SASKATOON — University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskie women’s basketball players Carly Ahlstrom and Logan Reider achieved top honours on the hardwood while maintaining a high standard with their studies.
Carly Ahlstrom, a fourth-year combined kinesiology/education program student, was named the Canada West conference’s Most Valuable Player and a U Sports All-Canadian this past season. First-year Education student Logan Reider was named the Canada West conference’s Rookie of the Year as well as a U Sports national all-rookie team member. Reider was the first Huskie to win the award since the 2011-12 season. This was the first time both awards were won in the same season in Huskie program history.
“The highlights of the season were always when we were winning, or when we were off the court with my teammates,” reflected Reider. “It wasn't really about hitting a certain amount of points or anything like that. Whenever we were playing well and playing together, it was fun. Those were my most memorable times this season.”
“[My parents] really put an emphasis on being a student-athlete, not an athlete-student. And that's something I've tried to figure out this year. I didn’t have any expectations coming into this year because I came into such a good basketball program. So they told me to work my hardest for everything and that rest will come,” said Reider.
As for the reason Reider chose to become an educator, she may have been destined for this route since birth.
“I come from a family of teachers; my grandparents, my aunt, uncle, and my parents are all teachers. My dad influenced my teaching areas of English and History since he teaches both of those. The most influential person would be my mom because she was my teacher in high school. And just seeing the impact that she had on kids was something that kind of pushed me to go into the College of Education,” she said.
Carly Ahlstrom, a product of Calgary, also has family ties at USask and with the Huskies. Her sister Megan was a member of the basketball team from 2015-2020.
“Megan was a standout academically and when she played. So for me to have that example coming in was huge.”
The Ahlstrom sisters were able to play two seasons together, winning a U Sports national championship in Megan’s final season in 2020.
“We didn't get along quite as well as we did after my first year. Figuring out that relationship and dynamic on and off the court wasn't easy, but it definitely paid dividends and brought us closer together,” said Ahlstrom. “Her work ethic and determination [and] competitiveness is second to none. She's such a strong role model. And it's inspiring to see and continue to see her do well.”
Ahlstrom, who led the Canada West conference in scoring (408 points) and had three games scoring 30+ points, is focused on teaching physical education and biology to secondary students when not on the court.
“I started in kinesiology. And then I was figuring out [if I wanted to] go the physio route [or into teaching]. A teacher that influenced me would be my high school coach, Ms. Blum. She is a high school biology teacher, as well as the senior girls basketball coach at Centennial High School in Calgary,” said Ahlstrom.
“So I saw her and saw that she was doing all the things that I really enjoyed. And I figured out that teaching was the route I wanted to take. I'm super excited to get into a classroom and engage with students. I’m also looking forward to [building] my teaching philosophy,” she said.
When asked about the attributes that make Reider and Ahlstrom strong leaders as educators and players, their head coach Lisa Thomaidis emphasized the high standard of accountability they hold themselves to.
“Their skill set serves them well on the basketball court because their level of training and commitment to self-improvement is on another level,” said Thomaidis. “I know that this same level of accountability will translate very well into the classroom, as they will undoubtedly be teachers that give their best to their students on a daily basis.”
The pair are making their mark nationally and internationally as well. Reider will represent Saskatchewan at the 3x3 Canada Quest tournament in Toronto from July 7-9. Ahlstrom will represent Canada at the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series in Fribourg, Switzerland from July 6-7.
The Huskies will tip-off their 2023-24 season against the Alberta Pandas on November 3.
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
