GAME ON: The Player - Maria Saia
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
GAME ON: The Player - features interviews with RI high school players on their challenges, successes, and future plans. Today, senior Maria Saia from Mount Saint Charles.
Q & A with Maria Saia, Mount St. Charles Senior Girls Basketball Player
My biggest challenge being a high school athlete has been balancing my time between practices and games with homework and studying. Sometimes it is just so exhausting. GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Who is your biggest motivator?
My dad is my biggest motivator because he is always pushing me to be the best I can be whether I'm on the court or in the classroom. He both challenges and coaches me.
Who is your biggest rival?
Because my team has been division champs the past two years, I see any team we face as my biggest rival. In each game I play, I know the opposing team is trying to dethrone my team, so with each game I have a new rival.
What are you working to improve your game?
I am really working on ball handling skills for this season. This year I've been playing more small forward, so dribbling has become one of my jobs out there on the court now and I'm really trying to improve.
What is your greatest memory on the court?
My greatest memory on the court has been playing in the State Championship game my freshman year at URI. We lost the game, but it was so awesome to play in that gym. It was a real "sometimes the journey is sweeter than the destination" moment for me.
How are you able to balance your schoolwork with practices, games, and training?
It's very challenging to balance my schoolwork with practices, games, and training. I take advantage of my free periods during the school day. At home, though, when I'm tired after a practice or a game, I'll sit myself down and tell myself to just do it because it’s not going anywhere.
Where do you see yourself going from here, do you plan to pursue this sport in college?
Next year I'm going to the George Washington University in DC, and they are Division I so I couldn't play on the school team. I'm really interested in playing in an intramural league, though, and maybe someday coaching young girls and sharing my love of the game with them.
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