Athletics literally run in the Dyce family

Bob Dyce has mentored some elite CFL players during his time as receivers coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Many of his protegés have gone on to outstanding careers with the Blue and Gold during his tenure with the football club.

However, in his eyes, their accomplishments don’t compare with those of his daughter, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Dyce won a gold medal and set a new record in the varsity girls tetrathlon at last month’s Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s track and field championships.

“Since she was young, Brooklyn has always been a very dedicated athlete and has always given me plenty of reasons to be proud of her, whether it be sports or academics,” Bob Dyce said.

Dyce, a Grade 11 student from St. John’s-Ravenscourt, finished with a score of 2,081 points in the tetrathlon, which combines the 100-metre and 800-metre track events with the long jump and shot put.

She surpassed the previous record of 1,850 points set in 2007 and now owns both the junior varsity and varsity girls’ provincial records.

“Heading into the event I wasn’t necessarily looking to break the record. My goal was just to win. That is always my mindset. I just love to compete,” Brooklyn said.

The younger Dyce’s competitive nature and talents have been evident for quite some time.

At the age of 12, she was featured in a Sports Illustrated article following an MVP-calibre season as tailback in a boys tackle football league.

After suffering a stress fracture in her foot, she gave up the sport at her parents’ request.

“She’s always loved football and is still mad at us for making her stop. She could probably still be playing now,” Bob Dyce said.

Dyce says she decided to focus on soccer because it would provide her with better opportunities. That decision is proving to be well-founded.

This fall, Brooklyn will be playing on an athletic scholarship for St. Mary’s Shattuck, a private school in Minnesota that is well known for its soccer program.

“It will be sad leaving St. John’s-Ravenscourt after spending five years there and making lots of friends,” Dyce said.

“It will also mean I have to give up basketball and badminton, but it will give me the chance to really focus on soccer. It is a pretty intensive program with practices every day before school.”

Bob Dyce says he’s nervous about his daughter leaving home, but believes it is the right decision for her.

“Her goal is to get a scholarship from some college in the U.S. and this is an opportunity to play and get noticed,” he said.

Dyce’s ultimate dream is to some day play for the Canadian women’s national soccer team.

Her dad is well aware of the type of commitment t takes to get to that level, based on the years he’s spent on the Bombers’ sideline. And it’s something he has consciously passed on to his daughter.

“The things I try to imprint on her are the dedication and hard work it takes to be successful,” he said.

“If you want to do something at a high level it takes lots of work and more importantly a belief in yourself because there will always be people trying to knock you down on the way up.”