Scott Collegiate student excelling on the field and in the classroom

Reporter Britton Gray highlights remarkable Saskatchewan athletes in this regular feature.

Rashawn Taniskishayinew has emerged as a leader at Scott Collegiate, not just on the field  but in the classroom as well.

The Grade 12 student has also had to overcome a unique hurdle in order to play football at the high school level. Because Scott doesn’t have a team, he and some other students needed to go to Thom Collegiate after school to practise and play with the Trojans.

“My first year it was kind of difficult, but this year it was a lot easier because I built the connections there and everything,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to play football, especially for the Trojans these past two seasons. It was really great being in that family-type environment and just being able to get out some wins this year.

“The good thing is Thom and Scott, we will play basketball together with some of the kids. It’s not like I didn’t know who those guys were but the connection grew stronger for sure.”

Scott athletic director Travis Goodman said Taniskishayinew was going to find a way to play football.

“He loves the game. He loves sports and football is his biggest passion. It’s going to take more than a few kilometres to keep him from playing,” Goodman said.

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Taniskishayinew’s love of football started when he was just eight years old and he was watching a Grey Cup on television.

“Just during that Grey Cup, I told my dad I would be playing football one day. He laughed it off but then I started playing it during recess and then flag and then (Regina Minor Football) and then high school,” Taniskishayinew said.

He’s also become more active in other sports now as well, including basketball at Scott.

“During that COVID time, football was cancelled and so I picked up basketball a little more. I played in elementary school for one year and I was pretty bad at it,” Taniskishayinew said.

“Just playing here and Coach Daniel Stonechild, he is a really great guy and has helped me through a lot and has developed me into the basketball player I am today and I am really grateful for that.”

He’s also enjoyed some success at cornhole as well. He and fellow Scott student Krishaze Threefingers participated in the 2022 Canadian cornhole championships that were held in Regina. They won the top prize in the unified doubles category.

“It was just something that I was asked if I wanted to do it and I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ (We) ended up winning, so it was pretty fun,” Taniskishayinew said.

“I had never played cornhole, but it was really fun and I really enjoyed it. It was intense for sure but with teamwork and everything, I really enjoyed it and it was really fun.”

He’s also been helping out with the unified sports programs at Scott. According to Special Olympics Saskatchewan, unified sports programs pair up athletes with and without intellectual disabilities for competition.

“I got asked to do it … and I ended up really enjoying playing with those guys. It was pretty fun just to see what they see and do what they do,” Taniskishayinew said. “I just enjoy hanging out with them and playing sports with them.”

Through it all, he thanks his dad for giving him the opportunities to play sports. Taniskishayinew grew up on the Yellow Quill First Nation, located about 250 kilometres east of Saskatoon.

He moved to Calgary with his dad, Omer Mohamed, before eventually moving back to Regina with him.

“My dad sacrificed a lot for me growing up. To this day he is still working to provide everything I need from cleats to basketball shoes to just being well-dressed. I’m really grateful for my dad and I probably wouldn’t be here without him. He’s a really good support anchor,” Taniskishayinew said.

Taniskishayinew is also a leader in the classroom as well at Scott, focusing on his studies as well as athletics.

“Just being that student-athlete, the student comes first,” Taniskishayinew said. “I feel like if you have a good education or just in school, you will go far no matter what. Just being able to stay in class and do the work, it’s beneficial even if it’s tough work or you don’t want to do it. Just learning is always good.”

Goodman appreciates having a student like Taniskishayinew to help show other students how they should be.

“It’s super-nice for me being the athletic director because I often have to be the one checking their grades and attendance. It’s nice to have a player who is as athletic as Rashawn is and still puts the classroom first and puts his grades first. It’s nice to have that within the building for sure,” Goodman said.

While Taniskishayinew wants to continue playing football once high school is over, he’s not sure what the future holds. But he would like to become a coach one day.

“I have no idea where I am going to go. After that I’m going to come back – I want to get into coaching too and live out the rest of my life,” Taniskishayinew said. “I just feel like I would be a pretty decent coach but I enjoy (sports) and if I can’t play it, I might as well coach it.”