The Fredericton Freeze have had three players suit up all three seasons of play since the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association opened its doors in 2022.
Eva Tumwine, Robbi Daley and Katie Daley have all worn the same Fredericton number and colours for three seasons, the longest active players on the MWBA squad.
Play-by-play voice Bill Gibson has been in the announcing seat for three seasons.
Who else is remarkably consistent with the Freeze?
How about photographer Fran Harris, who has been focusing her lens on the MWBA and the Freeze home games since 2022 and is widely considered one of the province’s top shooters when it comes to capturing excellence from behind the lens.
‘Fran has been one of those people we pencil into the game day lineup each and every year and we’re incredibly fortunate she is a valuable part of our MWBA organization,’ said Freeze general manager, Brad Janes. ‘She strives for excellence each and every time out and has been able to capture the spirit of our league and our women who play. Her photos have helped put the MWBA on the map.’
An avid wildlife photographer and camper, Harris also excels at a high level when it comes to powerligfting.
You heard that right.
The Freeze was thrilled when Harris was featured recently by the New Brunswick Powerlifting Association.
Please read on from the NBPA:
‘When Fran Harris competed in her first nationals in 2017, she says the province’s powerlifting scene was mostly “dormant.”
“I felt like I was a lone wolf, trying to make my way through my first national competition and I ended up making lots of mistakes,” she says.
By her second nationals in 2022, Harris says there had already been huge growth in NBPL, and that has continued through to this year’s event.
“Through the NBPL, the sport has grown so much. The availability of local meets has been great in introducing this sport to many. Lifters also have a place to go to when they have questions, provincial records are now kept, and through social media, lifters are kept informed of meets, results,” she says.
“More importantly, the idea of bringing individual commitments and performances together creates a healthy team approach that will definitely assist or support NB lifters to meet their goals at Nationals. Powerlifting has come a long way in NB, and I’m more than proud to be part of that growth.”
A Masters 3 competitor, Harris has also previously competed at Masters Worlds in 2022, where she won bronze overall in 63 kilogram, as well as a bronze in squat, silver in bench press and bronze in deadlift. Her total of 312.5 kilogram is the current national record for 63 KG M3.
“As happy as I was with my results at World’s, I was still very disappointed of not breaking the national record in bench for my age class/weight category,” she says of missing a 67.5 KG press, which would have given her the national record. “So, getting that record this time around is certainly a priority.”
However, after spending much of 2023 recovering from illness and injury, Harris is just happy to be back.
She says powerlifting helps give her training more purpose.
“At competitions, I always find it interesting to listen to people talk about how they got into the sport and their reasons for continuing to lift and compete. I’m also always amazed at just how much people can lift – those numbers are so impressive.”
Harris will compete in the Masters 3 63 KG division on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in her next event.
– Fredericton Freeze photographer Fran Harris showing her skillset (NBPA Photo)