Southern Utah's Caitlyn Sears Defines Class at Summit Tourney
Southern Utah guard Caitlyn Sears is a class act. After her team lost, she handled the post-game press conference as well as any player, winning or losing, I have ever witnessed.
After her team and season was ended in a loss to Oakland (Mich.) at the Summit League Tournament, she greeted the gathered media and Summit League workers with a hello and "how are you doing" and big smile on her face. And, her team lost.
I don't know Sears, who had a great game to keep Southern Utah within distance of a comeback against favored Oakland in the tournament quarterfinals. Yet, she broke down her game and that of her opponent in a courteous, inviting approach. I hated to see her leave.
Sears complimented Oakland, noting how hard they worked and how they limited Southern Utah's best player, Challis Pascucci, to a season low in points. She was a little reserved about her own six-point run that fueled a charge at Oakland during the second half. And, for someone like me, who has watched basketball for more than 35 years, she laid it out perfectly. "Basketball is a game or runs. So you expect their team to go on a run and you expect to go on a run yourself. It was nice to go on a run and get within beating distance," Sears said.
"Beating distance" is a term that I heard for the first time on Sunday. Yet, it is what all underdogs are shooting for: getting close enough to challenge a favored opponent and perhaps pull off a magical moment.
As we watch this "March Madness," Sears' "beating distance" perspective will be in the minds of a lot of teams and a lot of fans.
During this weekend, nearly every coach and player that came into the press conference room at the Sioux Falls arena was respectful to their opponent, the league and with little showboating.
When you get to hear from unique personalities like Sears, SDSU's Dale Moss and Oakland's Keith Benson, you begin to feel the passion brewing in these players, some may be on the DI basketball stage for the last time this season or perhaps ever.
A coach like Ron Turner of IUPUI is one of the joys to watch on the sideline. He is motion personified and brings an electricity perhaps only matched in different ways by a guy like Oakland's Greg Kampe or IPFW's Chris Paul. All of those coaches carry their passion into the press conference room as they wax poetically about their teams and how happy they are to move on or how sad they are after seeing their team's season end.
They are an interesting dynamic - the coaches and players. You really enjoy listening to SDSU women's coach Aaron Johnston, who offers a level-headed, confident straight-talking approach about his team and the challenges that lie ahead. For good reason, Johnston's SDSU Jackrabbits are 7-0 in Summit League Tournament play with two consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament.
Still the strongest image for me is when Sears finished her press conference, got up from her chair and as she exited stage left, she tells the gathered group in that room "thanks" for talking with her and "take care." She makes you feel like that you have just witnessed one of the many unique and special young people that lay their heart and soul on the line during a basketball tournament.
For me, the definition of a student-athlete rings true through Sears.
After her team and season was ended in a loss to Oakland (Mich.) at the Summit League Tournament, she greeted the gathered media and Summit League workers with a hello and "how are you doing" and big smile on her face. And, her team lost.
I don't know Sears, who had a great game to keep Southern Utah within distance of a comeback against favored Oakland in the tournament quarterfinals. Yet, she broke down her game and that of her opponent in a courteous, inviting approach. I hated to see her leave.
Sears complimented Oakland, noting how hard they worked and how they limited Southern Utah's best player, Challis Pascucci, to a season low in points. She was a little reserved about her own six-point run that fueled a charge at Oakland during the second half. And, for someone like me, who has watched basketball for more than 35 years, she laid it out perfectly. "Basketball is a game or runs. So you expect their team to go on a run and you expect to go on a run yourself. It was nice to go on a run and get within beating distance," Sears said.
"Beating distance" is a term that I heard for the first time on Sunday. Yet, it is what all underdogs are shooting for: getting close enough to challenge a favored opponent and perhaps pull off a magical moment.
As we watch this "March Madness," Sears' "beating distance" perspective will be in the minds of a lot of teams and a lot of fans.
During this weekend, nearly every coach and player that came into the press conference room at the Sioux Falls arena was respectful to their opponent, the league and with little showboating.
When you get to hear from unique personalities like Sears, SDSU's Dale Moss and Oakland's Keith Benson, you begin to feel the passion brewing in these players, some may be on the DI basketball stage for the last time this season or perhaps ever.
A coach like Ron Turner of IUPUI is one of the joys to watch on the sideline. He is motion personified and brings an electricity perhaps only matched in different ways by a guy like Oakland's Greg Kampe or IPFW's Chris Paul. All of those coaches carry their passion into the press conference room as they wax poetically about their teams and how happy they are to move on or how sad they are after seeing their team's season end.
They are an interesting dynamic - the coaches and players. You really enjoy listening to SDSU women's coach Aaron Johnston, who offers a level-headed, confident straight-talking approach about his team and the challenges that lie ahead. For good reason, Johnston's SDSU Jackrabbits are 7-0 in Summit League Tournament play with two consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament.
Still the strongest image for me is when Sears finished her press conference, got up from her chair and as she exited stage left, she tells the gathered group in that room "thanks" for talking with her and "take care." She makes you feel like that you have just witnessed one of the many unique and special young people that lay their heart and soul on the line during a basketball tournament.
For me, the definition of a student-athlete rings true through Sears.
This is Caitlyn Sears mom. My husband and I want to thank you for your kind comments about her on your blog. It's fun to see her recognized for her talents on and off the floor.
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