BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Emily Conrad loves to meet challenges head
on. She's proving this currently with the Wilfrid Laurier
Golden Hawks women's basketball team.
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Emily Conrad has been called upon
by the Golden Hawks to step up her play in a main role
as they look to win an OUA Championship. |
Just after Christmas, the team, in the midst
of a strong, potentially championship year, suffered a huge
setback that could have proved costly, but
Sudbury's own Conrad stepped in to save the
day.
Conrad, 20, had always been an important cog
in the Laurier machine, but that role took on even more meaning
when the Golden Hawks lost their
starting veteran point guard to a knee injury
during a game after Christmas.
Conrad, also a guard, was called upon by the
coach to step up and answer the call.
Conrad did, and the Golden Hawks haven't
missed a beat as they are one of the top teams in the OUA West
Division with a 14-3 record, as of Northern Life's Friday press
deadline.
Conrad has been a big part of the team's
dominance over the competition.
"Emily has meant a lot of things to us this
season," said Golden Hawks head coach Stu Julius. "Normally,
she's a very good defensive player. We put her out against the
toughest kids we have to play against and she does a really
good job. After Christmas we lost our starting point guard to a
knee injury, so Emily has had to step up and play even more and
contribute more in different roles. She's a key part of the
puzzle for us, and she's going to continue playing a major role
for us down the line."
Conrad, in typical fashion, downplays her
sudden importance, believing she's doing exactly what any good
teammate would do.
"Our coach has high expectations of us," said
Conrad. "He will not accept anything but the best from
everyone. Our team has been great this season because we all
work hard in practice and someone always steps up when someone
else is having a bad game. When our point guard got hurt, it
opened up more playing opportunity for me. It's been good. Our
coach is big on players stepping up when others are hurt. I
feel I have responded well to the challenge."
Conrad's attitude is a refreshing element on
the squad, and one of her greatest attributes.
"Emily's main role is to counter the best
offensive player from opposing teams," said Julius. "She's
getting better and better each year. Her greatest attribute is
her super work ethic that she brings to everybody on the team.
There are times when she plays 10 minutes a game or 20 minutes
a game, and she never complains about her roles. We're glad to
have her."
Conrad, who played high school basketball
with Collège Notre Dame, is enjoying the fun, yet demanding
life of playing university basketball.
As a Sudburian, Conrad loves playing
Laurentian University, especially since she used to practice in
the Ben Avery Gymnasium as a youngster.
"We played Laurentian in Sudbury in January,
and it was fun," said Conrad. "My teammates asked me if I was
nervous, but I wasn't. My family made a big meal for the whole
team. I am always talking about Sudbury. My teammates are
always making fun of me. They say I am like that band girl from
the movie American Pie because I am always saying "this one
time in Sudbury." It would be great for me to play Laurentian
in the championship final."
