Latest news with #CarysStythe
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Mother's diagnosis spurs Stythe into advocacy
Carys Stythe signs autographs for Southern Steel fans in Invercargill last weekend. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY Carys Stythe was in her happy place. It was her second fully contracted season with the Northern Mystics last year and the rangy defender was starting to stamp her mark and come into her own. There were plenty of highs from the season, as the Mystics went on to be crowned back-to-back ANZ Premiership champions and Stythe got the callup for the Silver Ferns development squad. Then, in the middle of the season, she got the news. Her mother Sara, who had just celebrated her 50th birthday, had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. It was an unimaginable new reality for the 21-year-old and her family. After having a sore stomach, her mother, who Stythe described as "very in tune" with her body, knew something was not right and went to see her doctor. But she had to fight for further testing to eventually get the diagnosis. "She had to push for herself to get a colonoscopy because they said 'you're too young to have anything in your bowel', which is terrible because lots of people are getting diagnosed young," Stythe said. "If someone sent Mum to go get a colonoscopy regularly, she would've been able to get it — but now she's got stage four cancer. "It's just the difference between A and B, I guess. "That's the one thing that we can urge people to do... Just test it." Stythe openly admits last year was really tough. "I don't even remember half of it. I was so upset the whole time. "Obviously I didn't show it on court because that was like my space away from what was going on at home." But her tight-knit family of father Gareth, older sister Imogen, 23 — who moved to London this week, which her mother encouraged — and younger sister Isla, 16, banded together to support one another. Her younger sister is autistic, and has relied heavily on their mother, so the family had the added pressure of helping her become more independent. Stythe is proud of how far she has come. Distance has never been a problem either, since Stythe landed in Invercargill with the Southern Steel this season. She made the trip to visit her loved ones when the Steel played in Hamilton earlier this season and their family chat was always ticking over with countless messages. "I literally talk to them on the phone every day. "We've still got that family connection and I'm only a flight away if she needs me. The Stythe family (from left) Isla, Imogen, Sara, Gareth and Carys. PHOTO: CARMEN BIRD "We're super close. I think that's what made it really hard as well." If there is anything Stythe wants people to take away, it is the importance of family. "Just soak up the time with your family. It's hard, but it does get easier." Looking to make the best of the situation, Stythe has continued to put one foot in front of the other. Her family gathered together to run the Auckland half marathon last year, all for a great cause, and raised $10,000 for Bowel Cancer New Zealand. It is a moment that still brings a smile to Stythe's face. Her work did not stop there. Stythe was an ambassador for the Move Your Butt campaign in February, designed to get people raising money by completing 100km to honour the 100 Kiwis who die of bowel cancer every month. The defender spent the month running, and walking, to help raise awareness for a cause that has become close to her heart. And it is not hard to see why she has become so passionate about it. "If regular colonoscopies were a thing from a young age, she wouldn't have stage four cancer right now. "She would've had it cured. It would've not even been a thing. "The fact she had to push to get one... she'll push for that, whereas I think other people wouldn't. "It just wouldn't have happened, so just really raising awareness for how young people can actually get it and[they're getting it] younger." More than 3300 New Zealanders are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, a statistic no-one should have to live with, she says. Stythe continues to share information through her social media, including the group who protested outside Parliament, calling for lowering the age of eligibility for free bowel screening tests to 45 last month. "I'm just trying to get it out there, I guess. "Anyone that can hear it and take something from it, I guess, is what I want." Stythe has settled in well to life in the deep South. Living in Invercargill with her partner Hikoi Paki, and being part of a fresh Steel side that clicked from the moment they met made for an easy transition. "I'm just really loving my time here. "All the girls we're really good friends and the coaches are great. "I just think because I'm enjoying my time so much here it's showing on court." Stythe in action for the Steel against the Pulse in their ANZ Premiership game in Invercargill. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY That is for certain. Stythe has been outstanding and leads the ANZ Premiership for rebounds (11), and deflections (22) and is fourth-equal for intercepts (seven). Stythe, who was the New Zealand secondary school player of the year in 2021, put it down to the Steel's environment, and more game time at goal keep allowing her to focus on her job. Learning from Steel coach Wendy Frew, and her family-first mentality, also allowed Stythe to settle in her role. "She's all about the person first and I think obviously with Mum, she's been really awesome about that," Stythe said. Adding in the two-point shot had added another layer to the game, and while most of the discussions have been related around the shooters, many forget there are defenders trying to stop it. Stythe says it turned the circle backwards — instead of trying to push shooters out of the circle, defenders wanted them closer to the post during the two-point time — and the rules made it hard to get around their opponents. But Stythe sees potential in the innovation. "It makes it fun. I know the fans love it so much. "I love it so much as well. When I'm down the other side and we get a two in, it just lifts the whole team." The Steel were hammered 70-45 by the Central Pulse last week. But it was a bad result in an otherwise positive start to the season and they get another shot when they host the Mainland Tactix this afternoon. The Steel lost 57-50 to the Tactix in the opening game, but the Tactix only really ran away in the final quarter. "We just need to bring it from the first whistle. "We could take away lots of good things from our first game against them, kind of keep doing that but see what we could do better so we can take the win." It will be a memorable game for many reasons. The Hutton Family Trophy will be on the line again, in honour of Kelly Hutton, who died of ovarian cancer, and her sister, Megan, who played for the Steel. In a nice touch, the Steel will also be doing their bit raising money for the Southern Cancer Society. And when Stythe runs out on to the court, there will be some lucky people in the stands watching on — her family, including her mother, who have made the trip to Invercargill to watch her play. "They're my biggest fans so I'm really excited to see them." ANZ Premiership 4pm, Invercargill Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Summer Temu, Serina Daunakamakama, Kimiora Poi, Renee Savai'inaea, Carys Stythe, Abby Lawson, Khayne'-Lii Munro-Nonoa. Mainland Tactix: Ellie Bird, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Martina Salmon, Erikana Pederson, Holly Mather, Parris Petera, Paris Lokotui, Karin Burger, Jane Watson, Charli Fidler.
