REB 42: Standouts and Players to Watch
- Harrison Paulichuk
- Dec 19, 2025
- 22 min read
Written by Harrison Paulichuk
Thirty hours in Jasper Place gym this past weekend wasn’t enough. The Rebels Early Bird tournament—now in its 42nd year—remains one of Western Canada’s premier basketball events. This was my third year covering the senior boys' side of the event, and I loved every minute of it. The 12-team draw tipped off with a TSN-featured dunk contest winner and delivered three days of high-level competition among some of Canada’s top high school programs. The draw included a top 3 team from NS, two top 10 teams from BC, a top SK team, and the top two teams in AB. All teams fought hard to be the ones to hoist the final championship trophy, but only one could prevail. I wanted to extend a huge congratulations to the St FX Rams out of Edmonton for coming out on top of an event that could've been anyone’s. I am so appreciative to say that I was a part of this tournament from the opening ceremonies to the final whistle.
Welcome to my REB highlights—packed with standout performances and future prospects. I highlight the fifteen players that stood out most to me and sort them across three different teams. There will be an All-REB First Team, including the five best players I saw across the tournament and the MVP. This is followed by the All-REB Second Team, which includes the next best players in the tournament who stood out. Finally, there will be an All REB ‘Got Next’ Team that includes the best young prospects in the tournament. Choosing these teams was not an easy process, and there were plenty of exciting performances that I had to leave out. Selections were based solely on in-tournament performance, not reputation or outside play. I highlighted some solid single-game performances on my X account (@HPaulichuk) outside of the article as well, but to make the article, an athlete needed to stand out to me throughout the entire tournament. I did not count players out if their team performed poorly in the tournament, and alternately, did not give special praise to a player's game if their team did well. A player is more than the outcome of their team, and this article is made to celebrate individual athletes.
There are three main things that I look for in player performances. First and foremost, I need to see some kind of defensive ability. If a player can put up 20+ points a game but would let up just as many breakdowns on the other end, they didn't deserve to make my list. The second thing I keep in mind is consistency within an athlete's role. If I'm highlighting an athlete as a shooter, I need to see them doing this effectively and at a high clip. If they had a couple of bursts of scoring, then went cold for two quarters straight, it wouldn't move my needle. The third and final factor that I watch is the little things that an athlete does on and off the court. Were they boxing out for every shot? Talking on defense? Cheering and being a part of the team on the bench? These are just a few of the little things that athletes can do to catch my attention and earn looks from post-secondary coaches. These little things can make or break an athlete's recruitment, and I’ve seen it go both ways when talking to coaches. With that in mind, let’s dive into the first group of athletes.
All-REB First Team
The five athletes who were talented enough to earn a spot on the All-REB First Team were the best of the best all weekend. They made an impact on both team and individual performance and excelled in several different areas. These athletes are all talented in their own way, but were equally as impactful for their teams. These guys all played both ends of the ball at a high level. The first player on the list is the tournament MVP. The next four are the remaining first-team members listed alphabetically by last name.
                                                                           Photo courtesy of Graeme Kelly

#13 | Prabhshan Dhaliwal | 6'5 | G | Strathcona | 2027
For the first time in covering REB, my tournament MVP was not from the championship team. The bronze medal game featured arguably the tournament’s best individual performance. Prabhshan Dhaliwal from Strathcona will be one of the top scorers in Edmonton this year. The 6'5 senior has a lanky build and a high release point that allows him to get a shot off with hardly any space. He was pulling up from far beyond the arc confidently and draining shots all weekend. Even with the defense smothering him, his release stayed consistent, and he seemed unfazed. He chose to take it straight into the teeth of the defense, comfortably getting up into his shot. When he was in the paint, he went to a small turnaround jumper time and time again and made it look as easy as a layup. His abilities look unorthodox, and he moves at a much slower pace than most athletes, but the numbers don't lie, and he can flat-out score the ball. His footwork is good enough to get to his spots and simply rise up or fade into a bucket. His three-point shot is where he made his money, and is deadly at his size. He caught fire in the final game and couldn’t miss from the perimeter. Every time the shot clock wound down, Scona would just give him the ball, whether he was at the line or five feet back, and it looked like a cheat code. His most underrated skill was his defense. While he may not have been the quickest defender on the court, Dhaliwal was able to use his size to block shots. There were several times when he would end up in the paint on defense, where he used his length to shut down both smaller guards and bigs by blocking their tries at the rim. Knowing when to reach for the stuff block and when to use his length to just contest the shot bothered whoever tried to score on Dhaliwal. This guy is the definition of utilizing your skillset to the best of your abilities and showing up when it matters.

