My family introduced me to sports at a young age.  I started playing soccer first, but found basketball and softball at the age of 7.  I ended up playing softball for a couple of years until realizing basketball is where my heart lied.

My freshman year at Westfield High School proved to be my most challenging.  I was put on the junior varsity team and was heart broken as I expected to make the Varsity.  In that moment I realized basketball was no longer a game that I could rely on just talent, I had to work for what I wanted.  I learned basketball is all about fundamentals, and how understanding the fundamentals will makes you a better player.  My sophomore year I made varsity and will never forget that feeling when I realized how my hard work helped me get to where I wanted to be.  My junior and senior years followed with success including our only girls basketball district title to date.  Even with the excitement I felt in my closing years at Westfield, I always took with me what I learned my freshman year.

I decided to attend the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA where I was recruited to play by head coach Deena Applebury.  Coach Applebury was a young and passionate coach.  She broke down decisions and aspects of the game in a way that made sense.  She asked questions that forced me to think and pushed me to be the very best I could be.  I feel she really shaped me into not only the point guard but the complete basketball player I was when I finished my career and I am very grateful for that.  My time at Mary Washington gave me some of my greatest sports memories.  We won 3 consecutive conference championships, the most satisfying coming my senior year.  Our team was fortunate enough to make it to the NCAA tournament all 4 years of my career, while in 2007 we made it to the Final Four finishing #3 in the Nation. 

After all of those experiences, I found the most rewarding feeling came my senior year.  We had 9 incoming freshman and only 5 returning players.  It was our job as upper classman to teach these new players and prepare them for college basketball.  During that year I found my passion for teaching and coaching.  This is where I felt how impacting younger players and teaching them the game of basketball is the most rewarding feeling.  This game has been so good to me and has taught me many things outside the walls of a gym.  I now hope I can pass those same feelings and that same passion on to younger players.  Thank you for this opportunity.

         Kaitie