Image Credit: CFJC Today/TRU Athletics

By Adam Donnelly

TRU WOLFPACK BASKETBALL

After more than a decade, the Rouault Basketball Dynasty is set to end in 2023

Dec 15, 2022 | 4:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — First came Brett. Then, Michael. Now, it’s Megan – three siblings, all toiling for TRU on the hardwood. However, this year will be the end of the line for the Rouault dynasty.

“It really is the end of a dynasty,” brother Micheal, now an assistant coach with the men;’s basketball team, says. “It’s pretty cool, just that we’ve had this longevity. A lot of long hours spent in the gym. I’m sure TRU’s going to miss having a Rouault out there.”

Megan, now in her sixth year with the women’s program, is the youngest Rouault sibling. She’s been with the WolfPack since 2017, and has survived the pandemic and four different coaches.

“I think I’ve probably had the most coaches anyone’s ever had in a USports career,” Megan jokes. “I think the growth I’ve made as a person is so immense because of that, that I wouldn’t change anything.”

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Except that’s not entirely true. Megan has made one big change to the family legacy at TRU – the pronunciation of her family name. Megan decided to drop the ‘T’ at the end.“I just like how ‘Rou-all’ sounds better. I don’t like the ‘T’ sound at the end,” Megan explains. “My brothers never cared, but I always did, so I decided this year, I’d tell everyone.”

“I guess she’s going with our French roots,” Michael says. “I never cared how people said my name. Call me whatever you want. I guess she’s really honouring our French roots and going with the silent ‘T’.”

Despite two older siblings suiting up for the ‘Pack, Megan says there was never any pressure to come to TRU.

Of course, having older brothers can mean you take some abuse from time to time. Even when you are an older brother.

“My older brothers kind of beat up on me a little bit, and pit me and Megan against each other,” Michael remembers. “I like to think I passed that on and tried to make Megan a little bit better by doing the same thing that they did to me.”

And having brothers who have paved the way for you means they’ve left an impression, and set expectations – no matter how low.

“I think one of my favourite stories about Michael is that he forgot his glasses for a basketball game. So he played blind,” Megan says, barely containing a laugh. “That’s my favourite story. He played blind, and he’s the blindest of us all, so he literally couldn’t see the ball coming at him.”

2023 may be the end of the first Rouault Dynasty. However, according to Michael, there may one day be a second wave of WolfPack hoopsters coming down the pipeline.

“Maybe in 17 years, my brother’s kids will be playing and will carry on the Rouault Dynasty.”