#3 | Bol Bol | 6'6 | G/F | St. Mary's | 2027
The first one out of Calgary on this team and maybe one of the best athletes in his city this season. Bol Bol, coming out of St. Mary's, is a 6'6 G/F with a solid build. Bol is an athlete who controls the tempo of the game and finds his teammates well. He has a great offensive IQ and doesn't force anything. Even if he can create a look to score, he would rather move the ball to find a better look for his teammates with a very unselfish and team first attitude. He plays a leadership role on St. Mary’s and likes to keep everyone in the game. His passing is crisp, and he can move the ball well when on the move. He is comfortable with his team and can read the court to find them, no matter where the defenses are set. That doesn't mean that he isn’t able to get his as a bucket getter, though. As a scorer, Bol is a force down the lane with the rim in his sights. He uses his strength and big frame to create space down low. His footwork and craftiness down the lane are impressive. His shot from all three levels is very clean for his size. He can knock down open threes on the perimeter and make defences pay for giving him space. His mid-range is especially tough when he gets into his bag down the lane and pulls up on a dime at the elbow. Every time a shot went up, he was the first one crashing the glass. He is a hard-nosed rebounder who fights for every ball he gets a hand on. Whether he was grabbing a defensive rebound by boxing out and creating contact or sliding past weak coverage for the offensive board. He was a fantastic rebounder for a player who stuck mostly on the perimeter. An elite athlete and utility knife for his squad at the highest level.

#4 | Ollie Nadeau | 6'4 | G | Armbrae Academy | 2027
Let’s look to the Maritimes for the next athlete, coming out of Nova Scotia. Ollie Nadeau from Armbrae Academy dazzled in the dunk contest and caught everyone's attention after jumping over a standing teammate for the slam. At 6'4 this was an impressive show of athleticism, and highlights just one of his skills that stood out during the REB. Ollie plays with an athletic and defense-first style of play. He can score the ball at an elite level from the perimeter and needs hardly any space. He hit an and-one three for the first points of his second game and landed on a foot on his way down. He came back to that same game in the second and proceeded to drop 44 in OT. His shot form is clean and can be spread out anywhere on the court, from the midrange to far off the three-point arc. His scoring abilities don't stop there, and being a very confident ball handler, Nadeau likes to take the ball to the rack searching for contact. He knows when he has enough space to finish through traffic, and if he doesn’t, he will still push his way through and earn his points at the line instead. Although his offensive game was impressive, I believe that he will earn his play time at the next level through his defensive presence. He was one of the best defenders I watched play all weekend at the REB. He uses a lanky build and court vision to close off lanes and poke the ball loose when ball handlers try to go past him. Even if he couldn't get the ball, his lateral movement and ball pressure would slow down ball handlers into coughing up a turnover or forcing a bad pass, after which he would be the first one up the court on the break. With his bounce that was displayed in the dunk contest and a strong defensive presence, Nadeau was able to swat shots at a high level as well when people would try to drive around him. A dominant personality on the court and confidence from playing for Team Canada will help this guy perform at the next level with ease.
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                                                                       Photo courtesy of Ludwig Bernardo

#3 | Elijah Thomas | 5'10 | PG |Â St. FX | 2027
 One of the best guards in Alberta, standing at 5'11, is Elijah Thomas from St. FX. He's an extremely confident two-way guard who plays with the same hustle and grit that all the Rams do. One of the most confident ball handlers I've seen come out of the city, he runs the offence like a well-oiled machine. He uses this same handle to break down defenses and find his shots. His shot IQ matches his shot making ability perfectly, and he always seems to be able to make the right reads on the defense and find his spots or teammates left open. He has great pace control and reads the defense well, using a few dribble moves to break free and work his magic. His shot from deep has improved this year and is straight-up deadly. He can hit from on the line and even take a few steps off and still shoots the ball confidently. The new skill I saw exemplified this weekend actually had nothing to do with shooting, but instead was his passing. He was making reads off the dribble and reacting instantly. Whether it was down the lane, finding the open roller, or the dish to an open teammate across the court. His passes were all right on target and right on time, finding players as soon as they had an inch of space to work with. His passing was visible not just off the dribble, but while he was driving to the basket with a full head of steam, he could make one-handed passes with either the left or the right. His play is one of the reasons his team won the finals, and he earned himself the Jasper Place selected MVP. Most smaller guards struggle with defense and switches, but not Thomas. He moves extremely well laterally and can stay in front of even the best ball handlers with ease. He makes it look easy, but he is still giving it his all every time he steps out onto the court. This is an athlete who is going to play his absolute hardest every time he steps onto the court.Â

