Alumni Association of Lakehead University

Thunderwolves Graduate Profiles: Rena Bode: Nordic Skiing 

By Mike Aylward
March 26, 2007
Thunder Bay, ON

Catherine “Rena” Bode has come to symbolize the success and continuity of Lakehead’s excellent women’s Nordic ski team over the past five seasons.  Bode will leave Lakehead as one of its most decorated student-athletes.  This season; she again helped lead her team to OUA and CIS-CCUNC national championship titles.

Her team credentials are impressive; Bode helped lead her women’s squad to three straight OUA championships and four consecutive CIS-CCUNC national championships.

Individually; Bode is a five-time OUA All Star, and OUA Championships MVP, CIS-CCUNC All Canadian, member of CIS Team Canada at the Torino 2007 Winter Universiade Games, and a five-time winner of an OUA Academic Achievement Award.  She was also Lakehead Female Athlete of the Year in 2006 and Lakehead’s representative at the prestigious OUA Women of Influence annual symposium.

Bio 

Name: Rena (Catherine) Bode

Hometown:  Thunder Bay

Program: Honours Biology Concurrent Education

Sport:  Nordic skiing

Years as a varsity Lakehead Athlete: 5

Lakehead/OUA/CIS Honours:

1.  OUA All Star in each of her five seasons and OUA Championships MVP this year.
2. 8th in CIS 2 years ago and 5th in CIS last year; CIS-CCUNC All Canadian
3. Member of three time OUA Championship team and four-time CIS-CCUNC National Championship team\
4. Lakehead Female Athlete of the Year
5. OUA Academic Achievement Award in each of her five seasons for maintaining an 80% or better average.
6. Lakehead representative at OUA Women of Influence.
7. Member of CIS Team Canada at 2007 World Winter Universiade Games in Torino, Italy.

Rena Bode in Action

Q & A with Rena Bode:

Q: What are your fondest memories as a Lakehead varsity athlete?

Bode:    Every year at OUA championships dominating the field, training camp in Grand Marais, travelling to the world university games as a Team Canada member, dressing up for OUA banquets (costumes), getting more and more recognition as a Lakehead athlete as the years progressed.

Q: What do you think was your top athletic achievement or performance as a Lakehead Varsity Athlete?

Bode: Last year I raced really hard and well at the CCUNC national cross-country championships.  Because of those races and results I received an All Canadian award and qualified to go to the world university games in Torino, Italy this year; which was amazing.  Winning the OUA championships this year was hard work and a relief to finally be on top of the podium

Q: What did being a Lakehead varsity athlete teach you that will help you in your life after university?

Bode: Work hard for what you want.  Every minute of the day counts, so fit in as much as you can and work hard and you can do it all (skiing and school).