Grossman leaving legacy on and off the court
Author: Scott Briggs
Posted on May 15, 2023
Category: Alumni , Varsity Sports , ACAA , Basketball
Attending medical school while playing for the UNB Saint John women’s basketball team left little downtime for Hanna Grossman.
“I got really good at studying on the bus,” said the 24-year-old forward from Riverview. “It definitely had its challenges, but you need breaks from medical school and it’s really easy to get completely sucked into it. It’s easy to give all your time to school, so basketball was a great way to get a break, get some exercise, be with the girls and compete a bit.”
After graduating from Riverview High School and leading the Royals to a berth in the girls AAA provincial final at Harbour Station, Grossman brought her game to UNB Saint John, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in biology and psychology. After earning a place in the medical school program, she continued playing basketball.
The Seawolves lost a season due to COVID-19, allowing her to use her fifth and final year of eligibility this season. The 2022-23 was her sixth academic year at UNB Saint John.
“The last two years I’ve been the oldest on the team by quite a few years,” Grossman said. “Even though we’ve been growing, it’s been hard.”
That’s because the Seawolves went winless the past two seasons. And while Grossman captained the squad and won team MVP honours in both years, she would trade individual accolades for more wins.
“I wish the season could have gone differently, but I definitely enjoyed my time with the team,” she said. “It’s hard, especially as competitive as I am. Even though we weren’t getting our results, I still had fun and I was exercising, and I enjoyed the time I spent with the girls. There are so many pros to it regardless of the outcomes.”
Seawolves head coach Kevin Munroe recruited Grossman after watching her play at a tournament in Sussex. Until then, Grossman admits she hadn’t heard of UNB Saint John.
“Hanna is just an incredible human being,” Munroe said. “She had a 4.3 GPA for all four years on her undergraduate degree. On top of that, she was involved in extra curricular activities and committees. There are other awards and honours, including being a national scholar. She is an amazing ambassador for our program, and she’s going to be an outstanding addition to the New Brunswick medical community.”
Grossman said she inherited her trademark work ethic from parents Mark and Paula. Mark is a realtor and Paula a health consultant.
“My parents have always been really good role models,” Grossman said. “They gave me plenty of opportunities in sport growing up, and I just kind of fell in love with it. As long as I wanted it and showed that I was willing to commit to it, they were there to support me. I also had the personal drive, I like to compete with myself and do the best I can. I don’t feel right if I don’t give my all. I always try to push myself as much as I can, but also maintain good balance.”