#23 | Ashton Wong |6'4 | G | Vancouver College | 2027
Now looking at the west coast for the final first team member is Ashton Wong from Vancouver College. At 6'4, this lanky guard has the build of an athlete who is ready for the next level. He moves with discipline on the court that comes out in several different ways. He has a combination of elite lateral movement and a fantastic defensive IQ that helps to anchor his team on the defensive end. He can guard the 1 through 4 and switch with ease on the fly. He knows the right time to cheat off for the steal and to double team both on and off-ball. As a point of attack defender, his motor doesn’t stop. He has a strong build, but moves very light on his feet, and laterally he can stay with anyone on the court. He processes the game at high speeds, and it's evident that he has played at the provincial level with Team BC. He plays with confidence when the ball is in his hands and can score from all three levels. He doesn’t score in a flashy way but always takes the best looks. He scores at his own pace and uses strength to take the ball downhill and get to the rim. When defence is clogging the paint, he has a nice fadeaway in his bag, and he can hit this shot at a high clip. It’s hard to stop him down low, though, as he finishes high above the rim, using his length to keep the ball out of reach of any defenders. His athleticism and explosiveness make him a hard guard at the rim. Defenses have to stay true on him, though, because if you give him any space, that's a bucket you can’t get back. His shot is clean and works from anywhere on the court, especially inside, where he likes to make his money. An elite-level scorer who can guard with a motor that doesn’t stop. That sounds like I am describing the perfect prospect, but it's just how Wong plays.
All-REB Second Team
The All-REB Second Team features five athletes who delivered standout performances and ranked among the tournament’s top ten. Each player showed elite skill and resilience in one of the toughest high school environments to shine—Jasper Place during the REB. These five athletes proved they belong among the best at REB, and each has the tools to make an impact at the next level. As far as skill level goes, on any given day, these athletes have the talent to outshine one another. These are all listed in alphabetical order by last name.Â

#3 | Mayen Atem | 6'5 | G | All Saints | 2027
The first player on this team made the REB ‘Got Next’ Team last year and has clearly made the jump he needed to over the past year. Mayen Atem from All Saints in Calgary is a lanky, two-way guard. The 6'5 Keyano commit came into the REB this year as the leader on a younger team and truly stood out. Since last year, his game has drastically improved, and he was a visible number one option at the point of attack on the court this year. He moves well and can smother guards on the perimeter with his long reach and quick feet. He can be a lock-up guy and take tough defensive targets willingly. Atem thrives at being the best defender on the court and can anticipate the opponent's moves to grab steals on ball. On the other end, he is versatile offensively, but his handle and his footwork with the ball are the two things that tie his game together. His handle is shifty when sizing up on the perimeters, and it doesn’t take much for him to slither his way to the rim. He made himself a hard defensive stop and never settled when he had the ball in his hands. When he got to his spots, his footwork helped free him up in the paint and made scoring look effortless. He has a deep bag down the lane and frees himself up with moves like a shifty euro step, an elite paint fadeaway, and a handful of finishing moves at the rim to score the ball creatively when defended. Even when his offense isn't rolling, his defense stays consistent and carries his game. Atem thrives at keeping the other team in front of his body and moving with them, even when pressing full-court. He plays with heart and knows the game so well that doing the little things right looks natural for him.

