Matt Olszewski
Senior Sports Editor
Staying united as a team is difficult for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Austrella Balley ’21 and her teammates on Wooster’s women’s basketball team have found many ways to do so while continuing to improve. Balley noted that her team was a close-knit group even before the pandemic, but the past year has forced her and her team to get creative. “During the summer months and other breaks, we would always Snapchat each other just so we could stay connected while we were apart. Some nights consisted of virtual game nights while others were just funny group Facetime calls,” she said. When considering what has been the most challenging and inconvenient part of COVID-protocols, she decided on game cancellations. Her team has already had two cancellations this season and hopes they do not have any more in the future. Not to mention, game cancellations due to COVID can come with very short notice before a scheduled game, which makes them even more inconvenient for players and coaches.
Balley, a center on the team and currently in her last semester at Wooster, noted that her coach has been there for her every step of the way. “Coach Marshall is the G.O.A.T. Through everything I have been through, she has always stayed solid. She really listens to me as a player and as a person and has been really patient with me throughout my four years here, I really couldn’t ask for anyone better,” said Balley. Overcoming knee injuries has been one of the best feelings for Balley throughout her athletic career at Wooster. When asked what her favorite athletic memory was, she talked about the day she was able to step on the court and finally play again. “It was a very emotional moment for me,” she recalled. “My teammates were there cheering me on, which meant a lot to me.”
Not only has her coach been there for her, but her teammates have been an incredibly strong support system as well. “My teammates are really the people that got me through Wooster. I spend most of my time with them outside of basketball. We can always hit each other up for anything. They are my forever friends.” For Balley, not only have they been her best friends, but they have been there to cheer her on while she was in rehab and when she finally came back from her knee surgeries. “I was able to overcome [my injuries] through the help of my teammates, friends, coaches and family. That was one of the toughest years of my life, but it sure did build some character,” she remarked.
After mentioning her team and her Wooster career, Balley described her Independent Study (I.S.) topic. “My I.S. is about how integration policies implemented by the school board impacted the level of political empowerment of Saint Louis residents. I am taking a look at how the segregation in the city has taken a toll on the public schooling system and how this affects school board members, teachers and students.”