For those following Bisons sports, it has been a privilege to watch the women athletes make history and emanate excellence this year. It would be remiss to not take a moment to celebrate an exciting time in sports at the university.
As Women’s History Month wraps up, here are some phenomenal current and former Bisons who have made a mark on their respective programs, and who carry the torch of excellence beyond varsity sports.
Karina Bagi, soccer
Having just wrapped up her final year with the herd, Bisons goalkeeper Karina Bagi now holds two giant records in the women’s soccer program. The Kelowna, B.C. native recorded the most saves in a single game over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds with 17, and as of the Bisons final game of the season, Bagi holds the record for most saves in program history with 232 over her tenure with the herd.
Lauren Bartlett, basketball
With the women’s basketball season ready to tip off at the beginning of next month, point guard Lauren Bartlett is one to watch this season. The 2022-23 women’s basketball MVP, Bartlett recorded the women’s basketball single-game assists record, the second most single-game steals record and earned the fifth triple-double in program history this January in a dominating contest against the MacEwan University Griffins.
Madisson Lawrence, track and field
Despite a healing broken toe, track and field’s Madisson Lawrence was named 2022-23 Bison Female Athlete of the Year for her outstanding performance at both the CanWest and U Sports Championships last season. Winning Female Field Athlete of the Year at CanWest, Lawrence went on to grab that title at the U Sports level as well after winning double gold in both CanWest and U Sports in the pentathlon and high jump. Lawrence set a Bison record at U Sports with her 1.80-metre high jump and in pentathlon points, with 4114. Her points record is the fourth-most in U Sports history, and she has one more year of eligibility left with the herd as the new season is set to start in November.
Desiree Scott, soccer
This list would be incomplete without mentioning former Bison midfielder Desiree Scott. The first individual Bison athlete to be inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame, Scott has three Olympic medals for Team Canada under her belt, including a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She has won a gold in the 2011 Pan American Games and 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup, as well as a CONCACAF U20 silver medal with the team. Although she was out with a knee injury for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she has already left her mark on the Canadian women’s soccer program, and was inducted into the Order of Manitoba in the summer of 2022 for her illustrious career.
Raya Surinx, volleyball
Already hot on the court this season, Raya Surinx was not only the 2022-23 Female Rookie of the Year but recorded a whopping 417 kills in her rookie season alone, nearly matching what some of her teammates have recorded over multiple seasons with the team. Surinx also represented Team Canada beside fellow Bison Ella Gray at the Pan American Cup this summer and finished the tournament ranked number one on Team Canada and seventh overall for points.
Maya Turner, football
The first woman to make points in a U Sports football game, the first woman to dress for a regular season U Sports football game and the first woman to make points in a regular season U Sports football game — including the game winner — are just some of the many feats in Maya Turner’s budding career as kicker with the herd. Turner has a .750 field goal percentage, her longest a 48-yarder against the University of Regina Rams, and holds a perfect point-after record. Her foot has helped the Bisons turn their season around and make a push for the post-season.
Kelsey Wog, swimming
When swimmer Kelsey Wog graduated in 2022, she had already qualified and swam in finals for Team Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. The 2019-20 U Sports Female Athlete of the Year, most-decorated Bisons swimmer of all-time and holder of five U Sports records is currently representing Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
