The NyaStrong Warriors Academy (NWA), a local fifth grade basketball organization, is gearing up for its 5-on-5 season in Tumwater’s Parks and Recreation 5th Grade Competitive League, with the program’s first game set for Saturday, Nov 23, in Tumwater.
Just over eight years after Nya Jaquez, a Yelm High School sophomore, passed away from her battle with signet ring cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer, her name and legacy remains honored through local fifth grade girls participating in the NWA program.
The program intends to teach young, local athletes the values and characteristics that Jaquez displayed during her multi-year fight with cancer, which included qualifying for the 4A state golf tournament during her freshman year in 2015 despite routinely leaving for treatment at 5 a.m. during her season. Despite the circumstances, Jaquez fought her battle with grace and determination until she passed away on Oct. 16, 2016.
Entering the new 5-on-5 season, NWA head coach Richard Durham said that practices leading into the new season have been great. The team consists of athletes Kora Hadaller, Loreina Rosado-Jove, Janna Perkins, Alasiah Noyes and Josi Winn. The girls will compete from November through January. After the first of the year, Durham said he hopes to get the team into some tournaments, too.
“We’ve been so fortunate that the Tenino School District has provided us with gym time. With the weather changing, without the school’s help we wouldn’t be able to go forward with the season,” Durham said. “Our parents and families commitment and effort getting the girls to practice has been outstanding. This is said all the time but never enough. When you coach youth, you coach the parents and families as well. Nothing we do happens without them.”
Durham said what he’s impressed with the most is the girls’ energy, effort and enthusiasm in their approach to the upcoming season. The coach said NWA’s approach is pretty simple — focus on being safe, having fun and competing.
“They know winning and losing is my concern,” Durham said, adding the players’ focus is competing. “And we never blur those lines. We’re not a rah rah program. We just line up and play ball.”
Durham said that the NWA program is blessed that its athletes are “comfortable being uncomfortable,” adding they’re built to deal with adversity and look forward to any challenges that present themselves.
“All that being said. This coming season we only have five girls. Our girls have to play every second of every game,” Durham said. “We are ready for that. The girls understand it’s the will to prepare to succeed that matters, not the will to succeed. Everybody has that. Our program is for kids that want to be better than good.”
NWA’s team captain Hadaller said practices leading up to the new season have been challenging because the team has been pushing its limits. She described her team as a hardworking crew, adding that the team is “fierce, fearless and fun.”
“I am very excited for the new season because we are going to face new competition and play full-court defense. I really enjoy my teammates. They are so funny and kind,” Hadaller said.
“Personally, I want to improve my reverse layups, dribbling and defense. Also, I want to do whatever it takes to help our team be successful this season.”
Noyes said that practices have been both fun and hard. She’s looking forward to the season because she “loves basketball and team activities.”
“The thing I like most about the NWA program is how we are supporting Nya’s parents [Kasandra and Doug Jaquez],” Noyes said. “My first few goals are to get better at layups, find out more about the team and get better at ball control.”
Rosado-Jove said, as the new reason approaches, practices have been both smooth and intense as Durham teaches athletes new plays to run. She’s hopeful to improve her jumping and shooting this season, as well as become a better teammate.
“We have high energy right now and are very excited and confident that our hard work and determination will pay off on the court. I can’t wait for the new season! My teammates are awesome! I think we’re going to have so much fun. I just want to get out there and play basketball,” Rosado-Jove said. “The NWA program has been great. I got to meet great teammates each season that I played for them. The dedication [that] coach Richard [has for] the team and me is unmatched. I want to thank the NWA program and coach for believing in me and all the girls. I first learned basketball through this program about three years ago, and I hope to keep playing for NWA until I get to the WNBA when I grow up.”
Winn said that practices with NWA have been going good, as she’s been learning new things and having fun with her teammates. She added that Durham pushes her and her teammates to be their best.
“I am excited for this new season because I am getting better and so is my team. What I like most about the NWA program is the tough mentality we learn,” Winn said. “Some of the goals I have for the new season are getting better at bringing the ball down the court, getting better with my feet on defense, attacking the hoop, seeing the court and getting better at rebounding.”
Perkins added that practices have been both hard and tough, but the team has become better and persevered, becoming better teammates in the process.
“I’m excited for the new season because it will be fun with my teammates, and we will be playing the game we like. What I like most about NWA is you work hard and you get better,” Perkins said. “Some of my goals for the new season is for us to play as a team and work hard. My individual goal is to improve at dribbling.”