Leblanc sticks close to home to suit up for Tommies
Paige Leblanc always envisioned staying close to home to play basketball. Playing for the Fredericton High School Black Kats throughout her high school years, the first-year guard describes herself as a “home body.”
“I think moving away from home would probably be really hard for me,” she said.
When the opportunity arose to don the green and gold, Leblanc said it was an easy choice. Head coach Fred Connors was a vice-principal at her school and was readily available to answer any questions she had, which made her decision that much simpler.
Coming into her freshman season, Leblanc prioritized her fitness and mental health to make sure she was prepared for the level of competition. Prior to meeting up with the team for a tournament in Saint John mid-summer, Leblanc focused on getting as many shots in as she could at the gym.
She said she has her high school coaches to thank for her readiness before starting her first Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) season.
“Our practices were intense and I was mentally and physically prepared, I think,” said Leblanc. “I was thankful for that because that means I don’t have to try and figure out a new way to practice.”
One of those coaches is Anthony Ashe, who is currently an assistant coach with the University of New Brunswick women’s basketball team.
“He was always the person that I went to and he always believed in me and pushed me to be better.”
After just one semester of play, Leblanc is starting to pave her way on the team and in the league. Averaging 13.6 points per game, she is her team’s second-leading scorer and sits at seventh in the league in points, as of Jan. 19.
“I’m a first-year, but I try to be a leader in different ways,” said Leblanc, adding that the new players on the team all help each other out.
Like many athletes, one of Leblanc’s largest struggles came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she couldn’t always practice with teammates or play any games. The feelings of isolation and frustration led to a lack of confidence, which left her feeling like she was “losing the love a little bit.”
When her Grade 12 season rolled around, Leblanc was ready to play again and believed the difficult period was crucial for her development.
“I feel like it’s important to have those moments to grow and learn from,” said Leblanc.
Introducing Tim Hortons’ most loyal customer…
When Brenton Romanchuk was deciding where to play volleyball, it was his brother who told him to “go see something new, it’s about the experience.”
The experience he chose? Moving all the way from his bison farm in Dewberry, Alta., to play for the winningest men’s volleyball team in ACAA history, the STU Tommies.
Volleyball wasn’t always at the forefront of Romanchuk’s commitments. It wasn’t until it became clear that volleyball was where he excelled and would provide him with the most opportunities, that he gave up hockey and basketball.
His first taste of the sport came by accompanying his mother to the gym when she coached senior women’s volleyball.
“I don’t know if it was just the noise or the culture, just the sound of balls getting hit,” said Romanchuk. “Something about it, even just the smell of the gym.”
He joined his first team in Grade 5 and continued every season, playing for North Battleford in his U18 year before coming to STU.
Romanchuk has played every position throughout the years, from setter to libero to middle, finding his stride playing right side in high school, which is his position with the Tommies.
On court, he describes himself as someone who likes to save his energy and get energetic in tense moments, but “keep ‘er level” throughout the game, staying calm and composed when he needs to.
At this point in the season, the Tommies find themselves in the middle of the ACAA pack, but Romanchuk says the team shows great potential.
“It’ll just come down to that final weekend,” he said. “We’d like to punch our ticket to B.C.”
So far, Romanchuk is content with his choice to make the trek to Fredericton for his education. The psychology major hopes to get into sports counseling when he graduates, but for now he’s enjoying the community feel of St. Thomas.
“I love going to Tim’s every morning and they already know my order,” he said.
Not only does he enjoy the atmosphere at the Sir James Dunn Hall Tim Hortons, but at home, watching Cops with teammate Raphael Fiset and at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym, where the Tommies practice and play.
“I think playing in the pit is really cool,” said Romanchuk. “It’s obviously a weird gym. It’s old and it’s not ours, but there’s something about it that just feels like home, away from home.”