#2 | Prynce France |6'2 | G | St. Mary's | 2027
St. Mary's second player to make this list is a shifty guard who has the best handle of any player at the REB this year. Prynce France is a 6'2 guard that controls the ball like it's his puppet. He is able to make his way around the court and through defenses without batting an eye and maintaining a tight grip on the ball. He is creative off the hop and deceptive with the ball. He can both score and find a teammate off the dribble with split-second decision-making. I saw him throw several one-handed passes off the dribble while maneuvering through traffic and find his teammates with a pocket pass. Even throwing lobs for bigs cutting down low looked as easy as a simple chest pass for him. Both in-system and out of system, France was confident with the ball in his hands and was setting the table for his teammates. Whether he was running a simple action like a pick or a set offensive play from Mary’s playbook, the ball looked like it belonged in his hands. When defense cut off a lane or broke up a play, France was flexible at making split-second decisions on the fly and scored the ball when he saw fit. He can both spread the offense with an elite shot from deep or take the ball into the paint, all depending on how the defense reacts around him. His shot looked elite several times throughout the tournament, and he could take a few steps off the line, spotting up and draining shots with any space he was given, even if he didn‘t need to do this often. To add to this, his footwork and pace control give him the ability to stop on a dime and rise up for a mid-range shot without missing a beat or looking uncomfortable. As a point guard running the offense, France processes the game far above his age level, being young for a senior. He takes the game as it comes to him and plays with a stunning amount of confidence.
                                                                            Photo courtesy of Ludwig Bernardo

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#4 | Elijah Johnson | 6'7 | F | St. FX | 2027
Next up is the second half of the Elijah duo that won the championship. Elijah Johnson is St. FX's big man this season. At 6'7, he is a switch defender who spreads the offense. Johnson is an elite athlete who does whatever the team needs out of him in each matchup. Sometimes he plays as a versatile stretch big, and other times he sticks to more of a pick-and-roll or post-up inside threat. He is a solid screener and can pop or roll, leaving defenders guessing. His versatility on the court allows him to adjust offensively on the fly. He is crafty down low with many ways to finish around the rim and a good post finishing bag that he can break out. His footwork is great and allows him to seal defenders away from the basket, giving him open looks. With the ball, his head is always his head on a swivel, and he can find teammates with ease instead of forcing up bad shots. In transition, he has a solid handle on the ball and controls it well enough to bring the ball up court confidently. His shot from the perimeter allows him to spread the offense for the Rams. On the other end, he fits in with the team culture and can defend extremely well. He roams the paint as a last line of defense and can block shots with a long reach. He moves very light on his feet, which allows him to switch onto guards and stick on them as well as any perimeter defender can. His defense in and out of system is one of his best traits. His movement on the court is athletic and calculated, allowing him to match up with anyone and hold his own. Johnson is a very versatile and disciplined athlete at his core.

#3 | Cohen Pratt | 6'3 | G | Ross Sheppard | 2027
Cohen Pratt from Ross Sheppard is an elite scoring guard. He has a craftiness to his game and finds space to get inside effectively. He isn't the shiftiest guard on this list, but he has a handle on the ball that allows him to get into his spots and make defenses pay for leaving an inch of breathing room. The 6’3 NAIT commit truly shone in getting to the hoop this weekend and finishing through contact. It was multiple times that I saw him drive down the lane, create contact with the defense, and finish acrobatically at the rim, earning the and-one. Getting to the line is no problem for Pratt, and his shot, being extremely clean, helps the effectiveness of his game. He has one of the purest forms and shots in Edmonton and might just be the best shot maker. His shot can get hot from outside, and if he's left open, that's just asking to give up three points. Whether he creates a look off the dribble from the perimeter or he spots up and gets the look from someone else, his shot is pure. His skillset doesn't force him to rely on this shot right now, though, so when he isn’t feeling it or in rhythm from deep, he is effective at creating a shot off the hop. His creativity with the ball allows him to find the open space between defenders. Several times, he got into the paint and finished with a reverse around defenders or turned away from the defense into a fadeaway from the elbow. One of his most deadly shots this weekend was a pull-up or fade from the paint, over the top of bigger paint defenders. A good off-ball mover to get open on the perimeter, and he doesn’t stay still for long, making him a tough matchup. He only needed a foot in the paint to get a good look and make weak defenses pay. One of the best shooters in the tournament with a versatile scoring ability.

