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03/16/2017 12:00 AMKirsten King may have taken a few years away from the basketball court, but she more than made up for lost time by putting together a productive two-year tenure with Old Saybrook.
Kirsten grew up playing hoops before stepping back from the game for her freshman and sophomore years of high school. After joining the Rams as a junior, Kirsten saw her share of varsity minutes before being sidelined with illness and injury. However, Kirsten improved throughout the offseason and worked her way into the starting lineup this winter. The senior forward featured a balanced stat sheet by averaging five points, five rebounds, and five steals per game, while helping the Rams return to the Class S State Tournament, where they won their first round contest.
“I tried out for the team last year and it was the best decision of my life. I put in a lot of work, both independently and with the team. I did anything I could to improve my skills. I practiced on our days off. I was eager to work hard and have fun,” says Kirsten. “I was surprised and ecstatic to start this year. As a senior, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but all the girls were open and welcoming to me starting. I was honored and excited.”
Kirsten knew that this would be her last run and so she did everything in her power to make her final foray count. That included studying how some of the game’s top players carry themselves on the court.
“I tried to play basketball whenever I could. I’d play pick-up games with my friends and shoot hoops in my driveway. I also knew what [Head Coach Steve Woods] expected after last year, so I brushed up on my skills,” Kirsten says. “I also studied other things, like how pro athletes looked and acted and how they did things. I wanted to work on things, but also have fun, since it would be my last year.”
Kirsten adds that her internal fire was fanned by a supportive group of teammates and coaches who were always pushing each other toward success.
“Being my last year in high school basketball, I wanted to put everything I had into it. I have nothing but love and respect for Coach Woods,” she says. “My teammates have so much dedication to their abilities, so I wanted to show them what I could do and do the same.”
Even though Kirsten only played for Old Saybrook for two years, Coach Woods says that she provided a big influence on the future of the Rams through her trademark energy and upbeat demeanor.
“Kirsten came out last year as a junior and was a nice surprise with her athleticism and quickness and a work ethic that really helped her get back into basketball, which she hadn’t played in several years. She was just starting to earn some significant varsity minutes last season, when the injury and illness curse cut her season short,” says Woods. “I anticipated that Kirsten would help us off the bench this season, but she was so good in preseason, I couldn’t keep her out of the starting lineup, and she has had a major impact on our team improvement with her relentless hustle and outstanding defense and a vastly improved offensive game for good measure. She is a joy to coach due to her positive attitude and willingness to do whatever is asked of her and the fact that her engine never stops. Kirsten is a wonderful role model for the younger athletes in the program.”
Kirsten knows that basketball often gets serious during the heat of battle. However, she also knows that, at its core, it’s a game that’s there to be enjoyed by everyone who participates.
“I’ve always loved the competition of sports, but I’ve always wanted to see everyone having a fun time in sports,” says Kirsten. “Even with those on the bench not starting, you want them to have fun and have the support of the team. Coach Woods is also positive, so I try to be a reflection of his attitude.”
Looking back at the time she spent with the Rams, Kirsten says that she couldn’t have drawn it up any better in terms of how the experience impacted her life, while molding her as a young adult.
“I only played my junior and senior years, but it was the best time of my life,” says Kirsten, who thanks her family, friends, and Woods. “All of the girls were amazing and we had a great team chemistry. The season was time consuming, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”