Independent file photo Canby’s Sydney Sisk surveys the floor during their Section 3A tournament game against LQPV in March.

CANBY – The drive from Canby to Mitchell, S.D. is approximately 166 miles. It’s a drive that Canby Lancer Sydney Sisk will become quite familiar with over the next four years.

Sisk, a three-sport high school student-athlete, recently committed to play basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University. During her time as a Tiger, Sisk will be studying to become a nurse.

“I like the basketball team and the nursing program a lot,” Sisk said. “The campus was really nice. Those three factors played a big role in my decision.”

This past season Sisk was a member of a Lancer team that finished the season with a 23-5 record. She was a four-year letter winner for the Lancers and this past season earned All-Conference honors.

Sisk started playing basketball in third grade and said she wasn’t ready to hang her shoes up just yet.

“I just wasn’t quite ready to give the game up I guess,” Sisk said. “I’ve really enjoyed playing basketball over the years.”

Sisk will be joining a Tigers team that finished last season with a 27-7 record. She’ll be coached by Jason Christensen, who owns a 128-97 record during his time as the head coach for DWU.

Sisk said she really enjoys the team aspect of the game and the bonding that goes with it. She noted that she’s looking forward to building new bonds on the hardwood with her teammates at DWU.

“I really enjoy playing with my teammates,” Sisk said. “The environment of the game of basketball is something I enjoy. It’s very competitive and you are doing it with a close group of friends.”

While Sisk is excited to start the next chapter of her life, she knows she wouldn’t be where she’s at today without the support from her teammates, coaches and the Canby community.

“I’ll miss the community and my teammates,” Sisk said. “The team this year was a really close group and we got along really well. The community was always supportive. It always nice having them at the games.”