These interviews have been edited for grammar, clarity and length.
For first-year student athletes, settling into their new homes often takes time. Rookie growing pains are common as athletes adjust to a new lifestyle and lay the foundation for successful university sports careers.
But some Dalhousie University Tigers burst onto the scene and take on a load of team responsibility beyond their years.
These two freshmen Tigers are expected to make an immediate impact on the field and the court.
Selena Lancaster – women’s soccer player from Vaughan, Ont.
How did you know the Dal was the place for you?
In September, I visited Dal and the campus. I watched the soccer girls play against StFX and watched a couple of their practices. I also did my own sessions with Brett [Armstrong, strength and conditioning coach]. We basically just toured the campus and saw some of the facilities, and everything went super well. All the people were really nice, and I just really liked how I felt at home.
What were some of the highlights from your high school career?
Last year, I made Team Ontario, and I got to play with some of my current teammates on that team as well. It was a really big accomplishment for me because you’re playing with some of the best players in Ontario, and that’s also where Cindy [Tye] saw me play. It was a great opportunity to show who I am, and, ultimately, it helped me get here to Dal.
What is one piece of advice that has stuck with you throughout your athletic career?
Always play your best, even when you think no one is watching.
What are you most excited for as a Dalhousie Tiger?
I’m excited for us to hopefully win nationals and to get there with this new team that we have. I’m excited to keep exploring the soccer team and just working every day to be the best we can be.
Who’s your favourite athlete?
I’d say Jessie Fleming. I love watching her. I think she embodies a great midfielder, and I think she’s just a very creative player. Obviously, she’s been with Team Canada for so long now that they see the value she has. She’s a very impactful player throughout the game, and I think she’s helped bring women’s soccer to where it is today.
Do you have any superstitions?
I always put on my right sock before my left. I always put on my right cleat before my left cleat. I always make sure I pull my socks up really high and then fold them over. I can’t play with them too short or too long; they have to get to a perfect length.
What’s your favourite Gatorade colour?
I like red and blue, the basic colours.
Ukiah Best – men’s basketball player from Montreal
Why did you commit to Dal?
I already knew Spencer [Riar], who plays on the team. My high school coach also used to be the strength and conditioning coach at Dal. In my seventh-grade summer, I came here for a camp. I really liked it back then and visited last January; I felt like it would be a great fit for me. The community seemed very welcoming and motivated to win basketball games.
You previously said that coach Rick Plato impressed you. How did Plato bring you over to Dal?
I think Plato just being so welcoming, friendly and genuine really drove me to trust him and feel like he was the right coach for me for the next four or five years of my life. It just seemed like a place I could thrive, and I felt that on my visit and every time I communicated with him before I committed.
What is one piece of advice you’ve received from a past coach that stands out to you?
I think the biggest thing for any player is just listening to everything the coach has to say. Listening and learning because everything that is being relayed to you is always for your benefit. Coach is always trying to make you better. So as long as you listen to what the coach is telling you and learn from their feedback regardless of how it’s delivered, you’re on the right track.
Is there any athlete you model your game after?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to model my game after point guards like De’Aaron Fox because he’s very quick, which I feel like I am. He gets to his spots and gets his teammates involved.
Do you have any superstitions?
I always have a new pair of socks that I wear every game.
What is your pregame hype-up song?
Something Drake.
What’s your favourite hoop shoe?
I just got a pair of Jordan 39s. It’s a crazy shout. You don’t hear people wearing Jordan 39s ever, but they’re actually great shoes; they feel so comfy and bouncy. Before that, it was the LeBron 20 or the G.T. Cut 3.
