Kennedy Werre about to set ACAC record
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Kennedy Werre is a beast.
Not literally though.
"Friends, family and teammates would say, "You're a beast on the boards!," Basically that is what they would say," says Werre, a 5-foot-10 pivot for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers women's basketball team, who has her eyes set on establishing a Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) record this weekend.
The ACAC Archives, show that former Rattlers/St. Mary's University Lightning player Mary-Jean Ritchie had accumulated 921 rebounds during her five seasons (2012-2017) of ACAC play; one of which she was a teammate with Werre in her rookie season.
Ritchie played in 106 regular season games, hauling in 328 offensive boards with 593 on the defensive end.
Werre, to date, has suited up for 96 regular season games and windexed the boards for 917 rebounds, of which 324 are offensive and 593 on the defensive end of the hardwood.
She only needs five rebounds to surpass Ritchie.
Like a fine wine, Werre has improved her rebounding and scoring stats each season.
Moving up from a 5.5 rebounds per game (rpg) and 6.0 points per game (ppg) in her 2013-214 rookie season, to where this year 2017-2018, in 10 appearances to date, her stats are an ACAC high 14.8 rpg and impressive 19.2 ppg.
Her point production is only second to Olds Broncos' gunner Brittney Thibeaux dropping in an incredible 28.0 ppg.
According to ACAC Archives statistics, no ACAC women's basketball star has dominated rebounding (kept since 1997) or scoring (since 1990) as have Werre and Thibeaux respectively.
It is expected that the 22 year-old Werre will set a new career rebounding standard this weekend when they play the Lightning in Calgary.
"It will be a pretty cool feeling I guess, when I get it," surmises Werre, a graduate of Monsignor McCoy High School in Medicine Hat where the Colts girls hoop teams finished second at three consecutive Alberta Schools Athletic Association 3A provincials, bowing out to St. Albert each time.
"It (record) means that for five years I have been given the opportunity to be successful. I wouldn't be where I am without my teammates and coaches. Coaches who worked with me during the off season and one-on-one."
Having also dabbled in athletics (track and field) and softball, Werre said basketball was always her sport of choice.
Her role model was fellow high school and one-time Rattlers teammate Cierra Matsalla.
"I looked up to her when she was on my high school basketball team," recalls Werre. "I have looked up to her since Grade 9 when she was one grade ahead of me. She was one of those people that lead by example and to play with her, and the Rattlers, in post-secondary was kind of like a dream come true.
"I started watching (Rattlers basketball) more in my high school ages. Going through their basketball camps, it was a goal to play post-secondary sports and to stay and play at home was pretty cool.
"It has given me so many opportunities for life. It has helped with my education and has taught me life skills."
Of her rebounding mindset, Werre, an ACAC South First Conference selection twice from 2015-2017 and Second Conference selection in 2014-2015, said: "I like to hustle. Boards are second opportunities to score and to give my team second chances especially on the offensive boards is huge. I can read the shot and I put myself in those positions. I can also tell from the angle of the shot where it is going.
"I like to battle and be competitive with other people. When battling with big posts, you get contact everywhere. You get smacked in the face and I have bruises all over my legs for sure as you end up falling on the ground a lot."
Currently the Rattlers are at eight wins and two losses averaging 76.9 ppg while surrendering 57.7 and ranked No. 6 in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association polls.