Brandon University Athletics

Tara Pitz (nee Dale) went from small-town basketball roots to the bright lights of university competition with the Bobcats.
 
The 5-foot-11 forward wore blue and gold from 1995 to 2000 and won BU's H.S. Perdue Award in 1998 while being an Academic all-Canadian.
 
She finished fifth in rebounds per-game in the Great Plains Athletic Conference in 1999 and was a tournament all-star in an exhibition tournament in Palm Springs, Florida.
 
"Tara has been our unsung hero for us the last couple of years.  She has always been asked to guard the all-Canadians on other teams and do a lot of the dirty work," Bobcat coach Don Thomson told CKX Television in the fall of 1999. "I think you're going to see Tara accept a leadership role this year and step up even more in the offensive area."
 
Her fifth and final season saw Pitz earn a plethora of awards. She was a Great Plains Athletic Conference second-team all-star; BU's Female Athlete of Year and earned the prestigious Harvey Young award for academic excellence.
 
Pitz played a major role in a historic run by her hometown Hamiota Huskies and was coached by Manitoba Sports Hall of Famer Lorna Robertson. The Huskies won their fifth straight 'A' provincial high school title in Pitz's grade 11 season. She scored 36 points in the championship final and was tournament MVP. Pitz was inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Huskies dynasty in 2007.
 
She was also a provincial all-star in soccer and volleyball and was recognized by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association and Basketball Manitoba with major awards.
 
Away from the basketball court, she competed in three national fastpitch championships as a pitcher.
 
She later transferred that into volunteer coaching with Virden Minor Baseball and softball pitching.
 
Her teaching career has spanned two decades at Virden Junior High School where she coached basketball and volleyball.
 
She has become a key leader in math education. Pitz has partnered with the Manitoba Rural Learning Consortium, Brandon Teachers Association and Fort La Bosse School Division to enhance student learning and success.