By JARROD POTTER
EMPHATICALLY signing off a four-year college basketball journey, Renae Mokrzycki ticked off one of her greatest basketball dreams this week.
Mokrzycki, 21, from Cranbourne North, featured in the NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament for the University of Idaho, after her Vandals booked their place in the best-of-the-best 32-team competition.
A hard-fought season boiled down to the qualifying match last week, where the Vandals picked up a comprehensive 67-55 win over Idaho State in the Big Sky Tournament Championship Game.
“Winning the Big Sky Championship, and making the tourney … it took me 16 years to finally win a championship and cut a net, the feeling is nothing you can describe,” Mokrzycki said. “It was a time when everyone started fresh and anyone could win it.
“Everyone was out to get one another and take home that championship, so it made it a lot harder – the conference over all was competitive all season round, even through pre-season, but when you battle and play hard it takes you places, just like it took us the win the Big Sky Championship and then onto playing in the NCAA tournament.”
The Vandals faced highly touted Baylor in the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Championship first round on Friday, and despite the 59-89 outcome, Mokrzycki was thrilled to end her college career on the big stage in March.
“It is such an overwhelming yet amazing feeling to make this tournament,” Mokrzycki said. “It’s something that has always been a part of my life when I am home watching it, but now to actually say I have played and been a part of it is just the best feeling any basketballer can say they had.
“As it’s my last season, it just tips it all off perfectly; I mean what a moment and way to leave playing college ball by playing in one of the biggest competitions around the globe.
“Although we lost to Baylor, the number one seed in this conference, we gained the experience and enjoyment as a team.”
Mokrzycki – who averaged 16.6 minutes, 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season- has relished every step out on court in her fourth and final year as a student-athlete.
From her time in junior college at North Idaho College to her final two seasons with the University of Idaho, every second on and off the court has taught the 182cm forward just what it takes to develop in the sport and find the next level in her game.
“Everything I have learnt about basketball – the knowledge, the bonding, the travelling, the emotions, the game,” Mokrzycki said “This is the hardest, challenging, overwhelming, emotional, best thing I have ever done and experienced, but every moment of it was worth being a part of.
“It is something not many people get the opportunity to do, and I’m proud of myself to have got myself to this level, get through it, and complete it.”
She hasn’t decided yet where basketball will take her back in Australia, but one thing is for sure – a big rest is on the cards.
“Due to being in season still I can’t deal with anyone or clubs, but I have got a few things in mind,” Mokrzycki said. “College has exceeded my expectations and I don’t know if I want to come home and play at a really high level, or come back play the season out and then try to go full steam again.
“I feel I need a little break, but if something comes up, I’m all for giving my best.”
She wanted to send out some words of advice to any potential college-bound Australian – Mokrzycki said life as a student-athlete is not for the faint of heart but those who persevere will flourish in the NCAA system.
“I am not going to lie, if you play a sport and you want to come to college make sure you love it enough to follow through with it,” Mokrzycki said.
“College is not like what you play back home, it is a whole different ball game – it will break you down, it will test you, it will make you want to quit and give up.
“Only the love you have for it will push you through – family and friends can help, but you need to be mentally prepared to compete at his level.
“If I can do it, then there is every chance you can – just believe and stay true to yourself by always remembering the reason why you fell in love with the sport in the first place.”
