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Show 14 ATHLETICS FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM JulianneLis Staff Reporter Allison Blake Beginning her basketball career at Davis High School, Allison Blake continued playing at Salt Lake Community College where she was first team in conference and tournament, and second team in region. Blake also played at Rocky Mountain College last year, where she was defense player of the year and newcomer of the year. This will be her first year at Westminster College. She is a marketing major. As a red shirt senior on the Womens Basketball team this year, Blake will only be participating in practices. My mentality has to be different this year, said Blake, Its normally about focusing on how to win. This year, though, I cant personally help on the court. Because she wont be competing on the court, shes found other ways to be a part of the team. I try to be more vocal and get people pumped up and support the team that way, instead of going out and being able to show my support during games. Even though Blake cant currently play shes still grateful to be on the team. The team is amazing, its the best shooting team Ive ever been on, said Blake, Everyone gets along really well. We all have our rolls. Everyone really comes together and it really shows on the court. In the future Blake hopes to someday coach basketball. I dont know whats available yet, so I want to get my feet on the ground first, said Blake, but I would definitely love to stay in contact with basketball in the future. Brooke Larsen Brooke Larsen, a sociology major, began playing basketball in second grade on the Junior Jazz. As a team they have experienced much success together. Weve won conference the past four years, said Larsen, Weve also have gone nationals the past four years. And of course we hope to go again. Part of the success may be due to the teams dynamic off the court. All of us, get along really good, theres no drama at all. Were with each other .so much, we all care really about each other; wwe all get along. So its great, said Larsen. Women's Basketball Senior Athlete Profiles Larsen expects that basketball will be part of her life for years to come. Well first off, I think itd be way fun to coach. If I have kids Ill make them play basketball, said Larsen, but I definitely want to keep basketball in my life someway. age, Tibbitts mentioned she would enjoy coaching. I want to focus on nursing, first, when I graduate, said Tib- Cydney Tibbitts Nicole Yazzie, a psychology major, began playing on the Junior Jazz team and worked her way up from there. Her accomplishments include Since beginning her basketball career in Kindergarten, Cydney Tibbitts has accomplished quite a bit. While attending the University of Utah her team won Nationals twice. After transferring to Westminster to attend the nursing program, not much changed, and Tibbitts was able to compete in the Nationals again with the Womens Basketball team. Tibbitts feels that the You learn things to better your physical health, said Pierce-Eiselei- n, Being on the collegiate team is a good experience. You learn how to take different roles: different leadership roles and teamwork. Another benefit is the relationships you create while bitts, but coaching is definitely something I would love to get into down the road. Nicole Yazzie being thirteenth last year, and she was also first team in conference. From Yazzies perspective, the team is very dose. We are very dose, Ive never been on a team where theres drama my four years here, said Yazzie, We stick together pretty much. working within a team. Every team is different. People have different backgrounds, and interests, and opinions, but we all have one thing in common basketball, You said Pierce-Eiselei- n, - build lifelong relationships that are really unique and irreplaceable. Pierce-Eisele- in also appreciates the many accomplishments the team has done. Going to national tournaments and being conference season champions, thats huge. Its definitely rewarding because of the work we put in together, said Pierce-Eiselei- n. Despite her enthusiasm for basketball right now, Peirce-Eisele- in , re- lationships on the team are something special. There arent many instances where the relationships go beyond the court. Our team is really close though, said Tibbitts. With basketball being a part of her life since a young Olivia Pierce-Eisele- in Olivia Pierce-Eisele- in joined her first basketball team in the third grade in her hometown in doesnt see it becoming a major part of her life in the long run. Montana. As a public health major, she sees multiple benefits to being a part of Basketball is definitely a passion of mine. I can see it the womens basketball team. ! always being a hobby of mine, maybe joining rec leagues for the rest of my life. Maybe coaching in the future. Allie Eastman Growing up with older brothers who played basketball, Allie Eastman has been playing her whole life. She started playing in games on the Junior Jazz team and other little league teams as well. Shes proud to be a part of Westminsters team due to their accomplishments. Just like the others winning conference, being able to go to nationals is a huge accomplishment, said Eastman, Its also great to be able to travel, and hang out, and be friends with everyone on the team. Eastman plans to possibly incorporate her interest in basketball with her degree in elementary education. I think Ill always play, like on old lady leagues, said Eastman, I think itd be fun to coach since Im going into elementary ed. I think itd be fun to coach younger girls. |