Katie Cezat
Jon Fisher
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports
Junior Katie Cezat was named All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association March 26, making her the second women's basketball player from Hillsdale College to receive this honor.
Having rarely played a starting position until this year, Cezat arose as a dark horse and led the team to a 23-5 season.
"No one thought we'd do well this year at all," Cezat said. "We blew away people's expectations just because they didn't know what to expect."
Cezat's spent most of her first two years on the sidelines, only honing her skills in practice and scrimmaging against her team's starting lineup.
Now she's in the starting lineup and has broken 10 school records and received honors from WBCA. Only 10 women nationwide receive the All-American award in basketball each year.
The success even surprised women's head basketball coach Claudette Charney.
"I could never predict what she did," Charney said. "That's totally dependant on the player."
During the season, other teams took notice of Cezat's skill. Sometimes they would double and triple-team her, but she found a way to get the ball where it needed to go, Charney said.
Next year will be more challenging for Cezat as other teams recall who she is and try to stop her, plus she has to beat her own records, Charney said.
Because of this difficulty, Cezat said she will likely set more career records instead.
Much of next year's success will depend on how Cezat practices in the offseason. Often to make practices more challenging, the team scrimmages male players, Charney said.
Cezat said she spends about seven hours a day practicing and then moves on to homework.
"It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun," Cezat said.
Having rarely played a starting position until this year, Cezat arose as a dark horse and led the team to a 23-5 season.
"No one thought we'd do well this year at all," Cezat said. "We blew away people's expectations just because they didn't know what to expect."
Cezat's spent most of her first two years on the sidelines, only honing her skills in practice and scrimmaging against her team's starting lineup.
Now she's in the starting lineup and has broken 10 school records and received honors from WBCA. Only 10 women nationwide receive the All-American award in basketball each year.
The success even surprised women's head basketball coach Claudette Charney.
"I could never predict what she did," Charney said. "That's totally dependant on the player."
During the season, other teams took notice of Cezat's skill. Sometimes they would double and triple-team her, but she found a way to get the ball where it needed to go, Charney said.
Next year will be more challenging for Cezat as other teams recall who she is and try to stop her, plus she has to beat her own records, Charney said.
Because of this difficulty, Cezat said she will likely set more career records instead.
Much of next year's success will depend on how Cezat practices in the offseason. Often to make practices more challenging, the team scrimmages male players, Charney said.
Cezat said she spends about seven hours a day practicing and then moves on to homework.
"It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun," Cezat said.
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craigcfisher
posted 4/17/08 @ 10:16 PM EST
good article jon
from DAD
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