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First-year Basketball Mountie Sophie Trail came to ������ú from Fredericton, NB for the University’s academic reputation and the opportunity to play basketball.

“It was a huge deal for me to play at this level,” she says.

Trail started playing mini basketball with the Fredericton Capitals when she was in Grade 3 and continued throughout elementary and middle school, also playing for her school team at Bliss Carmen Middle School. She played varsity basketball from Grades 9-12 at Fredericton High and also played on the U-15 provincial team.

Trail’s high school team won two consecutive provincial championships at Harbour Station in Saint John during her Grade 11 and 12 years, which she considers her most memorable sporting moments. She was named Female Athlete of the Year in Grade 12.

A point guard, Trail says her greatest strength is being able to see the floor well.

“I am able to see things on the floor and give opportunities to other people to score,” she says.

She enjoys the team aspect of the game the most and becoming close with her teammates.

“It is super helpful when coming to university to have immediate friends,” she says.

Trail has already made an impact on the young Mounties squad and was recently awarded Athlete of the Week honours in a down-to-the-wire 60-57 loss to Holland College. She led the charge for the Mounties nailing 17 points, 2 steals, 2 assists, and 6 rebounds.

“I wasn’t expecting [the award] at all, but I thought it was really cool,” she says.

Trail says being involved in both academics and athletics at ������ú has given her “the ultimate university experience” so far.

A biology student, she hopes to one day work with people in the health sciences field.