If you look up ‘ultimate competitor’ or ‘tough as nails’ in the dictionary the name Mercedes VanKoughnett would be at the top of the list.
For five seasons, the Duchess Park graduate starred on the court for the UNBC Timberwolves during some of their powerhouse years in the British Columbia Colleges Athletics Association before making the transition to U-SPORTS.
VanKoughnett’s accolades include being named the UNBC Female Athlete of the Year on two occasions, the team’s Most Valuable Player three consecutive years as well as being named the BCCAA Provincial Tournament MVP in 2012.
All of that made her a slam-dunk to be named the third Timberwolves Wall of Honour member.
“It’s such a good feeling it’s almost surreal. There are so many women and other athletes who deserve it but I am honestly honoured to be the first female athlete to be on it. It’s been a cool couple of days after learning about it so I have been soaking it in enjoying the time that I have right now and it’s been fun.”
VanKoughnett began her university stint at UNBC in 2009 joining a program coached by Loralyn Murdoch that went 14-4 the previous year and lost in the BCCAA Provincial championship game.
The Timberwolves went 17-1 in her rookie season where she averaged a shade under eight points per game.
VanKoughnett was also paired up with fellow freshmen and standout Jen Bruce where the duo played five seasons together.
“There were six or seven rookies on that team and a lot of senior members. My first year I was always buddied up with Christine Kennedy and she was amazing. I remember our first practice. She was so good and I felt out of my league.”
“I had Erin Beckett, Jennifer Clyne, Kady Dandeneau there were many girls that I looked up to and mentored me throughout my career and I could not have done it without them for sure.”
In 2010-11, VanKoughnett took another step forward in establishing herself as one of the premier players in the conference during the T-Wolves postseason run where the team earned a bronze medal.
The Duchess Park graduate felt her confidence grew tremendously in year two.
“Going from high school to university was a bit of a shocking experience for me and I had to get my butt into gear realizing that the physical aspect of the game was a lot different than high school. Definitely having that year of experience getting pushed around and beat up on the court made me learn quickly and how to use my body and to get more in shape in the gym. That’s what led to more of my success in the second year.”
In VanKoughnett’s third year, everything clicked for the playmaker leading all of BC in assists while UNBC’s other four starters finished in the top-25 in league scoring.
However, the crowning moment came at crunch time where the Timberwolves defeated the Vancouver Island Mariners in the championship game where VanKoughnett was named tournament MVP, punching UNBC’s ticket to nationals where they would place fifth.
VanKoughnett admitted matching VIU’s elite level was no easy task.
“I remember playing against VIU before the playoffs, I think it was the last game of our regular season and they came out with a zone and crushed us by twenty points. I remember when we had to play them in the finals Loralyn did a good job at scouting by learning their plays and their defensive zone and we worked really hard. I never felt we were so focused as a team, we all wanted the same thing and we all wanted to win. It all came together at the right time.”
“My mom has that game recorded and I still watch it every time I go back home and it gives me goosebumps thinking about it.”
Prior to the 2012-13 season, the Timberwolves made the jump to Canada West competing against some of the biggest and elite universities in the country with VanKoughnett leading the way.
The Prince George product led the Timberwolves in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals.
VanKoughnett’s final season at UNBC was by far her best but most challenging after getting bit pretty hard by the injury-bug.
However, a few bumps in the road didn’t prevent her from saving the best for last – even if it meant developing a high pain tolerance.
“I got diagnosed with multiple stress fractures pretty early in the season and I remember having a sit-down with my doctor and I already played enough games and would have lost my eligibility had I sat out. He said if you continue to play on this foot, your foot will break. I remember sitting back thinking I have already lost my eligibility, I am with all of the girls I have played with for five years and at this point, a broken foot over not playing or not trying wasn’t an option for me.”
“I played on a fractured foot which is crazy now that I think about it but it was a love of the game and the girls I had started with. Finishing the season with them was important to me and that is why I decided to continue playing.”
VanKoughnett fell in love with the game of basketball at a very young age giving her the drive to reach her potential.
“I remember growing up as a kid and the first basketball I ever received I was five years old. Even to this day I remember dribbling that basketball and loving it right from the beginning. It was never a job for me, I always wanted to practice and play. I would play pickup ball with the boys and I loved it I guess.”
VanKoughnett is one of seven kids in her family but jokingly admitted it wasn’t her siblings that brought out her competitive spirit.
“Honestly, not a lot of my siblings played sports, I was lucky enough to grow up with good friends who were athletic and I was lucky enough to play against the boys all the time. Back in those times you would just go out there and play basketball. My siblings and I were very close growing up but they weren’t the most athletically gifted I guess you could say but my high school and elementary friends always pushed me to be better.”
VanKoughnett is now a member of the Edmonton Police Service and was inspired to get into law enforcement after a chance encounter while at Duchess Park.
“I remember a police officer coming into my law class and talking to us and I was just in awe of how confident she was and became a positive role model. As a female, I strived to be that person. I remember wanting to do that ever since I graduated high school and then I took my psychology degree and played basketball and I still wanted to do this and it was because that one female officer came in and shined a light on me.”
“Let’s be honest, the adrenaline rush is important as a university athlete too and being a cop is kind of like playing basketball, especially when you are in a close game. You go to calls and you have that adrenaline and you are not thinking but it’s a flow like scenario. Maybe working in that environment is not good for everybody but it’s a dream come true that I got here.”
As luck would have it, VanKoughnett’s instincts paid dividends as she and two other officers Duncan Coady and Jenna Johnson were commended for their lifesaving efforts following a 2018 stabbing in Edmonton at the University of Alberta’s South Campus Light Rail Station.
“It was pretty cool. I received a lifesaving award, which was recognized service wide. I remember showing up and the young was stabbed multiple times by an unknown suspect and my partner and I were first on scene and we had to provide life-saving techniques and first-aid until we were able to get him to the hospital.”
“He ended up making a full recovery. It was an amazing experience actually. When I was joining the service one of my main bucket list things to do on the job was to get a lifesaving award and I never thought that it would happen so fast but my Sergeant put in an application for the recognition. I got a really nice plaque and we had a pretty cool dinner and we still speak with the young man. Seeing his full recovery and family is pretty amazing actually.”
VanKoughnett completed her T-Wolves career with 1080 points and remains atop the record books with 350 assists, nearly 100 more than the next highest (Jaclyn Nazareno with 253).
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