The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s basketball team has announced a third addition to the 2015-16 recruiting class with the signing of southern Alberta multi-sport standout Danielle Fritzke.
Fritzke, a five-foot-10 inch guard, spent the last year at Mount Royal University as a member of the volleyball team but has chosen to return to basketball were she was a standout for the Monsignor McCoy High School in Medicina Hat.
“I enjoyed playing a year of volleyball at the CIS level, but I love the constant excitement, battle, and physical play of basketball,” says Fritzke. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to play for the Pronghorns. The team has been very welcoming, and I think our future looks bright. The Horns fans are always so loud and passionate and that makes me even more excited to play in our home gym because of the great atmosphere; I am excited for the fall and future.”
While at Monsignor McCoy, Fritzke won three 3A Provincial silver medals and Southeast Alberta Basketball Conference (SEBC) league titles and was named the SEBC MVP in 2014. She was also a SEBC all-star in 2013 and 2014.
During her high school career, Fritzke also excelled in both volleyball and soccer, winning a volleyball provincial medal in 2013 and a silver medal in 2011.
Individually, Fritzke was named the Monsignor female athlete of the year in 2014, while also earning the schools MVP award in both basketball and volleyball.
“Dani is an elite level athlete and I am thrilled to add her to the Horns program,” says Horns head coach Erin McAleenan. “I think the intangibles that Dani brings are the most promising for our program’s future.”
“Dani is a hard-working and committed student-athlete who has had a lot of experience and success leading her team, and I believe that she has what it takes to play at the CIS level. Her length, athleticism, and toughness will be a big help in our fight to be a top-four team in Canada West.”
In addition to her prowess on the court and field, Fritzke has also excelled in the classroom, being an honour roll student in grades 10, 11 and 12 and earning the gold cord in grade 12 for an 80 per cent or above average. She has also earned the Canada Winter Games Scholarship, Alberta Catholic Teachers’ Scholarship and Rutherford Scholarship for Academic Excellence.