(RDP Athletics/Supplied)

By RDP Athletics

season preview

Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Basketball team is seeking continuous growth in 2025-26

Oct 7, 2025 | 2:01 PM

Since being named Head Coach of the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Queens Basketball team on July 4, Dante Dinter has kept a steady schedule, finalizing the roster and laying the groundwork for the 2025-26 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season.

“When I first got the job, we had 11 girls confirmed on the roster, so I was busy on my phone,” recalls Dinter. “We were fortunate to bring in two more players—Keira Dick and Nya Lual.”

Both Dick, from Wetaskiwin, and Lual, from Edmonton, will suit up as forwards. Their arrival adds depth to the Queens.

Near the end of July, the Queens assembled in Red Deer for their opening in-person session. Dinter was encouraged by the mixture of new and returning student-athletes.

“We first got together on July 27,” notes Dinter. “It was originally supposed to be an ID camp, but we liked where we were going with our roster, so it turned into a mini training camp. Eleven of the 13 girls were able to make it.”

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Among the returning student-athletes are second-year guards Mia Cunningham (Bachelor of Business Administration), Jorgia Hicks (Open Studies) and Avery Stypula (Open Studies), who bring experience and leadership to the court.

Joining them are several promising first-years: Kasha Caibaiosai (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology), six-foot-five Yusra Abdullahi Liman (Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies), Selena Maguire (Open Studies), and Kira Main (Bachelor of Education). Their arrival signals a new chapter for the Queens.

The team also welcomed four transfer students: Kayle Lammle (Lakeland College), Willow Tanton (NAIT Ooks), third-year Mackenzie Wells (Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kaylee Foster (Portland Community College). Their diverse backgrounds bring experience to the squad.

“During our first week of training camp, we started to build our culture and team goals,” Dinter says. “Winning a championship would be awesome, but we wanted to establish what Queens Basketball would look like from a culture standpoint.”

Despite lacking fourth or fifth-year student-athletes, Dinter remains optimistic about the team’s potential.

“We are a young team, but have skill,” he says. “The Queens are excited to be here and to learn a different game. We play free without with any set plays.”

The Queens have already been developing their chemistry in preseason matchups, including a 77–73 win over the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings. These early contests have helped shape their identity.

“We shoot the ball really well,” Dinter notes. “We are very proud of how creative the Queens were in our conceptual play.”

Last season, the RDP Queens (12-9) finished fourth in the ACAC South Division during the regular season before injuries cut their playoff run short. This year, the Queens are eager for a fresh start.

The RDP Queens will host the NAIT Ooks in the season opener on Friday, October 17 at 6 pm at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

“It’s important to be energetic, healthy and excited to compete,” says Dinter. “We are just trying to grow throughout the season.”

With a renewed sense of purpose and a dynamic roster, Dinter and the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens are ready to make their mark.

“We are really excited to bring a new energy to Queens Basketball and the Red Deer basketball community,” he adds.

For more information about Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Basketball, please visit: rdpolytechathletics.ca.