Niomi Thiele will join the Lakeland Rustlers girls basketball program next year. (Submitted Photo/Megan Thiele)

By Martin Martinson

Rustlers Basketball program

St. Walburg local, Thiele commits to Lakeland College

Dec 1, 2022 | 5:31 PM

St. Walburg’s Niomi Thiele will don Lakeland Rustlers’ green next fall for the next chapter of her basketball journey.

The Grade 12 senior at St. Walburg School recently committed to the Rustlers’ program for the 2023-24 school year.

Thiele said she’s looking forward to the opportunity ahead, to take her game to the next level in the ACAC athletic ranks.

“It is pretty exciting and it’s a great opportunity I was not expecting until I was offered a spot,” Thiele said. “It’s close to home and I know from previous camps that I had done, through Lakeland and through Hoop Factory, I had met lots of the players already so it just felt like a good fit for me.”

Niomi Thiele pictured here in action for the St. Walburg Saints. (Submitted photos/Megan Thiele)

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Head coach of the St. Walburg senior girls team, Jen Larre has coached Thiele since she was a third-grade student involved with the Steve Nash Youth Basketball program in the community. She said she’s looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the young forward.

“It’s very exciting to see her go on to the next level, and I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Larre said. “She is the most dominant rebounder and she’s so strong in the key, it’s very difficult to stop her. She deserves it.”

Thiele was a key piece of the Saints senior girls’ provincial championship last season when the team took home the 3A gold at HOOPLA.

Assistant coach with the high school team, Sherri Jetzke added it is Thiele’s evident passion for the game that really stands out as a driving force to her success.

“Niomi loves the game of basketball, and she is often found shooting in the gym after hours or reffing junior games,” Jetzke said. “She is a leader on and off the court and an excellent role model for our younger students. We wish her the best of luck as she joins the Rustlers.”

Off the court, Thiele will be taking her Bachelor of Science: Pre-Nursing as a university transfer.

Thiele is currently in action with her St. Walburg teammates this weekend at Saskatoon’s Bowlt Classic, an annual tournament showcasing the top high school basketball teams in Western Canada. To keep tabs on the team and their tournament scores throughout the weekend, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1