#7 | Lucas Tan-Ngo | 5'11 | G |Â Vancouver College | 2027
For the final player on this team, Lucas Tan-Ngo has made it consecutively over the last two years onto my list. A 5'11 guard that plays some of the most lockdown perimeter defense I have seen for Vancouver College. His lateral movement is elite. He can put anyone in jail on the perimeter and acts as a defensive leader on the court, communicating with his team, helping or doubling when he was needed. His motor does not quit when on the floor, and he hustles for everything, matching up with the toughest defensive assignment and always running down the court on offense. This defense never faltered over the three days, and he stood out as one of the best defenders in the whole tournament. Whether he was pressing the ball handlers in-system or reading a pass and cutting off the lane for a steal, his quick feet help add to the menace of a defender he is all over the court. On the offensive side of the ball, Tan-Ngo has an elite shooting touch. His range was able to be extended far beyond the arc several times. In his second game, he came out in front on the break and knocked down consecutive threes. His shot looked clean all weekend. Outside of shooting, when handling the ball, Tan-Ngo was confident to run the offense or find his way to the rack for an easy look. His split second decision making allowed him to either pull up for a high percentage look from deep or rip it through on the way to the rack with a soft touch off the glass. At his size, he has no problem finishing over and through taller defenders and plays far beyond his height. This guy is ready to be a crafty three-and-D player at the next level.Â
REB 'Got Next' Team
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The final team in this article is the REB ‘Got Next’ team. This is a team made with five of the best younger players who stood out in a contributing role during the tournament. There was plenty of young talent, but I highlighted the ones that showed the most potential and the ones that played their role the most efficiently. Selections were based on the same standards as the previous teams, showing impact on both ends of the floor. I expect all five of these players to grow into high caliber players and develop into more than just role players on their respective teams. Check in on these athletes next season and see how much they've developed. These are all sorted in alphabetical order by last name.

#3 | Mitchel Ilika | 6'5 | C | St. Mary's | 2028
The first one on this team is the third member from St. Mary's who earned a spot in this article. At 6’5, Mitchel Ilika was running the paint during the REB. The big man is built like an athlete and shows it in the way he plays as well. Ilika plays with force and strength, dominating the paint on both ends. He rebounds the ball extremely well by creating contact and making space for himself under the rim. Even though he can, he doesn't just jump out of the gym or out-muscle opponents when grabbing boards; he does it the right way and fights to earn the second chance points. He can punch it through the rim with a slam when recycling the ball under the basket. Ilika is extremely strong at recycling offensive possession and is not easily stopped in the paint. Although he did hit a couple of threes over the tournament, he knows his role and plays it extremely well as a paint force. His finishing under the rim is not just all force and his game has some finesse to it as well. He has a few finishing moves he uses right now, and it doesn’t have to be flashy to work, especially when it’s done the right way. As for defense, he is a fantastic rim protector. His length helps him alter shots at the rim easily. Just having him down low makes the offense adjust and have to think twice about driving to the hoop. Ilika will be the big man of the future for Mary's, and as their starting center, will only get better with the kind of run time he gets now.
                                                                                  Photo courtesy of Graeme Kelly

#3 | Kaeleb La Pierre |5'7 | G | Strathcona | 2028
Next up is a major contributor to Scona's offense and a huge part of their future: starting point guard, Kaeleb La Pierre. La Pierre combines high basketball IQ with scoring ability, making him a key contributor for Scona. He doesn't force anything and looks to get to the high efficiency spots. At 5’7, he is a very comfortable ball handler and good at running the offense in or out of system. He is crafty down the lane and can move the ball if there is a better look elsewhere for one of his teammates. A very efficient and smart player with the ball in his hands. He has the game IQ to even be an efficient part of their offense when he plays off the ball. He is always on the move and looking for open space, whether that is spotting up on the perimeter, crashing inside, or cutting down the lane to find an open drive. La Pierre's on court IQ doesn't only show on the offensive end, and he is a great defender at the point of attack. He moves well laterally and is great at keeping opponents in front of him. His on-ball pressure bothers most guards as he stays close enough to disturb the ball handler, but is in control and doesn’t foul often. When he has the opportunity, he can snag a steal on-ball as well, but his steals on the box score don’t represent how good of a defender he is. He bothers guards just with his movement and his read on the ball. Just one part of Scona's young core, La Pierre has a very well-rounded and efficient game. I am excited to see what skill he can master next.

