NAME: Jessica Kaczowka
UNIVERSITY: Simon Fraser
CATEGORY: Student-athlete
SPORT: Women's Basketball
CW Hall of Fame Class of 2023-24
HIGHLIGHTS:
Canada West Player of the Year in 2001-02 and 2002-03
Canada West First Team All-Star in 2001-02
Canada West Second Team All-Star in 2000-01
Canada West overall Female Athlete of the Year / Lt. Gov. Award Nominee – 2002-03
Canada West champion in 2001-02 and 2002-03
BIOGRAPHY:
Kaczowka's brilliance on the court led SFU to tremendous team success in two different conferences throughout her student-athlete career, highlighted by a CIS national championship in 2002.
She was an impact player from the moment she hit the court in 1998, being named an NAIA All-American in her freshman and sophomore campaigns while leading Allison McNeill-coached SFU to the NAIA championship game in both seasons. As the team transitioned to Canada West play in 2000-01, she was named a second-team Canada West All-Star in her first year of CIS competition.
She elevated her game to new heights during a remarkable 2001-02 campaign under the guidance of first year head coach Bruce Langford. Kaczowka led SFU to an undefeated 35-0 record, earning Canada West Most Valuable Player and national CIS Player of the Year honours. The season culminated in a national title, with Kaczowka recording a double-double with 28 points in a CIS championship game win over Laval.
She capped off her career by once again winning Canada West MVP and CIS Player of the Year honours in 2002-03, also winning the SFU Female Athlete of the Year award.
During her five years at SFU, Kaczowka led the team in scoring three times, with two seasons ranking in the top 10 in program history. She recorded a total of 2,490 points while recording a sparkling average of 19.7 points-per-game, both of which rank second on SFU's all-time list. She is also second in SFU's record book in career field goals, field goal percentage and free throws.