Dual-sport standout Athiei Achiek to compete for Axewomen on pitch and court

The Acadia Axewomen are adding one of Atlantic Canada’s most versatile young athletes, with St. John’s, N.L., product Athiei Achiek committing to compete in both soccer and basketball beginning in the 2026 season. 

 

Achiek, a 5'11 forward on the court and attacking midfielder/striker on the pitch, arrives from Holy Heart of Mary High School with an impressive résumé across both sports. 

 

In basketball, she helped lead Holy Heart of Mary to a 31–1 record during her high school career and was part of a provincial championship-winning team, earning MVP honours in 2025. She also captured tournament MVP honours at the MUN Invitational and was named a first-team all-star. 

 

Achiek has also competed at the provincial level with Team Newfoundland and Labrador, further showcasing her ability to perform in high-level competition. 

 

On the soccer side, she has built a strong profile as an attacking threat. Achiek was named player of the year in both 2022 and 2023 while competing in the St. John’s soccer system and has represented her province through national competitions and development pathways. She has made two appearances at Toyota National Championships and helped her club team earn a fifth-place finish at nationals in 2025 after winning the U17 Newfoundland and Labrador Cup.

 

Basketball head coach Len Harvey said Achiek’s dual-sport commitment speaks to her unique athletic ability. 

 

“We’re really excited about Athiei choosing Acadia,” said Harvey. “We have had a couple dual-sport athletes with our team previously, and her abilities on the court and the pitch speak to her uniqueness as a player. She’s established herself solidly as the top 2026 recruit out of Newfoundland and getting to watch her play both here in Nova Scotia and over there made our decision easy as she’s an incredibly special talent. We expect her to make an immediate impact as a player, but her special qualities as a teammate and person make us even more excited about adding her to our team and the school.” 

 

Axewomen soccer head coach Danielle Cyr sees similar impact potential. 

“Athiei is an exceptional attacker with the versatility to play anywhere across the front four,” said Cyr. “She has a strong game IQ, reads the game very well, and possesses a phenomenal ability to find dangerous areas and finish with composure. Athiei is a next-level athlete, competitor, and teammate — and above all, a wonderful human being. She will have an immediate impact on our team and on Acadia Athletics, and we cannot wait to welcome her to campus.” 

 

Achiek plans to study psychology at Acadia and says the opportunity to pursue both athletics and academics in a supportive environment was a key factor in her decision.