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: ANZ Premiership wrap
Carys Stythe (left) and Catherine Hall (right) Photo: Photosport Analysis - An out of sorts Magic were punished 69-41 thanks to a near flawless performance by the Steel in Hamilton on Monday. The Magic are a far better team than what they've shown in their two opening games of the ANZ Premiership season and they don't have much time to rectify it. The Magic scored eight super shots to the Steel's three but it was nowhere enough to limit the damage. Twenty seven turnovers cost the Magic dearly as they struggled to gain connections on attack. Silver Ferns wing attack Claire O'Brien, who is usually so assured, was benched at one point. The Magic struggled to get enough shooting volume out of goal shooter Saviour Tui but she was put under enormous pressure by Steel goal keep Carys Stythe. Aliyah Dunn for the Steel was magnificent, shooting 52 goals at 96 percent. The Steel have had to call on replacement players with Silver Fern Kate Heffernan dealing with an injury, along with defenders Abby Lawson and Dakota Thomas. Steel shooter Georgia Heffernan said it felt good to put out such a complete performance and said her twin sister Kate was glued to the TV. "She's got the biggest FOMO right now. I think that's what we're so proud of, losing Kate before the first round and then Abby this week and then not having Dakota, we've had to adjust a lot and really trust that we've done the work and we can still be really strong out there and we showed that tonight," Heffernan said. Catherine Hall and Carys Stythe are two of the most exciting young defenders in the country. The problem was, they also came from the same catchment area and started their elite careers with the Auckland-based Mystics. Last year the pair shared a lot of court time with Hall getting her first full contract. Stythe made a really smart decision to move to the Southern Steel where she was likely to get full games. Hall and Stythe, both 21, are too good to be on the bench and both are thriving as starting players for their franchises. Stythe has been sensational in her first two games for the Southern Steel, picking up back-to-back MVPs. Hall has been in terrific form for the Mystics too. It might not be long before the pair are in the Silver Ferns together. Maia Wilson Photo: PHOTOSPORT Since the birth of the Stars franchise in 2017, Maia Wilson has been the side's starting goal shooter. Now, with the 196cm tall Charlie Bell at the back, the side has an out-and-out tall target. The Australian import is the tallest-equal player in the competition and looks like a handy addition to the Stars, who upset the Tactix 57-52 in Auckland on Sunday after a challenging week. Wilson has finally been able to take on the goal attack position, which could help her Silver Ferns prospects. Not having to be responsible for the majority of the side's scoring has also taken some pressure off Wilson's shoulders. "It definitely has, I think it's nice to be able to have a strong, tall target and it shows that we have so many different options to be able to throw out there. I think tonight she was really able to muscle it out so really proud of her to be able to come out here with a 60 minute performance," Wilson said. It turns out that former Stars coach Kiri Wills, who is now in charge of the Queensland Firebirds, wanted to go down that track earlier. When the 201cm shooter Mary Cholhok signed with the Queensland Firebirds for 2025, it was revealed that the Ugandan previously turned down two offers from Wills to play for the Stars. Donnell Wallam Photo: Bradley Kanaris The Mystics did about as well as they possibly could when they had to fill the gaping hole left by Silver Fern Grace Nweke. The defending champions had to act fast when Nweke announced she would be playing across the Tasman in 2025 and pulled off a real coup when they signed Australian Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam. Wallam had another commanding performance when the Mystics beat the Pulse 59-48 on Saturday. But it should not come as a surprise given Wallam was second in Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) for total goals in 2023 and 2024, just behind the most prolific shooter in the world - Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. It came as a shock to fans in Australia when the Queensland Firebirds let go of the 31-year-old after three seasons, instead signing Mary Cholhok. Wallam is a late bloomer to netball and didn't make her Test debut until 2022. It's a little surprising that she has only played five tests for Australia since then. After two rounds of ANZ Premiership, Wallam is the top goal scorer. Nweke is also the top goal scorer after six rounds of SSN. But while Wallam is still able to represent Australia, Nweke is not eligible to play for the Ferns this year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
