ItSA国际影视传媒檚 always impressive when an athlete from the NWT finds their way down south to keep playing their chosen sport at the post-secondary level.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 even more impressive when two athletes who play the same sport end up signing on to play at the same school.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 exactly what happened on Monday when it was announced that Lily Newberry and Taya Straker have both agreed to join the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 basketball team at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in Halifax for the 2023-24 school year. Both ladies are part of the Yellowknife Eagles high performance program and have been teammates at the club and territorial level for several years.
Their most recent time together as teammates came this past August at the Canada Summer Games in Ontario.
Newberry said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 excited to see where playing at MSVU will take her.
SA国际影视传媒滶verything I have heard about the MSVU womenSA国际影视传媒檚 basketball program I have liked,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is a competitive group of women who play similar to how I enjoy playing (and) this is one of the reasons ISA国际影视传媒檓 so excited to go.SA国际影视传媒�
Mark Forward, head coach of the MSVU womenSA国际影视传媒檚 program, said he likes the feisty game Newberry will bring to the team.
SA国际影视传媒漇he has a competitive fire that fuels her high motor and compete level,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪he is athletic and strong and uses these traits to get to the important spots on the floor. She is responsible academically and is an excellent teammate.SA国际影视传媒�
StrakerSA国际影视传媒檚 sister, Mali, is part of the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 basketball team at St. Francis Xavier University, also in Nova Scotia.
SA国际影视传媒滱lthough I will be far from home, MSVU seems to have the small knit community and family feel that I am looking for in a home away from home,SA国际影视传媒� said Taya. SA国际影视传媒淚 am thrilled and honoured to be playing under coach ForwardSA国际影视传媒檚 leadership and I look forward to being part of such a great program.SA国际影视传媒�
Forward said he likes StrakerSA国际影视传媒檚 multi-dimensional skills.
SA国际影视传媒漈aya brings a versatile game to floor and being able to play multiple spots on both ends of the floor will fit well in our system,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪he has a good second effort in her game. She excels in the classroom as well and has a great team-first attitude.SA国际影视传媒�
Aaron Wells, who coached both ladies in the Eagles program and at the Canada Summer Games, said having two of his players make the jump to post-secondary basketball is a special feeling.
SA国际影视传媒淢ark was scouting Lily in Ontario and really wanted her to join,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭aya was sending film around and she was looking for a USports opportunity and Mark felt thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what she wanted because of her sister. But then she started sending e-mails to CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) schools and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how Mark found out about her and he wanted Taya to sign as well.SA国际影视传媒�
Wells said the program at MSVU is one of the best in the country and he has no doubt both Newberry and Straker will become even better players.
With both athletes committed to school for next season, that makes six graduates of the Eagles program who have made the jump to post-secondary teams. Meadow Munroe is at the University of Alberta-Augustana, Grace Christie at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick and Janet Rose at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario. Hayley Tait, who played at the University of New Brunswick and Vancouver Island University, has graduated and is back in Yellowknife.
Wells said itSA国际影视传媒檚 a sense of pride to see that many players make the jump, and the latest two are special to him.
SA国际影视传媒淚 can remember both Lily and Taya being a couple of kids in Grade 8 trying to impress the coach and now here they are,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e worked hard to get to this point and they proved that you can go far. Now we just need more girls playing basketball.SA国际影视传媒�
