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Middle school girls receive education at Women’s Final Four

A group of Indianapolis Public Schools students learned the ins and outs of the sports communication field Saturday at the 2011 NCAA Women’s Final Four Junior Journalism Workshop.

About 20 seventh- and eighth-grade girls attended team news conferences and practices at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and wrote stories about the experience after receiving instruction from local journalism teachers and professionals.

Students from Stephen Foster, Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts & Humanities, Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, William J. Gambold Middle, H.L. Harshman Magnet Middle and Key Learning Community (River) participated in the event.

The keynote speaker was former Purdue standout Stephanie White, who played on an NCAA championship team in 1999. She now serves as a studio and game analyst for the Big Ten Network during the regular season and calls NCAA tournament games for ESPN2. White encouraged attendees to work hard and follow their dreams. A panel of local and national sports journalists also spoke with participants.
 

Here are excerpts from selected stories:

In life, education always comes first, even if you are an athlete participating in the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Four teams − Connecticut, Stanford, Notre Dame and Texas A&M − are competing for the national championship April 3 and 5, but it takes more than being a good athlete to make it this far. It takes dedication, perseverance and hard work to juggle education, basketball and your social life. 

“It takes focus, determination, and dedication to become a good athlete,” said Kelsey Assarian of Texas A&M.

“You have to work hard to get where you want to be in order to do what you believe in…You have to be driven and work towards what you believe in or love doing,” added Stanford’s Lindy La Rocque. 

It takes time and effort on and off the court. Basketball and academics take up most of the girls’ time so they rely on their teams’ support along with their family and friends. 

Said Stanford’s Grace Mashore: “My friends are flexible because they understand that school and basketball come first.”

When she hangs out with her friends she leaves “everything behind her” in order to relax and have a good time. The players from Texas A&M commented that they hang out with each other most of the time creating a tight friendship. 

A long-range plan is necessary for everyone, in every career. When asked where they see themselves in five years, Kayla Pedersen and Mashore started laughing. 

“We have never been asked that question before,” they both commented. 

But long-range goals are very important, emphasized Stephanie White, former Indiana Miss Basketball, Indiana Fever star, coach and now sports journalist. Never let others discourage you from obtaining your goal. Keep education a top priority and “work every day to accomplish and be the best you can be. Success equals work, discipline, community and self-pride.”

She added, “Believe in yourself!” in both academics and sports.

 – By Jantia Clark , Danielle Henderson and Malaika Gray 

Stanford basketball player Joslyn Tinkle said that basketball takes a big portion of her time. She recently joined a sorority to help with her social life.

Being a student-athlete is very hard. Tinkle said that she doesn’t see her family very often and flies out to see her family in Montana when she has time. She said, “being on a team has helped me be everything as a person.” Tinkle also said that playing on a team and playing with others teaches discipline and helps her set goals.  

Josyln’s teammate Mikaela Ruef started playing basketball in second grade. A lot of her friends play basketball. To help achieve her goal she had to put time and effort into what she believed in. Sitting in her chair in the locker room she looked really relaxed and confident about the up and coming game.

 – By Carena Hasara, Deonna Pearson, Karina Sanchez and Leondra Brickhouse

Being an athlete isn’t all about the exercises you do to become a better player. It’s also about being involved in your community.

Kayla Pedersen, No. 14 on the Stanford University basketball team, and her teammates try their best to perform community service every month. They go to many different schools and play basketball with the children at recess to interact with them.

“It pushes us to motivate the kids and to stay active. We also try to be great role models for them,” Pedersen said. 

Grace Mashore, No. 1 on the Stanford team, and her sorority have helped the homeless by serving breakfast. She has also mentored kids whose parents don’t have enough time. She said it helps her to interact with people.

“It helps put a smile on their faces to lighten their mood,” she said. 

The players enjoy the time they spend in community service because it is fulfilling to them to know that they helped. 

 – By Maria Marin and Cammaria Nixon 

To build self esteem you have to believe in yourself, surround yourself with people who love you and stay focused, said NCAA players, administrators and panelists.

Stanford forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike said she was made fun of because she was tall and “kind of nerdy looking,” but she called it a “blessing in disguise.”

Ogwumike is a junior and 6-2. Her sister, Chiney Ogwumike, is a freshman and 6-3, and is now playing on the same team.

When asked what advice she would give, Ogwumike said: “I focused on what’s important and that was being me.”

Stanford guard Sara James said, “Even if you’re worried act like you’re not.” In other words don’t let other people bring you down with their words, lowering your self esteem.

Here are some of the things that lower your self-esteem: low grades, poverty, looks, weight, medical problems and failures, they said.

Texas A&M’s Danielle Adams said: “Have fun on and off the court.”

Stephanie White, a former Purdue student-athlete, says when she was a child, boys called her names because she liked to play basketball and some of her teachers were disrespectful and rude. She said that she used to go off to the side to cry.

"You have to believe in yourself, surround yourself with friends and family that help you and don’t bring you down,” she said.

She also added that she still sees the boys that used to tease her when she goes home. She sees those same boys still living at home with their mothers.

"When someone tells you that you can’t do something, do it to prove them wrong.”

– By Tierra and Raven Howell

We learned a lot about the Women’s Final Four players and what they did before they became a college athlete. We asked them a lot of questions like, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” or “Do you practice outside of your regular practices and how would your work ethic make a difference in games that you play?”

– By Alease Monger and Shanaya Brown

NCAA players state their coaches keep balanced meals in their diets to maintain their shape and health.

Stanford forward/center Sarah Boothe says that it isn’t that hard to maintain a balanced diet on the road because there isn’t really any junk food around to eat.   

She spoke Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse before her team practiced for the Women’s Final Four.

Food choices are a very important part of the players’ careers, not just eating right but making the right food decisions and eating the right amount. Players also eat food such as steak and baked chicken.

Adrienne Pratcher, Texas A&M guard, and Catherine Snow, Texas A&M  guard, say that they have to practice a total amount of 30 hours a week, four hours a day, five days a week plus games. Before each game, the players would listen to music, go over plays, and get mentally focused and ready for the game.

These all evolve from making healthy choices.

– By Natalya Smiley, Baliee Brantley and Angel Weather

This trip was very inspiring. We got to see all of the top four basketball teams. We got to interview two basketball teams, Texas A&M and Stanford. Just being able to be in the locker room with the female basketball players was very inspirational. Like (Stanford’s) Melanie Murphy said, “Keep trying and follow your goals.”

– By Akira McGowan and Donae King