Hakstol whistles his way from the lab to the court

On most days, you can find instructor Rhys Hakstol in the familiar hallways of the Cousins Building. But in March, he was found in the middle of the action at the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championships as a referee. It’s another big assignment for Hakstol, who is steadily building an impressive resume as a basketball official. In just the past year he’s been tapped to officiate the Alberta 4A girls’ high school provincial final between Raymond and Magrath as well as a gold medal game at the Niagara 2022 Canada Games.

Hakstol started officiating junior high games while he was in high school as a way to stay involved in the basketball scene. He kept at it while pursuing his degree and beyond, continuing to gain experience and climbing the officiating ladder. After eight years as a ref, he reached a milestone last season when he was hired on to the Canada West panel, allowing him to officiate at the post-secondary level.

Hakstol says he’s had many great mentors to learn from, which is important when you’re an official in the middle of a basketball hotbed. “If you’ve been in southern Alberta for any amount of time, you know the basketball culture a bit and you know that people are very passionate,” he says. “There’s a responsibility to be at your best all the time.”

He also says his experience as a college instructor has helped him navigate the interactions he has with coaches and players. “I think being an educator helps with interactions. I try not to take myself too seriously. Being patient and having respect for players, coaches and the table crew is important. I mean politeness is free, right? And in terms of philosophy, you just want to promote a fair game.”

He then went on to Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) nationals where he improved his time and finished 12th overall. During the indoor track season, Williams thrived in long distance events and went on to set new Lethbridge College records. At the indoor track championships, he raced in three events and contributed 18 points to the team’s 83-point victory.

INSPIRED BY THE FAMILY TRADE, CULINARY GRAD FORGES HER OWN PATH WITH AN INNOVATIVE TAKE ON FINE DINING.