Last week, Marci Kiselyk was back where it all began.
The basketball star, a recent graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, was home in Athabasca to host a basketball camp at her old high school, Edwin Parr Composite. There, in the gym where she once learned the ins and outs of the game, she gave the new generation of local basketball players the benefit of her experience.
From Monday to Thursday (with the help of guest instructors like EPC coach Wade Hicks and recent graduate Amy Kobzey) she taught the game’s finer points to kids in grades 1-6 in the mornings and grades 7-12 in the afternoons.
Working with a collection of kids of varying ages was a challenge, but one she relished as she prepares for a career in teaching and coaching.
“With the younger kids, I got to see how quickly they improve. They’re sponges at that age,” she said. “My goal was to introduce them to some skills and make them enjoy the sport, which they all did coming in.”
The youngsters learned the basics of the game, from shooting and passing to ball handling, with a little bit of teamwork thrown in. And Kiselyk was happy to see the older kids help out their younger counterparts.
After lunch the camp got a little more serious as the older and more competitive athletes hit the court. Kiselyk had plenty to teach this group as they have their own high school basketball careers to work on.
“I was really thrilled with how competitive that group was. They were pretty fearless too. They’re willing to try new things and that’s how you get better,” she said. “I saw a lot of improvements in every aspect of the game.”
Having recently completed her own career in competitive basketball, Kiselyk couldn’t help but reminisce as she returned to EPC.
“I have nothing but fond memories of this school and this gym,” she said.
And with a new career in teaching and coaching ahead of her, she could think of no better place to get it started then right in the spot where her athletic career began.
“It’s come full circle.”