#4 | Kent Muheto | 5'10 | G | Ross Sheppard | 2028
The next player on this team is another small, defensive-minded Edmonton guard. At 5’10, Kent Muheto from Ross Sheppard has shown lockdown perimeter defensive talent. He has good reaction time and hands to grab steals when he has the position, but doesn’t force anything. He bothers guards and sticks to ball handlers no matter how crafty they get with him. His lateral movement allows him to stick with bigger guards and keep them on the perimeter. He keeps a solid low base and moves with the ball. As for his offensive game, he likes to take it hard to the rim. Muheto has a great line drive and doesn't shy away from contact. He has a bag of finishing moves around the rim and doesn't let paint protectors deter him from getting creative and putting the ball in the hoop from the paint. He has a solid enough handle on the ball and can find teammates in the pick-and-roll or down the lane while he drives. An effective role player who can spread the offense and shoot the three when left open. His shot wasn’t a highly used skill since his team had several other strong shooters, but when he got the looks, he delivered. With a higher offensive volume, I believe Muheto will thrive and truly show out. He plays a very hard-nosed game and lets his defense lead the show. I am excited to see how far his defence-first mindset can carry him.
                                                                             Photo courtesy of Graeme Kelly

#7 | Hayden Spronk | 6'2 | G |Â Strathcona | 2028
One of two Grade 11s from Strathcona on the ‘Got Next’ team this year. Hayden Spronk showed how well he can straight-up shoot the ball at the REB. He was easily one of the top shooters in the tournament. His shot is clean, and he knows how to get into his spots with and without the ball. At 6’2, he is a creative shot maker. He can score the ball in several different ways too all across the court. He has a solid step-back to the three-ball and fade-away shot from inside in his bag right now. Spronk has a good handle on the ball and can use it to create space for himself or to take a line drive to the hoop when he is given the space. Spronk moves well off-ball and moves with the other guards on the court, and adjusts to open space where he can be found with the pass. He only takes the shots that he feels comfortable with, and at this moment, there isn’t much that he can’t take. He comfortably shoots the ball from beyond the three-point line and steps a few feet off to give an extra cushion from the defense without hindering his shots. As a role player this year, he is shining on the court, and the runway for minutes is there for him to make another jump during the season or into next with the roster turnover.

#1 | Marcus Taylor | 5'8 | G | Jasper Place | 2028
Closing out the list is Jasper Place’s own Marcus Taylor—a guard with vision and poise beyond his years. His handle on the ball is tight, and he can run the offense well, controlling the pace of play. For an undersized guard right now, he reads the game well and finds his teammates in crafty ways, adjusting to how the defense is set and what he can find around the court. His role as of now on the team is to run the offense in a smaller capacity off the bench, which he did in a super impactful way that helped keep his team rolling, even with the second unit in the game. There were several instances where Taylor found teammates with a flashy pass down the lane for an easy bucket under the rim. His passing looked like pocket passes only and made for an easy shot for his teammates and an assist for himself. Whether finding his teammates in their pocket for a shot, or leading the cutter to allow them to stay in motion for the easy bucket. He is confident with the ball in his hands and can run the team offense well, directing his teammates as a floor general. The second part of his game that stood out was his shooting. His shot is very clean, and in a small sample size, he looks like a confident shooter with space, even in high pressure situations. He has a good, quick pull-up and looks like he can shoot the ball well from the perimeter, spreading the offense and keeping defenders guessing. Taylor will be the guard of the future for the Rebels.
These selections represent the athletes who stood out most during the 42nd REB—but the tournament was full of talent beyond this list. If you want to see even more player highlights, check out my X profile for on-the-fly highlights and big game updates. If you’ve never been, make sure to check out the 43rd annual REB tournament next December; you won’t regret it. I cover Alberta and Western Canada basketball, so if you want to see more, then feel free to follow me on Instagram and X. Any of these athletes interest you? Feel I missed someone? Want me to cover another tournament? Feel free to email me at hpaulichuk@gmail.com. I love to hear from everyone, and I'm blessed to be around basketball in Edmonton for the foreseeable future. A huge shoutout to everyone who helped make this article and coverage possible. This is no light undertaking, and I appreciate all who helped make this possible. From event organizers to coaches, players, editors, and photographers. I am only as good as my support, so feel free to share the article and my account with anyone you think could use it!
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