Keshia Wallin capped off an impressive University of Alberta career as the female athlete of the year.
“It’s a huge award,” said the Pandas’ soccer player from St. Albert. “It was probably the best way to finish off my fifth year. It’s been an amazing experience playing at the U of A and I’m just really happy to be going out on a high note like that.”
At the 2010/11 Green and Gold Athletic Awards on Friday, Wallin was presented with the prestigious Bakewell Trophy, awarded since 1948 to the top female athlete who exhibits athletic prowess, leadership, character and academic ability.
“When they announced my name I was just in complete shock. I couldn’t believe it,” said the St. Albert Catholic High School graduate. “Looking at the competition, it was an athlete pretty much from every sport. There were nine other girls that were up for the same award, so I was very, very surprised that I won it.”
The magnitude of the moment triggered a tsunami of memories.
“Going through all the memories I’ve had with all of my teammates and all the great experiences and opportunities I’ve had with the team, it was definitely a moment just to sit back and watch it all play out,” Wallin said. “It was like taking a step back and just appreciating all the U of A has provided for me with academics and athletics. Overall it was just a great experience full of emotion.”
Wallin is only the third player from the Pandas’ soccer program to win the award and the first since Nicole Chapdelaine in 2002.
“The competition is fierce with so many outstanding athletes at the University of Alberta,” said Pandas’ head coach Liz Jepsen. “I was overwhelmed with pride for Keshia’s recognition. She has worked hard and dedicated herself to the process. She is the latest sister Panda to leave a legacy in the U of A soccer program.”
In her last year with the Pandas, the left defensive back went out with a bang as the Canada West MVP and CIS First-Team All-Canadian.
“I was probably more shocked winning Can West MVP than the U of A most outstanding female of the year. It doesn’t really happen that often for a defender to get MVP so to have defence receive accolades like that was really special,” said Wallin, who scored four goals and added three assists in 14 games in conference play this season.
The Alberta Major Soccer League player with Edmonton Victoria was also the Canada West nominee for the Chantal Navert Memorial Award for CIS player of the year honours. The winner was Veronique Laverdiere, a fifth-year striker with the Montreal Carabins and Wallin’s teammate on Team Canada at the 2009 World University Summer Games.
“Playing for Team Canada and putting on your country’s colours was an amazing experience,” said Wallin, who is a candidate to play for Canada at the 2011 Universiade in China. “I would say playing for Team Canada was probably the highlight of my university career, absolutely.”
Wallin, 22, joined the Pandas in 2006 as their top-ranked recruit. She went on to become a CIS Academic All-Canadian twice (2008, 2010) and was named Canada West second team all-star three times (2006, 2008, 2009) and first team all-star in 2010.
“I saw in Keshia something special and felt with dedication to the process, she would become a pivotal player for the squad. Athletically, she has become one of the most recognized student-athletes in the University of Alberta Pandas’ soccer program,” Jepsen said. “Keshia has been a great contributor right from her start as a fierce defender with a competitive spirit. From her debut, she battled and made a difference against some of the best strikers in the CIS. Over her time in the program, she grew her defensive prowess to be both a technician and tactician on the field.
“By her fourth year, Keshia was a player of enormous attacking and defending presence on the field. This led not only to success with the Pandas but also to a starter on the 2009 FISU games team in Serbia.
“Over this last season, we spoke of the gold level standard and Keshia completely embraced this by taking a tremendous leadership role with the team. She was a motivator that knit the team together in times of extreme competitiveness while continuing to make substantial contributions in the defensive side of the game with game-changing stops and in the attack with timely goals and assists. Her spirit and drive was a key factor in this year’s overall success.”
After playing high school soccer and volleyball with the Skyhawks, Wallin cracked the Pandas’ starting line-up in her rookie season and never looked back.
“I was fortunate enough to be a starter in my first year and I was the only rookie on the field. I think I’ve missed in all of my five years maybe three games and they were due to injury,” said Wallin, who has already completed her bachelor of commerce degree in accounting and has hooked up with KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. “Overall with my athletic career, it’s been a big development. I’m just so happy that I had so many opportunities come from being a Pandas’ soccer player.”
