THUNDER BAY — Myla Lawson and Luca Fasciano have taken different paths on their way to being named Lakehead Thunderwolves’ female and male athletes of the month for November.
Lawson, who is from Thunder Bay, is in her second season with the Thunderwolves women’s wrestling team.
She had a trio of runner-up finishes at three OUA (Ontario University Athletics) competitions events in Toronto and is currently ranked fourth among all U Sports wrestlers in the women’s 76-kilogram category.
“This year’s been a really big improvement for me with my strength, plus my overall mentality going into each match,” Lawson said. “I’m ready for whatever comes at me.
“I know what to expect now in my second year here. I’ve been in these positions already and it’s all about getting enough practice so that you are ready for everything that you are seeing.”
The university athletics lifestyle is a new one for Fasciano.
After spending the last three seasons playing junior hockey for the Markham Royals, Toronto Patriots and Corpus Christi IceRays, the Toronto product made the jump up to the Thunderwolves this season.
He’s made the transition look smooth thus far with a team-best 14 points – four goals and 10 assists – in 15 games.
“Obviously the speed of the game here is a little bit faster so it took me a couple of exhibition games to figure that out,” Fasciano said.
“I start focusing on the defensive zone first and all of the points and all of the offence comes after that. I’m playing with some very skilled forwards and defencemen and they’re helping me a lot. (Thunderwolves captain) Noah Massie’s experience has helped me feel more confident back there and it’s all been good so far.”
Lawson and Fasciano were also named athletes of the month for the women’s wrestling program and men’s hockey team respectively.
November’s other recipients were Chase Birch (men’s wrestling), Nathan Bilamu (men’s basketball), Paula López (women’s basketball), Leif Buxton (men’s cross country running), Megan Bryson (women’s track and field), Peter Welsh (men’s Nordic skiing), Lauren Pineau (women’s Nordic skiing) and Ashley Lawrence (women’s volleyball).
