Andria Carlyon has added yet another accolade to her resume.
Carlyon, who two weeks ago helped lead her Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) Wolves team to the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference’s (ACAC) Women’s basketball championship, has been named the Canadian Colleges Athletics Association (CCAA) Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
She received the award March 16 in Welland, Ont. where her team was competing at the CCAA national championships. The Wolves started the tournament by downing Halifax’s Mount Saint Vincent University 68-65, before falling to Ottawa’s Algonquin College 57-45 in the semi-finals.
“It’s a bit overwhelming,” she said about winning the award. “It’s a high award and I never really thought it would be possible.”
The award ceremony took place before the opening round of the tournament, and Carlyon said it was good to share the experience with her teammates.
“They were super, super happy for me that I won,” she said. “It made it all the more better just to see how happy they were for me.”
Her first award this season came when she was named to the ACAC north division’s all-conference team. This acknowledgement came from a group of coaches from across the league who recognized her skills.
Carlyon’s play helped lead her team to a sterling 17-3 regular season record in ACAC league play. In so doing, she led the entire CCAA in scoring with 21.65 points per game, as well as leading the country in offensive, defensive and total rebounds, according to the press release announcing her player of the year award.
In ACAC playoff action, with Carlyon leading the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, her Wolves team, ranked seventh in Canada by the CCAA, upended the second-ranked Grant MacEwan Griffins 63-59 in the March 5 gold-medal game in Calgary, earning them their national championship berth.
She said the entire season has been a good ride and she has enjoyed the experience.
“It’s just been really fun with the team, sharing the experience,” she said. “It’s been a good time.”
She is currently finishing her second year at GPRC and is studying general sciences with plans to pursue a career in agriculture or animal sciences.
Carlyon began her basketball career in high school when she played for R.F. Staples, helping the team win bronze at the 2009 zone tournament.
She credits her high school experience for helping her achieve her current success, saying she had some good coaches who helped her along, including her dad, Rod Carlyon.
“I had some pretty good coaches,” she said. “My dad got us going to whatever camps we wanted to so we could get better and enjoy the sport.”
Playing basketball is still as enjoyable as it ever was, she added, and she has developed a strong bond with her fellow Wolves in Grand Prairie.
“The team is like a family and we’re all really close; we all hang out together so it’s a great way to make friends and have a good time at college.”
