By Sarah Tone, Communications Coordinator
Basketball sisters Kyulin and Izzy Fust are excited to be competing together at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara. The sisters are not taking the experience at Games for granted, as they know that not many siblings get the opportunity to compete alongside each other. Playing in a team sport also means the girls know how to make each other better on and off the court.
Their mom Brooke (nee Bender) and dad Paul are both Team Toba alumni who played basketball at the 1997 Canada Summer Games Games in Brandon, and are overjoyed to be here watching the girls play, knowing that the Canada Games experience is unique and something special the girls will remember for a long time to come.
“The Games are a lot bigger and more involved than when we played. The opening ceremonies were so big, with all the country represented, it was something special to watch and for the girls to be a part of,” said Brooke.
The journey to the 2022 CSG started in 2019 with Kyu playing on the 15U provincial team.
“It was so much fun to be a part of. The basketball was really good, and my teammates made it a great experience”.
Izzy, is the younger sister and wasn’t on the team, but remembers watching her sister play.
“It was cool to see Kyu play, she came back with so many stories and I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of too”.
Izzy and Kyu have played together since they were young, but this high school season was a big one as the sisters helped lead Dakota Collegiate’s varsity girls team to the AAAA high school championship. A feat that both Izzy and Kyu have in mind for the upcoming season as a goal in their sport.
“I would like to finish high school with another championship,” remarked Kyu. “Long term I would like to play at a university with the goal of starting and challenging for a national title”.
Izzy agrees that winning at the high school level is a goal and one she is happy to share with her sister, for one more year at least.
“I want to get the three-peat high school championship, then take my basketball to the university level”.
When asked about how it is to play with her sister here in Niagara, both agree it is awesome, and they are happy to have each other’s support.
“We can be intense with each other, but that also makes us better because we push each other” Kyu commented.
Both agree that there is a lot of work ahead to make it to a medal game, but they know the team is ready to make Manitoba proud!
Next Game – Tonight (Thursday) at 7:45 p.m. vs Alberta
