The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks fight and resiliency throughout a challenging season has not gone unnoticed by their coach and their fans. With a very young roster in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA), the final score isn’t everything for head coach Megan Grant.
Losing their top two scorers early in the season to injury hasn’t helped the Ridgebacks but it has opened the door for other players to step up and stand out.
Coach Grant acknowledged her team’s youth and the challenges that come with it. “We were still going to be a young team, but we’ve gotten back to being a very young team again. So some learning growth challenges, being able to be consistent, which a lot of teams struggle with, but especially younger teams.”
Despite the setbacks, Grant has seen her players grow throughout the season, though she admits progress can be slow. “We’ve seen positives in growth from the beginning of the season till now, but I’m hoping it might be a little bit quicker.”
One player who has risen to the challenge is first-year guard Kaleah Goss. “Kaleah is having a really great season,” Grant said. “I think she’s one that, with the injuries, we had originally recruited her to be a backup point guard to get some minutes in behind and play off the ball.”
Injuries may have thrust Goss into a bigger role sooner than expected, but it’s a role she has embraced. “With the injuries, she’s [been] put more in the spotlight. I think for her, it’s a chance to really be able to jump in the deep end early, and I think she’s been responding incredibly well.”
Although Goss has faced the challenges that come with being a first-year player, her potential is evident to her coach. “[There are] still those mistakes that first years make, but I think there’s a lot of potential in her that we’re just scratching the surface on,” Grant said.
Despite the challenges of a young roster and key injuries, Grant remains optimistic about the Ridgebacks’ growth and the program’s future. With players like Goss stepping up, the team continues to build a strong foundation for success in the seasons to come.