Three-time national champ secures place in CW Hall
Former University of Victoria basketball player earns Hall of Fame nod
CALGARY - Luanne Krawetz, formerly Hebb, is the latest member of the Canada West Hall of Fame, the conference announced Tuesday. Krawetz was the type of dual threat that spelled gamechanger for the University of Victoria Vikettes. A dangerous player all over the floor, Krawetz led the conference in scoring in 1978-79, sinking an average of 17.2 points per game. She was named a Canada West first-team all-star.
The next year, Krawetz had her sights set on doing something that had never before been done: bringing back a national championship title to Victoria. It was a feat that slipped out of her fingertips the season prior.
Krawetz again had a strong season, earning another all-star nod from the conference as she led the Vikettes to a 2-0 thumping of the University of Calgary in the conference finals. Krawetz and her team carried their momentum to nationals, where she put up 62 points over three games to lead her Vikettes to the championship title.
Krawetz and the Vikettes’ first title soon became their second as the stellar scorer helped her team capture a second-straight national championship crown in 1980-81. And Krawetz did it in astonishing fashion. She was not only a conference all-star, but a CIAU First Team All-Canadian, the CIAU Player of the Year and the CIAU Tournament MVP.
She capped it all off in 1981-82 by again leading her team in scoring at the national tournament as the Vikettes took down Toronto, Winnipeg then Bishop’s to secure the elusive three-peat.
Krawetz’ impact on Victoria basketball cannot be understated, as she took reigns of a team without a single national title and turned it into an early 80s dynasty.
"Luanne was an outstanding player for UVic. She was both a dominant scorer and rebounder. Lu was as tough inside the key as she was accurate outside with her deadly jumpshot. A key player for UVic, Lu helped us to win many games and Championships," said former Victoria coach Kathy Shields.
Krawetz also played on the Canadian National Team before graduating with her master’s degree in education and working in the faculty of education.
ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME
For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men's hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life.
To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019. This year's induction class will be unveiled throughout the summer of 2022.
VISIT: CanadaWestHallofFame.org