by By Dan Ninham
Shyla Red Wolf, 18, is Crow or Apsaalooke and her clan is being a child of Piegan and Bad War Deeds. “My Indian name is baapáalixawe meaning Sunflower,” said Shyla. “My hometown is Crow Agency, MT. I compete for Mandaree High School and I am a senior class of 2021.”
“My main athletic accomplishments would be running cross country at state and making the clutch free throws and winning the game in our third place regional basketball game,” said Shyla.
“My tribal core values define me as a student-athlete is thinking of my ancestors and what they sacrificed for me to be where I am today,” said Shyla. “I’m coming from a descendant of Chief Plenty Coups and Pretty Eagle and helps me accomplish all of my goals in life especially in my education.”
“People who positively influence me as an athlete is my brother Lance Shane,” said Shyla. “He always gives me advice and pushes me to pass my limits by having me read books to help make me have a stronger mentality. He gave me one book called Relentless by Tim Grover and it really helped with my mentality.”
“When I was reading it, it teaches you to change your mindset. He trained Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to be the good players they were and that’s what inspired me,” added Shyla.
“Shyla has an inner desire to succeed in whatever she pursues,” said Shyla’s brother Lance Shane. “She has an appreciation for the game and the experiences that it brings forth. She is always open to the advice of the coaches and continues to learn and put forth the effort. She is also a team player and excited to be in practice and on the court with her team, beginning this new season.”
“My grandpa, the late Howard Shane passed away in September the day before my birthday,” said Shyla. “He would tell me to shoot 500 shots a day without stopping and not come back inside until I’m done.”
Donovan Abbey worked with Shyla up to her junior year of basketball at Mandaree HS. The high school chose to stop all sports during the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19 so there wasn’t a senior year of basketball for Shyla.
Coach Donovan will be working with Shyla next season since both will be at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, ND. Donovan will be the new head women’s coach and Shyla is one of his recruits.
“Shyla is a quiet forward for our lady warriors,” said Donovan Abbey. “She’s an excellent shooter and just need her to shoot more. Shyla is a coach’s dream, she takes coaching instructions well. Never once did she ever talk back or give the good ol’ eye roll.”
“Shyla’s last game as a lady warrior was a proud moment for her. We were down by one to Parshall HS with under 10 seconds, and I drew up a play and she was smart enough to drop back as her defender sank to the middle. The pass was lobbed to her for a three-pointer and she shot and was fouled. She went to the line and sank all three free throws to give us a lead and to place third in our regional tournament,” added Donovan.
“My words of wisdom to people who look up to me would be no matter how tired you are, how tired you get from the early mornings and late nights to keep going and pushing yourself,” said Shyla.
Photo Credit: Siobhan Ruth
