EVERY SHOT COUNTS

STUDENTS REPRESENT SCHOOL AND HOME COUNTRY ON THE COURTS

Written with the help of Nancy Montiel '22

"Swish,” one of the Navarro sisters makes another basket. Itzel “Izzy” ‘22 and Gizel “Gizmo” ‘23 Navarro are not your average super tall female high school basketball players. However, anyone who has attended a Dons Girls Basketball game in the last few years can attest that what these girls lack in height they definitely make up for in skill. These petite powerhouses have not only dominated the courts at Cathedral Catholic’s Claver Center but also abroad. These two ambitious and hardworking student-athletes are more than just Dons; they are also representatives of their home country as former players on the Mexican National Basketball Team.

Izzy and Gizel grew up in Tijuana, Mexico. From as early as 6 and 5 years old, the girls distinctly remember basketball being a main factor in their family’s life. They were completely surrounded by the sport. Their family watched basketball on television and talked about it like any other family might. However, the Navarro family took it to a whole other level through their degree of passion. The immense love both girls held for the sport during childhood led their father to create his own team. This basketball team further supported and fostered the development of two young athletes with big aspirations and exceptional talent. The combination of passion and expertise the sisters possess has made their journey that much better. Due to their accomplishments, they have been afforded the ability to travel and meet new people from different walks of life from all over the world. With each new experience, the girls have found new reasons to love their sport.

The Navarro sisters feel that one of the greatest ways basketball has impacted their lives is that it has allowed them to form so many meaningful relationships and a strong support system. Through basketball, they have developed lifelong friendships. These friends have cheered them on through both tough losses and incredible wins. The girls have more than just friends cheering them on, however. Among the girls’ top cheerleaders in the stands are their family members. Izzy shares, “I have the greatest support system. My family is at every game, no matter the place or time, cheering for me no matter how I am playing or who I am playing against.” Gizel, in turn, feels that one of her top supporters and biggest motivators is her older sister, Izzy. Playing on the same team at Cathedral Catholic for several years was a special bonding experience for the pair. Gizel also feels that the Dons Girls Basketball community has made a profound impact on her. She shares, “Coach Turpin is always giving me advice on how to improve my game, and my teammates push me to be my best both on and off the court.”

Izzy and Gizel have plenty to be proud of just based on their records at school, but they feel that their summer activities have brought them the most satisfaction as athletes. When asked what her proudest moment as an athlete is, Izzy responds without hesitation, “Definitely representing my home country (Mexico) in international games.” The girls have both represented Mexico at various tournaments, though always on different teams due to their age difference. Gizel played for Mexico at the 2021 FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship in Guanajuato, Mexico, and the following summer she went on to the 2022 FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. During the summer of 2022, Itzel represented Mexico in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship (where she even went head-to-head against her fellow Don, UConn forward Isuneh “Ice” Brady ‘22, who was representing Team USA in the quarterfinals). Adding “played on a Mexican national team” to their list of accolades is a dream come true for the girls. However, this accomplishment presented its own challenges. Forming a cohesive team is something Gizel pointed out as obviously being very different from her experience as a Don. “Playing on the national team is great because I get to meet people from around the world. Quickly becoming their teammate and getting used to playing together was an interesting and unique experience,” says Gizel. Izzy shares that she struggled with the load of “...meeting everyone’s expectations. An entire country is watching, and it’s hard not to get into my own head.” The girls persisted.

The Navarro sisters hope to inspire others around them and push them to become the best versions of themselves as they continue their careers in Basketball. Izzy now plays at Loyola Marymount University, and Gizel has committed to play at California Lutheran Univesity after graduation. Through the mental and athletic skills they acquired as Dons, Izzy and Gizel have learned to cope with the mental challenges of meeting everyone’s expectations; they make sure to keep their heads in the game both on and off the court.

fiba.basketball

fiba.basketball