PFCA senior enjoys sports despite asthma

It would be hard to keep up with Emily Bishop. The Post Falls Christian Academy senior has asthma, not that you could tell. The 5-foot 6-incher has been playing basketball at PFCA for seven years and also participates in long jump and hurdling events on the track team. You’d think she’d be tired when she gets home, but you’d be wrong.

“I still get an occasional (asthma) attack here and there,” said Bishop. “But I have medication for it, and I don’t slow down. Asthma has not prevented me from doing the things I enjoy.”

Bishop lists her favorite outdoor activities as horseback riding and riding quads. She also likes wakeboarding, riding personal watercraft and snow skiing.

She and her sister Grace, a junior who also plays basketball, commute from Blanchard for school and basketball practice. They are the daughters of Don and Chris Bishop. Don is a math teacher at Post Falls Middle School, and Chris lends a hand at PFCA, formatting and printing programs for sporting events, and is also a correspondent for newspapers in the Priest River and northeast Washington areas.

Bishop is seeing time at all positions on the basketball team this year. She plays point guard and shooting guard positions, as well as post.

“Emily can play pretty much anywhere I put her,” said Kevin Rouse, PFCA basketball coach. “She excels in the post position and doesn’t mind getting physical (with opposing players), even though she is a little undersized, compared to many post players we face. She can also get out on the wing and shoot the ball as well.”

Bishop is used to playing a variety of positions.

“Ever since I started playing in sixth grade, I have always played every position,” she said. “I think that has helped me to become a better player.”

“Emily is a great athlete and is very competitive,” said Tim Mitchell, PFCA athletic director. “She is probably the best defensive player on the team and can take a charge. Personally, she is very outgoing and speaks her mind.”

Bishop plans to attend North Idaho College after graduation.

“I think I’d like to try nursing, and I plan on taking an EMT (emergency medical technician) course this summer,” she said.