Amy Kobzey, an Edwin Parr Composite (EPC) School graduate, has played at Grande Prairie Regional College in the women’s basketball program for the last three years.
She will not return next year, as she has moved her studies from Grande Prairie to Edmonton, but she will look back fondly on her college athletic career.
In Grande Prairie, she played with two other EPC graduates, Jackie Elgert and Brooke Padlewski.
“Going to school and playing in Grande Prairie was one of the best decisions of my life, and Brooke and Jackie would agree it was one of theirs as well,” Kobzey said. “Playing with Brooke and Jackie was a lot of fun; it was nice to have someone from your hometown there with you.”
Kobzey, who plays centre, explained she played with Elgert and Padlewski in high school.
“Jackie became the starting point guard, and it was like we were playing back at high school, but at a much more competitive level,” Kobzey explained. “Brooke became such an important player when she was on the court because she built so much strength over the season she became a very strong threat on the floor.”
Kobzey said that with her departure from the team, both Padlewski and Elgert will have large roles to fill in the team next season.
“Next fall in Edmonton, I plan on playing some basketball through a women’s league or a mixed league,” she said. “Nothing as competitive as college, but hopefully some good basketball.”
Kobzey has her high school coach Wade Hicks to thank for the experience.
“Playing for a small school was always hard, but Wade would help me get my head in the game when I needed it most,” she explained. “It’s a different style than college, but it got me prepared enough to succeed at college.”
Hicks inspired Kobzey to do her best, and she wants to pass that on to others.
“Playing for Wade and representing EPC has helped me make decisions for my future because when I am going to the U of A, I am going to specialize in coaching with my phys-ed degree, because I want to be able to help players succeed to the best of their abilities like Wade does with all of his athletes,” she said.
Grande Prairie coach Dave Waknuk stated he enjoyed coaching Kobzey.
“Amy really had a good career with us. She came out of high school and grew and matured as a player and as a person,” he said. “She is someone we are going to miss. She was a big part of the team.”
He said Elgert and Padlewski made waves as rookies on a veteran team this year.
“They were two rookies that had the most impact,” Waknuk said. “That says a lot about them and their character. They played a big part of our team last year, and now they will be an even bigger part next year.”
Waknuk said Hicks is to thank for so many EPC girls graduating to college ball.
“The consistent factor in all of this is that Wade Hicks, who has been a long-time coach in Athabasca, and who is an alumnus of the college, has been a big reason why there are as many girls playing college basketball,” Waknuk said. “It says a lot about him and his program at Edwin Parr that he is able to produce college athletes consistently.”
Kobzey said for anyone wanting to get into college ball, the key is just to work hard.
“It’s time consuming. It’s mentally and physically exhausting. But when you get past all of that, it will end up being an experience,” she said. “Sometimes I hear players give up their college basketball experience because they don’t want to move far away from home. I suggest trying it for one year. If it doesn’t work out, then it’s an experience that you can use for future references. Home will always be there for you. These kinds of experiences only happen once in a while.”
