Never give up!
Some people have to overcome more obstacles than others to reach their goals. McMaster basketball star Lindsay DeGroot would fall in that category.
Born in tiny Thedford, Ont., population 800, DeGroot had to make the 90-minute bus ride to St. Christopher's High School twice each day for three years in order to square off against superior competition. It was well worth the trip, as the talented multi-sport athlete won Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) gold medals in high jump, long jump and relay while claiming Lambton conference titles in soccer, volleyball and basketball.
During her second year at St. Christopher's, however, DeGroot lost her mother, Nancy, to cancer. A devastating loss, but one that only made her more motivated.
After being invited to the Canadian junior team training camp in 2000, the five-foot-10 guard received scholarship offers from over 50 universities before electing to attend Eastern Michigan in the fall of 2003. Despite a successful freshman season that saw her average 12 minutes per game, she decided to return closer to home and transferred to McMaster, where she would reunite with high school teammates Chiara Rocca and Jenna Garbaty.
After sitting out the entire 2004-05 season in order to respect CIS transfer rules, DeGroot was finally ready to launch her CIS career in 2005-06. She was leading the Marauders in rebounding and was second in scoring after nine games when disaster struck. While going up for an uncontested lay-up in practice, DeGroot saw her season come to an abrupt end when she tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament in her right knee.
"Frustrating is an understatement," she told the Hamilton Spectator at the time.
Fortunately for her and for the Marauders, DeGroot more than made up for lost time over the past two years. Fully recovered from her injury, she was named a first-team all-Canadian both seasons, guided McMaster to back-to-back 21-1 campaigns and this year led her team to the OUA title and a bronze medal at the national championship, equalling the school's best-ever CIS finish from 1989-90.
"Lindsay has had to overcome many obstacles and that has just helped increase her leadership and positive attitude. She's illustrated the greatest amount of commitment, devotion and loyalty any player could give a team," Rocca said.
DeGroot’s Accomplishments: |
