by By RYAN CRAIG
KYNR News
TOPPENISH, Wash. – A trio of Yakama Nation Tribal School student-athletes recently signed their letters of intent to continue their education and college basketball careers next fall.
Bree Peters, Gwen Dawes and Beth Scabbyrobe all took part in the afternoon event at their school May 11. The three girls will hang up their Eagle uniforms and put on uniforms for their respective schools.
See what’s out there“It was really heartfelt for me and my family,” said Peters, 18 of Toppenish, about the letter-signing day. “I didn’t get to play the whole season, so me signing to a college was really cool after not playing.”
Peters said she would attend Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Massechusets this fall.
She’s excited to be attending a school that is across the country from the Yakama Nation.
“I just want to experience that side of the country and to get away from here to see what life is like outside of the reservation,” she said.
Peters said that she’s had the idea of moving away from home for college since her sophomore year of high school.
“I didn’t think it was going to be that far, but I’m happy that it is,” said Peters.
Peters said she had been in contact with the Springfield coach since December. She took a virtual tour of the school and campus and said she liked what she saw. She was also drawn to the opportunity to travel as part of the basketball team as well. “That’s what attracted me more is that we get to travel a lot,” Peters said.
Last season the Springfield Tech. team traveled to the United Kingdom, something Peters said they plan on doing again this upcoming season.
Peters said that while at Springfield Technical Community College she wants to study health science. Peters said her mother encouraged her to pursue a degree in the field.
“I want to be a dental hygienist,” she said. “But with a health science degree I can go into a lot of things.”
Nervous and excitedWhen her coach and uncle, John Scabbyrobe first signed her up to a college recruiting site called Field Level, Beth Scabbyrobe didn’t think too much would come from it.
The recruiting site is how Tompkins Cortland Community College’s Head Basketball Coach Joyce Wright got in contact with Scabbyrobe.
“She (Wright) just wanted to know if I was interested in the program she was setting up and to send her a message back,” said Scabbyrobe, 17 of White Swan.Scabbyrobe said she did send the coach a message back and since February has maintained a great relationship with her. After Facetime conversations and going over the option to attend school and play basketball at Tompkins Cortland, Scabbyrobe said she decided it was what she wanted to do in the fall.
“After getting to know the coach, it felt more comfortable,” said Scabbyrobe.
Tompkins Cortland Community College is located in Dryden, New York. The school’s website lists it as a 22-acre rural campus. Dryden is around a 4-hour drive from New York City.
With plans to leave in August, Scabbyrobe said she does have some nerves going into the long adventure away from home.“Kinda half and half with being excited and being nervous,” she said.
Scabbyrobe said she plans to study physical therapy while at Tompkins Cortland. She also plans to try out a walk-on for the softball team as well.
Cougar referralFor Dawes, 18 and of Toppenish, the next step in her education and basketball career won’t be as far from home as it will be for her YNTS teammates.
She signed her letter of intent May 11 to attend Walla Walla Community College this fall.“I really like the coach and what she had to offer,” Dawes said.
She traveled to Walla Walla this spring to work out and play some scrimmage games with the college team. Dawes said it was a former Walla Walla Community College women’s player who graduated from White Swan who referred Dawes to the college coach.
After visiting and meeting with the coach, Dawes said she decided in April she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to attend Walla Walla. Dawes said it has always been a goal of hers to play basketball at the college level.
“I’m happy I was looked at by a college,” Dawes said. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was 3 years old.”
She plans to study business administration with a future goal of working in payroll.“
My mom worked in payroll and I really want to do what she did,” Dawes said.
Above–Left-to-right are Gwen Dawes, Beth Scabbyrobe and Bree Peters in the YN Tribal School gym May 25. The three seniors at YNTS signed letters of intent to play college basketball next fall and winter. YNR photo by Ryan Craig.
