Pitch-perfect plan for her future
Athletic musician Grace Leahy gains recruiters’ attention
WATERLOO — The multitalented teenager might choose field hockey and she might decide on ice hockey.
She might even continue to tickle the ivories.
For the time being, Grace Leahy is delighted to have the opportunity to cherish them all.
A Grade 10 student in the international baccalaureate program at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, Leahy has already been approached about playing both types of hockey by university recruiters. The classically-trained pianist could also follow her passion for music at the post-secondary school level.
She’s in no rush to make such an important decision.
“I love music and I love sports, that’s how I was raised ... it’s just what I do and what I love. People always ask me which is my favourite and I really don’t have an answer,” said the 15-year-old Leahy earlier this week.
“When the time comes that I have to choose one thing over the others, it’s nice to have that choice.”
The fact she excels in music, sports and school shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to anyone familiar with the Waterloo-based Leahy family.
Her mother, Lisa Bauer-Leahy, played field hockey for Canada at the 1984 Olympics and is the niece of Hockey Hall of Fame members Bobby Bauer and Father David Bauer.
He father, Frank, is an accomplished fiddle player, violinist, composer, actor, playwright and producer who played hockey for the Elmira Sugar Kings (Jr. B) and University of Guelph.
Her six older siblings are no slouches, either.
Maria is former player and current head coach of the University of Waterloo’s field hockey team, Brianna was the captain of the Princeton University women’s ice hockey team, Jasmine plays for the Kitchener Ice Pirates hockey team, Phil played golf at Berry College in Georgia, Joe plays ice hockey at Cornell University in Ithica, N.Y., and Basil is on the tennis team at the University of Western Ontario.
“There’s an advantage to being the youngest,” said Grace. “I saw what everyone else went through to be successful.”
Leahy is one of the top field hockey players in the Waterloo County (WCSSAA) girls hockey league and has played a key role for the Golden Gaels during the regular season that wraps up next week.
She has scored 10 times in 11 games and her team is currently fourth in the standings with a record of seven wins, one loss and three ties.
She plays field hockey at the club level for the Toronto-based Goa Reds and has achieved success at both the provincial and national levels. She was named the tournament’s most valuable player in July when Ontario finished second at the Canadian U15 championship and she followed that up with a gold-medal performance at the Ontario Summer Games in August.
On the ice, she plays forward for the London Devilettes midget AA team that is one of the highest-rated squads in North America.
And then there’s her artistic side.
Leahy has achieved her Grade 10 level in piano and is currently working on her Associate of The Royal Conservatory (ARCT) diploma that allows her to teach professionally around the world.
She can hold her own with the violin as well, and has achieved her Grade 7 level in voice.
She attends twice-weekly piano lessons before school and most days climbs out of bed at 6 a.m. to practise.
It’s a routine she’s followed for years and one that hasn’t always gone over well with her siblings.
“Most of them are at university now, but oh my gosh, they would hate it,” she said with a smile.
“And late at night, I’d be up pretty late, and they’d be yelling ‘shut it down, Grace.’ ’’
She’s also acted, starting with an ensemble role at the 2014 Stratford Festival production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The following year, also at Stratford, she played the role of Brigitta von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.”
Uncertain where her talents will take her, Lahey said “education will be the top priority” when she decides on what path to follow.
“My goal right now is Ivy League,” she said. “But we’ll see.”