News Archives: Lanes Challis - Featured Athlete of the Week
Wednesday, February 5th, 2020
Name: Lanes Challis
Jersey Number. Is there a story behind it? My jersey number is #10 this year.
Hometown: Ngatea, New Zealand.
High School: Hauraki Plains College
At what age did you start playing your sport? What drew you to the game? I started playing basketball around 10 or 11 years old but I had always been around it with my sister and brother playing before me. I really loved the energy and atmosphere basketball produced along with the excitement that came with playing.
What is your fondest memory of your sport? One of my greatest memories is travelling with my high school basketball team to Canada and competing in the 2018 Pow Wow Classic tournament.
Any pre or post-game rituals that you would be willing to share? How do you prepare? I usually listen to podcasts in the mornings of game days and I have to wear my striped socks to shoot! Snacks are also very essential. Otherwise I often mentally prepare myself for what I'm looking to accomplish in the game.
What are your future goals? I’d love to continue playing basketball while earning my degree wherever that will take me. I’m also hoping I can give back to the programs I've been involved with by helping out when I'm home during the summer breaks.
From Head Coach, Bill Bradley:
Any special game moments, stats you’d like to share? Lanes and I were only able to connect through email over the summer, as she prepared to leave New Zealand and arrive in Alberta just before the academic semester started. So I tried to connect with her as often as I could to make sure she felt like GPRC was going to be a supportive place for her on arrival. It was a relief when she arrived and proved to be a highly motivated athlete and a human being of high character.
What does this player bring to the dynamics of the team? Being an international player Lanes has developed playing basketball in a different culture then many of the other athletes. She sees the game unfold in ways that others, including myself, don’t foresee. Having a player with her basketball IQ has been an asset to myself, but has also helped the players around her increase their own understanding of the game.