Sarapnickas Taking Hoops Game to York
Wallaceburg's Erin Sarapnickas playing with the Windsor Valiants - Submitted Photo
Wallaceburg’s Erin Sarapnickas will be taking her hoops game to new heights next season as the local basketball player has committed to join the York University Lions at the OUA level.
Sarapnickas helped lead the WDSS Tartans to Kent Championships in 2011 and 2009, and is currently playing in the JUEL league with the Windsor Valiants. Sarapnickas said York not only met her athletic needs, but was a fit academically as well,
“I chose York for basketball because it offers me what I need. Basketball was a top goal for me, but the school I would choose in the end needed to match my academic demands as well, and York did so,” said Sarapnickas.
“The team is also very welcoming, along with the coaches, and they made it easy for me to be able to see where I would fit in.”
Last season the York Lions finished with an 8-14 record in the regular season, before being eliminated by the Toronto Varsity Blues in the opening round of the OUA playoffs. Currently, the 6-foot tall Wallaceburg product ranks as one of the top three point shooters in the JUEL Provincial league.
Sarapnickas, who will be studying Kinesiology at York, feels her time growing up and playing basketball in Wallaceburg, was crucial for her development, naming coaches including Bill Davis, Donna Kucera, Lil Craig, Janine Day, and Tom and Lori Moynihan as significant influences since she started playing basketball in Wallaceburg in grade 3.
“Playing basketball in Wallaceburg has helped me tremendously,” said Sarapnickas. “Playing in their travel leagues all throughout my elementary and high school years gave me a lot of experience and helped me develop. Making the decision to go to high school at WDSS was also benificial to me because of its strong basketball program. I have been privileged to be taught the game by some great coaches during my junior and senior years.”
“Playing in Wallaceburg has really developed me as a player because of all the strong basketball programs that are offered at practically all ages.”
Although Sarapnickas is already playing among the best players in the Province, she knows she still has to work hard this off season to successfully make the jump to the OUA level at York,
“My focus that I have started now is keeping in good shape and getting stronger. I will be playing against older and stronger girls, so I need to prepare myself for that difference. I am also focusing on my basketball skills, maintaining and improving them, trying to get some extra time in the gyms shooting around or working on my ball handling, and really trying to work on my weaknesses.”