Aideena Wickstrom. (Photo courtesy Kodiaks Athletics)

By Justin Goulet

Coaldale star returns home to suit up for Kodiaks women’s volleyball team

Aug 5, 2021 | 11:04 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s volleyball team has added a veteran to its roster.

Former Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Clipper standout Aideena Wickstrom last played for the Humber Hawks of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association in 2018-19, achieving 46 kills and nine digs in 10 games.

Anna Schwark, coach of the Kodiaks, is excited to have the Coaldale-born Wickstrom on her team.

“She is a great local talent, which is always something to be proud about recruiting, but she also made a lot of progress out east [with Humber]. After seeing her highlight reel from her first year I was really impressed with her skill and strength. I almost didn’t recognize her to be honest.”

Wickstrom will bring experience to the middle, but Schwark is hopeful that she can unlock the athlete’s full potential along the right-side as well.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Schwark said, “although she is a newcomer for us this year, I think she will still have a very important role because of her ability to lead by example.”

“She has middle experience which I absolutely love, but she is also working on her right-side hitter skills as well and I think that is where she will really make an impact both at the net and as a passer/defender too.”

The coach said Wickstrom “gelled with the team from the get-go” during training sessions this summer.

“She came to us ready to work hard and push herself to be ready for the season. I think these traits just speak to her maturity as an athlete. You can see by the way she trains on the court and in the gym that she has really high standards for herself and those around her.”

Wickstrom remarked that she’s excited to play closer to home, noting she’s been in talks with coach Schwark since she was in grade 11.

Wickstrom said, “I think coming out of high school I just wanted a change though, which is why I made the decision to go out to Ontario. Being so far away from my family was just hard.”

“Eventually I was like, ‘you know, there’s this perfectly good team back home and this coach that I really like who’s always believed in me. So I think I’ll just come back home.’”

She plans to bring competitiveness to the teams.

“I think I take things in a good, serious way. Just making sure we’re all doing it the right way. Like if you shank a ball, don’t worry and let’s get the next one.”

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Following her first season at Humber, Wickstrom decided to take a year off playing competitively to focus on school and coaching youth volleyball. She said that gave her a better appreciation for the game.

She noted that, “I only got to coach for just over half of the season because then COVID hit and restrictions came in. But it was a mixture of U13 and U14 girls and they were just amazing. They taught me so much.”

“You have to teach these girls how to pass and how to set, so you need to go back to the basics, and I think my own fundamental skills have been really sharpened because of that. I think coaching has kind of helped me get an all-around better perspective of the game, how to play and treat other people and just be a good teammate.”

Wickstrom has enrolled in Lethbridge College’s Exercise Science program.

The Kodiaks have announced their return-to-play schedule for the 2021-22 ACAC season. They begin regular season play on November 12 at home against Red Deer College.