OUA recognizes Katie Goggins as influential woman

Laurentian University basketball star Katie Goggins is being recognized by the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) as a woman of influence.

Goggins is one of the top university female scholar-athletes who will be honoured at the eighth annual Women of Influence Luncheon on March 2 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement. This year's guest speaker will be tennis star Venus Williams.

Goggins, a Hanmer native, just finished a five-year career with the Lady Vees basketball team. The guard was named to the CIS All Rookie Team in her first year at Laurentian and was also named the OUA East Rookie of the Year. Goggins was named an OUA East Second-Team All-Star last season, and was on pace to record more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 350 assists and 250 steals in her last year, according to an article posted on OUA.ca.

She also maintained an over 80 per cent average throughout her academic career at Laurentian University. A four time CIS Academic All-Canadian, the kinesiology student earned a Leadership Scholarship in her first year of her program and has maintained her average to receive the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship all four years of her career.

In the OUA.ca article, Goggins listed her proudest athletic achievement as achieving the 500-rebound milestone this season, despite only being 5-5. “Entering University I was always told I was too small and I would not be an effective university player,” she said. “I enjoy a challenge and I think attaining 500 rebounds while playing with Cassandra Carpenter, Darrah Bumstead and Lisa Furchner is a huge achievement.

As for the future, Goggins said she isn't completely set on her route after Laurentian, but plans to complete her Masters in Human Kinetics and physiotherapy, and has also applied for medical school.

“I’m also not sure if I’m ready to be done playing basketball, so I am looking into some other options for that as well,” she said.