Wesmen Athletics
Stromberg Named Tracey MacLeod Award Nominee
Fifth year player, Jessica Stromberg was named the Canada West WBB nominee for the Tracey MacLeod Award..
The University of Winnipeg Wesmen and the Canada West Universities Athletic Association are pleased to announce that women's basketball player Jessica Stromberg has been named the Canada West Women's Basketball nominee for the Tracy MacLeod Award.
Jessica Stromberg, is the Canada West Conference nominee for Tracy MacLeod Award as the player who best demonstrates exceptional courage in overcoming adversity. This past year Stromberg appeared in all 18 regular and two post season games for the Wesmen. Her determination led her to being one of the top rebounders in Canada West. An Academic All-Canadian all five years, Stromberg has also been a strong voice in the community. She has coached in the Jr. Wesmen program, the TMO Basketball School, been a guest coach with Inner City programs and represented the Wesmen in the local schools during “Learn to Read” month as a guest reader.Early in Stromberg’s CIS career she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia; a chronic fatigue/pain disorder that in most people consumes their everyday life. From the time she wakes until she goes back to bed each night her body is in a constant struggle to function pain free. General movements are a struggle and she fights to get the range of motion and strength she needs to not only play the demanding sport of basketball, but to also sit through classes and labs in her academic pursuit of a pre-med science degree. Jessica has always been strong willed and once she found out how to deal with the fibromyalgia she can be seen working hard in each game and practice. At times throughout her career the athletic therapy staff has asked her to rest because of her condition and the many other injuries she has had along the way and while she reluctantly complies, it is most difficult for her as she feels she is letting her team down.
“The daily grind of training, practicing and school is very demanding on the average player. For Jessica, suffering with fibromyalgia, each day is painful. In the five years I have coached Jessica, she has never quit once. She has done whatever was needed to have herself in practice and be ready for games, which often means extra hours in the athletic therapy clinic before and after practices and games. The courage and determination that Jessica has displayed to compete each day is a testament to her will”, stated Wesmen head coach Tanya McKay.
Stromberg was the Canada West Conference nominee for the award in 2007-08.
