By Jacob Dimond
jake@yelmonline.com
The Nyastrong Warriors Academy continued its strong, winning ways by coming out of the Capital City 3-on-3 Tournament victorious. Held on July 14-15 in Tumwater, the team of third- and fourth- grade girls defeated four other local teams en route to winning the tournament.
The Tenino-based youth girls basketball program features Loreina Rosado-Jove, Sariah Parker, Shawna Everybodytalksabout and Brielle Sirjesse. All four girls competed for the team during the Capital City 3-on-3 Tournament.
On its path to the championship, the team defeated the Olympia Spartans, 7-3, in the first game of the tournament, and then beat 90Ten, 10-0, to qualify for the semi-finals. In the semi-final matchup, NWA defeated Little Hoopers, 9-2, to advance to the championship matchup.
In the championship finals NWA defeated the Olympia Spartans, 8-4.
Nyastrong Warriors Academy’s head coach Richard Durham said preparing for the tournament was like “no other” the program has seen. He said the team had to work around multiple spring sports schedules and roster changes. Despite the circumstances, the team practiced hard leading up to the tournament and ultimately prevailed, he said.
“Our game plan was to play great defense, physically dominate our opponent and outwork everybody,” Durham said. “We won the championship for two reasons: our girls’ effort, energy and enthusiasm with a tremendous amount of grit and grin. The second, which is a conduit for the above, is the work ethic our parents and families instilled in their daughters. As always, Coach Jennifer [Christian], who is also a mom of one of the girls, did an outstanding job.”
The team gave up nine points defensively in its four games in the tournament. Durham noted that five of the nine points allowed were on free-throw shots, and they only gave up four baskets in 80 minutes of basketball.
“This championship meant so much, not because of the competition we faced, but because of the willingness of the girls and families to prepare to play their best in the tournament,” Durham said. “Every lesson we try to teach the girls [in] life through sports played out in our preparation for this tournament. Again, I give so much credit to our parents for their commitment to the program and work ethic they instilled in their daughters.”
Parents of players in the program had nothing but positive things to say about NWA and what it has done for their children. Sara Hamilton-Fordice, Brielle Sirjesse’s mom, said they’re incredibly blessed to have found NWA and Coach Durham.
“Brielle has learned to take and follow directions and has a deep understanding of what a team needs,” she said. “These needs are above her own and focus on the team effort rather than on individual success. For an 8-year-old, this is a very tough concept. You win or lose together as a team. [Brielle] has created meaningful relationships that can only be formed by a collective effort to succeed. Her abilities have been defined by her time with NWA, and for that we are eternally grateful.”
Brielle said no game has been harder than what they’ve encountered in practice.
“Our practices are hard so we are prepared for any game,” Brielle said. “The best part about competing is having fun while doing your best. When you do your best, you always win, even if you don’t win.”
Queenie Rose Jove-Karlik said practices have challenged her daughter, Loriena, but that has also pushed her more.
“NWA has benefited my daughter by being able to expand her learning and interest about basketball. It has become her passion to continue to grow in this sport,” Jove-Karlik said. “Because of her climbing interest, she has been excited to come to every practice. I believe that when children feel a sport or practice is too hard or if they are not motivated, it would mean that they are not having fun at all.”
Coach Christian said that NWA teaches discipline, and that hard work both on and off the court will help players succeed. Her daughter, Sariah Parker, shares that view.
“Games are way easier because learning happens in practice, playing happens in games,” Sariah said. She added that defense is her favorite aspect of basketball.
The Nyastrong Warriors Academy will compete in either the Federal Jam tournament or the Showare Center tournament on Aug. 11-12. Durham said he wants the girls to play against the best competition possible, and they’ll be participating in whichever tournament provides that.
The Nyastrong Warrior Academy basketball program honors Nya Jaquez, a Yelm High School student who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 16 in October 2016. During her high school athletic career, Jaquez qualified for the state golf tournament despite actively receiving chemotherapy throughout the season. Jaquez’s story of courage, strength and perseverance is a lesson Durham said he wanted the members of the NWA program to learn, appreciate and look back to during times of adversity.
