Panthers bring fierce competitor Sydney Cummins into the fold

By Thomas Becker

For gifted athletes who excel in multiple sports, the decision to choose one over the other can often be a difficult choice.

Fortunately for UPEI's women's basketball team, Sydney Cummins decided to pursue basketball despite her impressive background as a soccer player. 

That's not to say she's putting the soccer ball down for good though. Cummins still intends on scratching that competitive itch by using her summers to play on a senior women's team. 

"I love competing and thrive on playing games in any sport, whether it be soccer or basketball," said Cummins, who represented Nova Scotia at the 2018 Canada Soccer Toyota National Championships. "Both keep me fit and expand my knowledge of sports and satisfy my need for competition." 

But when training camp rolls around this fall, Panthers basketball will be at the forefront for the next four-plus years.

"I chose basketball because I know I can have a bigger impact on the outcome with five on the court as opposed to 11 on the pitch," said the Wolfville, Nova Scotia native. "Playing at a higher level in both sports meant playing year-round. For that reason, I couldn't fully commit 100 per cent to both sports and ultimately chose basketball." 

Cummins' dedication to basketball is an encouraging sign for head coach Matt Gamblin, as he attempts to construct a team ready to defend its AUS crown next season. And having a roster that's fully invested in his program is a good start toward repeating as champions.

Gamblin has kept close tabs on Cummins and her basketball development for a few years now and he's excited to see what she brings to the Panthers. 

"I've followed Sydney since helping pick a provincial team back in her under-15 year," he said. "Sydney is as tough as they come and will adapt very well to our defence-first, up-tempo style of play. She plays bigger than she is, but most of all, she always finds a way." 

Cummins is the latest recruit who models Gamblin's versatile roster designed to be unpredictable and difficult to plan against. At five-foot-nine, Cummins can play both the guard and forward positions and isn't afraid to mix it up in the paint with bigs or being a pesky defender against smaller guards.

"I'm an aggressive player who likes to drive to the bucket to create for my teammates or get to the free throw line," Cummins said. "I'm excited to join a winning team and I'm going to work as hard as I can and do whatever's asked of me because I hate to lose." 

The 17-year-old showcased her versatility and leadership throughout her time at Horton High School, where she guided the Griffins to three regional championships, eight tournament wins, and second and third place finishes at provincial championships in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Last season alone, the Griffin captain averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and three steals per contest. 

It's no wonder she was selected to represent her province on the national stage from 2017-19.

"Competing at nationals was a definite highlight for me. We worked hard to get to that point," she said. "It was a very exciting and rewarding experience and I embraced every second I got on the court."

The Panthers are no strangers to the national spotlight themselves — after claiming a bronze medal at the 2020 U SPORTS Championship in March — and know what it takes to get there, but more importantly, what it takes to succeed. Sharing similar experiences and a winning mindset as her soon-to-be teammates, Cummins seems like a perfect fit for a team still reaching for the pinnacle of excellence in Canadian university basketball.

"It's important to us to have high-achieving kids who can deal with adversity. When you win, people forget what it took to get you there and all the small battles along the path," Gamblin said. "Sydney leads with her work ethic and that will help her as she moves to the next level."

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