It’s a dream come true for Eckville Aces basketball player Casey Belway.
Belway is trading her Aces red and black for Eagles blue, as she officially signed with Kings University in Edmonton on April 27.
Belway and her new coach Brian Anstice signed the letter of intent in a ceremony in the Eckville Junior Senior High School’s gym on Friday surrounded by family, friends and team mates.
She said playing university ball has been her dream since she first took to the court in the eighth grade.
“This is like a dream come true. This is what I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Belway said after the ceremony.
Belway said the signing isn’t just on her, as she has come a long way since first beginning to play the game.
In a brief speech, Belway thanked her family, specifically her parents for the support they continuously gave her.
“They are over the moon,” Belway said of her parents, who will be making the drive to as many games as they can get to.
She also gave a shout out to her teammates, many of whom she has played alongside since Grade 8.
She also thanked her coach, Cody Magneson.
“He stuck with me even when I cried after every practise,” said Belway.
Magneson said he was proud of Belway, who has worked hard to make it to the university level.
While proud of her, he also said it is hard to see her leave.
“Casey is the type of player you love to coach, and hate to see leave,” said Magneson. “She has been a great player and I can see great things in her future.”
Magneson described Belway as hardworking and determined. This can be seen in how far she has come since she first stepped foot on the court.
“She told me she wanted to play college ball, and I told her it would take a lot of work,” Magneson said.
Eagles’ Head Coach Anstice said he was first made aware of Belway when he came to Eckville to scout another player.
However, he caught sight of Belway and saw something special in her. This was when she was still in Grade 11.
When scouting a new player, Anstice says he looks beyond just the player’s ability.
“I look for character. Casey has the right character and she has it in spades,” said Anstice. “I know she will fit in well with the team work with her new teammates.”
Belway travelled to Edmonton a couple times to practise with the team to ensure she was a good fit.
Anstice said he had made a commitment to Belway before he officially made the offer.
For Belway, she is excited to get back out on the court next season and to get to know her new team.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with a new family,” said Belway. “That’s what I had here, a really family, and I know the girls [at Kings University] are like a family as well.”
There will be a lot of hard work to be done on Belway’s part. The move up to Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) from high school will be quite a change.
“Right now, Casey is a bit of a big fish in a little pond,” said Anstice. “It will be different for her to be playing with others who are at her same level or above.”
That being said, Anstice said it is really impressive Belway made it to the ACAC from a 1A school. This is not because of her skill level, rather the likelihood of her being seen.
Players from the larger 4A school could have upwards of 70 players from their school try out for a team.
“Being one of two high school players offered a position on my team says a lot about Casey, this school and the program she is coming from,” said Anstice.
Belway, who plans to study biology and kinesiology at Kings University, plans to work hard to meet the challenge, both on the court and in the classroom.
“This is an amazing opportunity, and something I’ve been working towards for a long time now. I’m not going to back down,” said Belway.
Belway leaves Eckville High School in June, but Anstice says she may not be the last player from Eckville to sign with Kings University.
“I have my eye on a few players who are younger than Casey. She may not be the last player we see sign with us,” said Anstice.
megan.roth@eckvilleecho.com
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