2025 Female Athlete Inductee - Deanna Kerkhof
Born and raised in Wallaceburg, Deanna Kerkhof received her introduction to basketball through Basketball Wallaceburg, led by Tom and Lorri Moynihan, and remembers looking forward to Saturdays when she could spend the entire day in the gym. Her basketball journey included time with the Wallaceburg AirHawks club team, in high school with the Ursuline Lancers (2004-2009), Northeastern University Huskies (2009-2013) and the New England Trailblazers semi-pro team in 2020.
After leading the Ursuline Lancers to a SWOSSAA title in 2009, Kerkhof accepted a full scholarship to Northeastern to play for their NCAA Division 1 women's basketball team. Kerkhof had a successful four years in Boston both on and off the court. She was captain of the Northeastern Huskies her senior year and was named second-team CAA all-conference. She was named a third-team CAA all-conference her junior year. In 2012 she was named to the all-tournament team at the Florida International Sun and
Fun Classic. Overall, Kerkhof finished her four years at Northeastern 15th in all-time scoring for Northeastern womens basketball, scoring
1,140 points in her career.
Other accolades include being named the Ontario Baller of the year in 2012 by the Ontario Basketball Association and Athlete of the Year
by the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
Academically, Kerkhof was named to the Capital One Academic All-District First Team her senior year, awarded to the nations top
student-athletes. She won the Jeanne L. Rowlands Award in both her sophomore and senior years, for an outstanding female student
athlete who excels academically in the health professions. In her sophomore and senior years, Kerkhof was the Northeastern women’s basketball scholar athlete for the most outstanding academic performance on the women's basketball team.
During her four years at Northeastern, Kerkhof was on the CAA Commissioners List for maintaining above a 3.2 GPA or higher. She was also named to the CAA all-academic team her sophomore, junior and senior years for having a top five GPA in the CAA. Kerkhof also earned the Dean Leroy C. Keagle Scholarship her senior year, which goes to a student with academic stability and soundness of character.
Over her basketball career, Kerkhof had a number of mentors and favourite coaches. They include: Tom and Lorri Moynihan, who
introduced her to the game and truly changed the course of her entire life, something she will forever be grateful to them, Bill Davis, who spent time before and after practice working on her shot. Kerkhof said to this day she can hear Coach Davis telling her to get her elbow in after a miss. Ursuline Lancer coaches Ed Freeburn, Patty Bromley and Michelle Mommersteeg.
High school was some of Kerkhof's favourite basketball years playing with some of her best friends still today. Kerkhof said they had an incredible group of players and coaches where her time with this team grew her love for the game more. Ursuline coach/teacher Jim Dunlop provide her with an opportunity to get outside her comfort zone, which proved valuable when she got to college. Kerkhof's guard coach at Northeastern—Victoria Wancel, helped bring her game to the college level and challenged her every day to be better.
Deanna is a well-deserved Inductee into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations!