CALGARY – A unique two-sport star who led the University of Calgary to multiple championships in both field hockey and volleyball, Gaylene Barry (Donald) now has her legacy further enshrined with a place in the Canada West Hall of Fame.
From 1968-72, Barry established herself as one of the most decorated athletes in school history, being named University of Calgary Female Athlete of the Year in both 1970 and 1972.
Barry has the unique distinction of playing and starting on three conference championship teams in two different sports over a span of three years. In addition, she led two conference championship teams in two different sports in the same calendar year.
She made her debut during the 1968-69 academic term, being named a co-captain of the University of Calgary women’s volleyball team. On the club level, she was a member of the Calgary team that captured the Canadian Junior Volleyball Championship.
The calendar year of 1970 was truly one to remember for Barry and her teammates. In the spring, she was captain of the Western Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now Canada West) championship winning volleyball team. The team went on to make history by becoming the first University of Calgary team to win a national championship, while also representing Canada at the World University Games in Torino, Italy.
Later that fall, Barry would add a second conference championship in the same calendar year by leading Calgary’s field hockey team to a conference title.
Barry continued to play both sports in 1970-71, leading Calgary to another conference field hockey championship and starring on the women’s volleyball team that were conference finalists.
In her final year as a varsity athlete during the 1971-72 term, Barry once again thrived while playing both sports. In field hockey, she was a member of the Alberta provincial team and earned all-star honours at the Field Hockey national championships, earning a spot on the Canadian National Women’s Field Hockey Team. On the volleyball court, she helped the Dinos capture another conference championship and was invited to tryout for the Canadian team that competed in the 1972 World University Games in Moscow, Russia.
Barry would go on to play for the National Women’s Field Hockey team from 1972 through 1977, including competing for Canada at the 1975 World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Barry graduated with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1971. She attained her Master of Education from the University of Portland in 1996.
She was inducted into the Dinos Hall of Fame in 2004.
Canada West unveiled its entire Hall of Fame Class of 2024-25 earlier this week, with individual inductee spotlights to follow throughout the season. Fans can view all previous inductees on the Canada West Hall of Fame website.