December 16, 2020
I walked out on the court; first player out there. I picked up and dribbled six different basketball balls until I found one that had the perfect amount of air in it. I walked over to the far end basketball hook, dribbling the ball between my legs, went up and shot a left-handed lay up. My last ever first basketball game of the season.
Or so I thought. My senior year at Northeastern was weird; everyone's life was weird. The COVID-19 pandemic hit a few months earlier. Life was trying to move forward but everything felt so still. Even my basketball season was at a standstill. It began one month late, my whole team got hit with Covid the day before our first game was supposed to happen. Anyways, about a month later in mid January my coach brought my fellow senior classmate and myself up to her office. She broke the news to us that the NCAA was giving every division 1 athlete one extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. However, she said she could not offer either of us another year at Northeastern because the roster was already full for the upcoming year.
I had two immediate thoughts at the time: first, I really could not imagine playing another year of basketball at the time. I felt a little done with it for a moment, and ready for my career to begin. However, the next thought that quickly trickled into my mind was playing another year, and knowing how much I would regret it if I did not take this opportunity. I immediately called my aunt the next day, who was my former travel basketball coach, and asked her if she could talk to Monmouth University for me. Monmouth was located just 20 minutes north of me, right along the Jersey Shore beach, my home. I knew I wanted to play my last year as close to home as possible. It was only a few weeks later when I made my decision to play my fifth year at Monmouth University, and luckily enough one of my childhood best friends, Jen Louro, was on the team as well. JUNE 2021
I started my first workouts and classes at Monmouth in the beginning of June. I recently graduated in April with a Bachelor's of Art degree in Graphic and Information Design. I was then, and still am, getting my master's degree in Communication's with a concentration in Interactive Digital Media. My first workouts started out really well. Our team just got a new coach, and everything was changing. Although it was my first year at a brand new school, it felt a little bit like it was the entire team’s first year, too. At the time in June, it was only a few people from the team at school- most of the local girls and a taking summer classes. We began practicing for our conditioning tests we had and I passed them all on my first try. Everyone was shocked, but it has always been mind over matter for me (and a little help from playing five years). Monmouth was an entirely different experience. I immediately felt welcomed when I arrived at that school. All of my teammates and coaches were all so inviting and genuine. I made amazing friendships right away, and I felt comfortable. I was able to be myself right from the beginning. I worked my a** off from my first step I took on the floor, until my last, and from the beginning I felt accepted and respected. I was able to push my teammates and watch them grow. We were a young team, but everyone was willing to work and learn new ways of being coached by not only the coaches, but players too. The entire year was the best year of basketball I have had in a while. Our team was fun and we were cohesive. We shared the ball and enjoyed each others' successes. For what felt like the first time in a while, I was having the time of my life playing basketball. Everything, and I mean everything felt like it was working out for me. It felt magical, and electric, and Monmouth women's basketball will always be apart of me.
"I don't want to take my jersey off. I loved being apart of this team and I'm always going to be. It was the best one year I've had and could have ever imagined for. I'm just sad that it's over, but I'm excited for-to come back next year and watch you."
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