Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Five years have gone by quickly for three members of the Griffins women's volleyball team who are heading into the final weekend series of their careers.
Dana Dunbar, Megan Foxcroft and Madi Stevens – who transitioned to an assistant coach this season after injuries ended her playing career – all entered the program in 2018.
They will be honoured in a ceremony prior to their final game of a series against Mount Royal University on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5:30 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
"I think what unifies this graduating class is even though they're all different, they all have the same vision," said Griffins' interim head coach Dusty Freimark. "It's kind of ironic because, yes, they are the senior class, but I also think they're the start of the future of this group. They're extremely dedicated and committed to what this team needs to look like and perform like at the U SPORTS level.
"I just want to thank them for trusting me and I want to thank them for leading this team. I want them to make sure their presence is always felt within the Griffins family for years to come."
Enjoy a Graduating Senior Q&A with each one of them below.
Dana Dunbar (Robert Antoniuk photo).
DANA DUNBAR
Dusty Freimark's coach's quote:
"What stand out is just her commitment and unwavering dedication to the program over her time. I think having different coaches come in, having different expectations, she was able to handle that because her work ethic has been the same the whole time.
"Dana's been really constant on the court. She's grown in the last few months, but you always know what Dana will bring every day. There aren't highs, there aren't lows. She is just steady. With a young team, that's just really important to have someone they can depend on to be a constant."
Graduating with …
"I'm graduating at the end of this semester with a Bachelor of Science, major biology with a minor in Psychology and hopefully a Sustainability Certificate add on."
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"I do not. I'm actually still very unsure of what I want to do. The short-term plan is to take a year off and hopefully do some travelling and work somewhere and get some more world experience."
What are some of your favourite memories with the Griffins?
"I think it's upset wins. Those are always my favourite. In my first year, we upset Calgary, who were number one in U SPORTS at the time. Then the following weekend, we swept Trinity (Western) to keep our playoff dreams alive. Even this year, a couple weekends ago, beating TRU for both (was memorable). It's a smaller upset, but there's nothing that feels quite as good as those wins. They're really special."
You're on track for five U SPORTS Academic All Canadians. That's a very exclusive club at MacEwan (only four have done it before). You and Megan (Foxcroft) are both on pace for that and have set the tone academically for your team. How important has academics been for you as a student-athlete?
"A huge part of it is that it's been both me and Megan. In Sciences, we've taken a lot of classes together. I distinctly remember there have been days we were just grinding in our labs, going to practice – just both so done, but helping each other along. Academics has always been a huge part of why I wanted to go to university at all. Do I go play for a college because I'd play all the time? No, I want a degree. I think I've always wanted to do well because I don't know what I want to do afterwards. I want to just have all the potential options open."
What is the legacy you're leaving to the program? How will you be remembered?
"I hope I'm remembered as somebody who really cared about the well-being of her teammates and just really took time to listen to and talk to the girls on the team – to look out for them. I hope as well, I'm remembered as somebody who was really thoughtful in what they said, being a leader. Not necessarily always being the one to talk. But when I talk, I've thought about (what I wanted to say)."
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
"I'm really glad this is the school I chose to come to, all things told. I think it's been huge in shaping me to be how I am today. I don't think I would change any of it, even though it was really hard. I'm really glad for the way it all went down."
Megan Foxcroft (Robert Antoniuk photo).
MEGAN FOXCROFT
Dusty Freimark's coach's quote:
"Megan's incredibly grounded, incredibly smart, and incredibly like an old soul, almost. She's always a constant with her voice. She never overreacts, yet she always has high expectations. Her teammates look to her to see what her response is before they even know what their response will be. She is the leader of this team.
"In the last five months, Megan has just really embraced what it takes to play free and play for herself as well as her team. I think she's always done a disservice to herself because she's always put the team first, which is a great attribute of a leader. But this year, I think she's been able to put her own play, her own performance, and her own desires at the forefront without changing her leadership skills."
Graduating with …
Bachelor of Science with a major in molecular biology and a minor in psychology.
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"My plan is to hopefully go on to pursue medicine. It's a long shot, but we'll see how that goes."
When you look back at your career with the Griffins, what are some of your favourite memories?
"I think the first thing that comes to mind is just the friendships I've made. There are girls in my first year that I'm still connected with now – still talk to and see once in a while. Now being in my fifth year, the whole team I know I'll stay connected with them. Moving forward, they're lifelong friends. The team component – having a group of best friends automatically when you join this team. That really stands out to me.
