CATEGORY: Athlete
Her on-court presence was unmistakable. A sharp-shooting guard that would punish you at both ends of the floor, deceptively replete with long ponytails and a beaming smile. But that smile never beamed brighter than when the Vikettes won, and during Tracie McAra’s five-year run there was plenty of winning.
One hundred and two wins against 14 losses, was the Vikettes record during McAra’s reign. McAra helped the Vikettes to three CIAU Championship titles, winning the Bronze Baby in 1980, ‘81 and ‘82. After her rookie season in 1978, the Vikettes strung together four first-place finishes and four Canada West banners (1979,80,81,82)
While McAra’s last season (1982-1983) didn’t end in a championship, it was the most successful on an individual level. McAra won the Nan Copp award as the CIAU’s Most Outstanding Player after averaging 16.5 points, on 47 percent shooting and a league-leading 95 percent free-throw shooting. She was named All-Star of the CIAU Tournament, but the Vikes lost in the title match to Bishop’s University.
The Victoria native and graduate of Reynolds Secondary was also named CIAU First Team all-Canadian in 1982-83, and was a three-time Canada West All-Star (1981, ‘82, ‘83).
A member of Canada’s national team for six years, McAra was on the senior women’s team that finished ninth at the 1983 world championship in Brazil and fourth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. After she completed her playing career, McAra was an assistant coach for the Vikes.
In 2012 McAra, a Reynolds Secondary School graduate, was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball BC Sport Hall of Fame.
UVic Achievements
- Five year varsity Vikette student-athlete from 1978-1982
- 1978 Canada West silver medalist
- 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 Canada West Champion
- 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 Canada West First Team All-Star
- 1982 CIAU First Team All-Canadian and CIAU Tournament All-Star
- 1982 led the Vikes with 165 points, 29 rebounds, 46.7% shooting percentage and 94.8% Free Throw percentage
- 1982 Nan Copp Award recipient for Most Outstanding Athlete
International Achievements
- Six years with the women's national basketball team
- 1983 World Championship: 9th place
- 1984 L.A Olympics: 4th place
Hall of Fame
- Inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame 2012
- Inducted into the Basketball BC Sports Hall of Fame 2012
