Player Highlight: Declynn Wood, Women’s Basketball

After bursting onto the scene midway this season, Declynn Wood is looking forward to a full year competing for the Rustlers.

The first year guard led the women's basketball team in scoring during the second semester, after joining the program in December. After originally going to NAIT and leaving the program, Wood had a very short window to get up to speed and in shape following a two-month period of no basketball.

"I was trying to get back into shape in just over a week," she said. "It was hard to get into something new, but it was super fun right away."

Wood first joined the team for an exhibition trip to the United States, where she was able to make in-roads with her teammates.

"We had an eight-hour bus ride the first time I was with them and quickly got to know everybody," she said.

"I found the group very open and inviting. Plus, the school had the program I wanted."

Then, she made an instant impact during the second half, notching more than 40 points in the opening weekend series against Keyano. Wood ultimately averaged a team high 10 points per game and was second in rebounds per game. At the Rustlers annual awards banquet, she was given the team's Rustler Award.

"Declynn has been a great lift to our team this season," Coach Todd Warnick said. "This has brought much needed scoring and a dynamic playmaking ability that has raised the performance of everyone on the team."

"Beyond the on-court player, her energy and genuine joy in being a part of the program is infectious and energizes her teammates and the staff."

Getting to compete at the collegiate level has been a dream for Wood since grade 6, when she noticed what she was able to do, compared to her peers. Growing up in Peace River, her mother helped transport her to basketball camps across the province, in part because of the passion the rookie guard showed for the sport at a young age.

"Around grade 7-8, I started playing get better and told my mom I want to do this," Wood said. "So, she drove me to places like Calgary, she was really dedicated to me and wanted me to play, so that pushed me to become a college player."

She was familiar with basketball in Grande Prairie growing up, which was the location for the highlight of the team's season. A program entirely filled with first-year players; the Rustlers headed into the final weekend against the NWP Wolves with both teams searching for their first victory. Wood noted that helped the team stay focused during the second semester, where they faced multiple nationally ranked teams and suffered plenty of growing pains. They were able to sweep the Wolves to end their season.

"At one point we just wanted to get within 10 points of a team and wanted a win so bad," she said. "It felt really good to see improvement and a get a win under our belt."

Wood said the group is excited for next season, which will feature several new players on the roster. However, she's mainly focused on her own fitness and skill development so that she's prepared for when the team returns together in August.

"I've got to build some strength, as I'm smaller than some of the girls I played against," Wood said. "I think I can make some more shots too. Maybe if I played a full year, I would have been more consistent, but this summer I'm just going to work harder."

"Coach has picked up some skilled girls, so we're excited for them to join, but we're still focused on our own training and going through ID camp."

Declynn Wood hails from Peace River and is taking General Science at Lakeland College. She and the rest of the women's basketball squad will have their ID camp this weekend in the Border City.