KELOWNA, BC - The story of Tia Sadler is one of hard work and dedication, at least according to the Heat’s Head Coach Heather Semeniuk. “[Tia] has been coming to my Summer Camp for five years, every summer right up until Grade 12. She’s a kid that’s asked me, ‘what do I work on? What do I work on? What do I work on?’ at the end of every camp.” Well, her commitment and dedication to improving herself on and off the court has finally earned her a spot on the Heat’s roster during their first tour through CIS-level competition.
“I’m very excited,” Tia said, all smiles. She looked it on the court, running up and down as one of the fastest and energized girls on the court during the Heat’s ID Camp on Sunday, April 3rd.
“She’s a kid from a more remote area, without the opportunity for a lot of exposure,” Coach Semeniuk said, adding more praise of Tia’s commitment to always come out and try to make herself a better player. The two had been talking, along with her parents, since her Grade 8 year about her potential post-secondary future playing ball, though her mind had already been mostly made up. “She just decided in Grade 8, ‘this is where I want to come’. She is so focused on what she wants, and is so committed…I like it when kids know what they want, and she goes after it. I had no hesitation…I invited her to come out and play last September.”
It comes as no surprise, then, that Tia admitted that the coach, like Coach Semeniuk, was a major factor in her decision of where to go after High School. “I really like the coach,” she said. Regarding Coach Semeniuk, she said she likes “How personable she is, and how nice she is, and how she focuses on things you can work on.” Tia had been approached by as many as seven institutions, she had said, but her decision had been more or less set. She will be studying in the Fine Arts program, with an interest to go into Public Relations or Broadcasting upon graduation.
She is excited for what she feels she can bring to the team: “I think just being a team player…I’m pretty positive all the time, and am very, very competitive.” Her competitive edge will be helpful when the team takes to the floor against bigger and faster opponents than ones in the BCCAA. “You see a lot of bigger girls, it’s faster, and you don’t have a lot of time for your shot.”” she said, having seen CIS games at places like the University of Calgary, one of the other institutions she had been approached by. She also played on a club team in Alberta, having been living closer to a city with club basketball than any in BC.
A graduate from Golden Secondary, she’s nervous, but excited. “I come from a AA [High] school, so it’s going to be a lot different.” Coach Heather Semeniuk isn’t worried, though, and thinks she’ll do just fine.
“I haven’t seen the end of what she can do,” Coach commented. Neither have we, but we look forward to as Tia begins her career as a member of the Heat in the fall. 
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