again.
Her younger teammates have nick-named her the “Team Mom”, saying she’s always there for them to talk to, doing nice things like buying popcorn for them all during road trips.
Harkema, who’s also a real mom with 2 young children, enjoys her role on the team.
“School, basketball, kids: it’s 24/7,” she said. “I told everyone if I’m doing this, anyone can do it. You guys can all just accomplish what you want”.