"Then, I think making playoffs in my second year was a big achievement by the team. Being the first time ever was really memorable."
Any personal highlights stand out to you?
"I think throughout the years – especially in my second year – all the big wins we had over the top teams. We beat U of A for the first time in season. I guess for myself during that game, I remember being subbed in towards the end of the fourth set and got us on a four or five-point run. Playing a role in that was memorable. Then, this year, even though there weren't many, just every win we've had was really memorable."
You have four U SPORTS Academic All Canadians and are on track for five. How important has academics been to you within your leadership of this team?
"Academics has always been a priority for me entering into university. It's been a combination of having really high standards for myself, but also the work ethic and making sure I'm sitting down, getting my school done and studying. Through that, I think I've really been able to help other players on the team and set a good example for them what it takes to achieve the results you want in the classroom."
What is the legacy that you're leaving to the program?
"I think my work ethic and leadership. From the first day I entered this program, I kind of set the standard for how hard I work. On the court, I'm always having a voice. I'll never be someone to step down from a challenge or take a break for a few seconds. Definitely my work ethic and leadership. Right from my first year, my leadership was recognized and my second year I got to join a group of leaders on the team. Throughout my time at MacEwan, I've kind of progressed through that to this year where I've got to be the captain."
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"I think that I'm just super grateful for it. I want to thank the coaches, players and all the support staff. I know there's a lot going on behind the scenes. I think, especially the coaches. It doesn't happen without them. Especially this year, we've had an amazing group of coaches. I think it's amazing to have an all-female staff. It's been super empowering to have female role models that we're following."
Madi Stevens (Jefferson Hagen photo).
MADI STEVENS
Dusty Freimark's coach's quote:
"Madi even for herself doesn't understand the impact that she's had on this program. She is a leader, the athletes would consider her one of the best leaders, but she was never able to play due to two knee injuries and an ankle injury. So, there's something really special about Madi. It's just in her.
"When I decided I wanted to take on this job, she was one of the first people I reached out to because I knew her leadership and connection to the team would be really important to us moving forward. Madi as an athlete, Madi as a coach, Madi as a leader on this team, that has never changed since Day 1. It's something that she hasn't even recognized in herself how special that is."
Graduating with …
Bachelor of Commerce with a major in accounting and a minor in business law.
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"Not really. It's either pursue my CPA after this or start studying for my LSATs. I definitely want a break from school after this, so I'll decide later. I don't have a set plan right now."
What are some of your favourite memories of being a Griffin?
"Definitely my career's been different from everyone else's but just being with the team every day, my favourite memories were created in the team room with the girls. Just being able to be yourself with them and all the funny jokes we have. Just being there for all of their triumphs and defeats and being able to experience that in a different way are some of my favourite memories. This year has just been a different way of creating those memories with them. It's all been the same of enjoying every second of it."
Due to injuries, you didn't actually get to play a game, but you were still an important part of the team. It obviously wasn't how you planned it to go, but how did you make the best of it?
"It was just taking in every moment with the girls, and it was about not letting my injuries and the way I was feeling overrule the joy of being with everyone. The whole reason why I stayed and pushed through everything was the team atmosphere. I just loved it so much and I love the sport and I have that passion. Just not letting the negativity of what has happened (overshadow) everything else."
What has it been like being an assistant coach this season? Has that ignited a passion for coaching?
"I've always been a leader in that sense. At the beginning of the season, it was weird coming into this role. At the beginning, I questioned what I was doing – 'what do I know? They're all my age and they're the same level as me.' I think I've kind of come into that coaching role ever since my second knee injury. I need to settle into the bench role, saying what I see. This year's been a lot of growth for me personally, taking that new step of leadership. Those new shoes were a bigger role than before, so it was just gaining that respect. I've always had that coaching passion and leadership passion, so it's definitely heightened it."
What would you be leaving to the program as your legacy?
"I definitely think I'll be remembered by being determined and resilient. I know not many people can relate to what I've gone through. Sticking through it is definitely something people can look up to. There are other options if you're not playing anymore – there are different ways to still pursue the dream or wanting to be included. I definitely think I leave a legacy of just passion and resilience, that it's still possible even after the volleyball's not there."
Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"The time goes by so quickly and it's so crazy it's already the fifth year and it's over now. So, just enjoy it while it happens. Girls always talk about how fast the season goes by. It's really just letting everyone know to enjoy it while it lasts. It sounds cheesy, but it's true."
