Ashley Steffeck plays alongside her sister on the girls’ varsity basketball team

Haley Rockwell • December 9, 2015

The Steffeck sisters have taken the court, playing on the same team for the Fossil Ridge High School girls’ varsity basketball team. However, this is not a first for Ashley Steffeck and Sami Steffeck, and you can often find them on the court practicing various skills together. However, they now have the opportunity to compete for their high school team together. “We both rely on each other a lot during games and it has been a dream come true to start in the varsity games alongside my sister” said Ashley Steffeck, the younger of the two. Senior Sami isn’t new to Fossil’s basketball program but Ashley is, as she is the only freshman that is starter on varistyy.

It’s an awesome feeling being the only freshman. It makes me feel like my hard work is starting to pay off. With that said, I know there’s still plenty of work in front of me. My friends, coaches, and teammates are very supportive and help me a lot. However, the coaches also don’t expect anything less of me” said Ashley. The younger Steffeck is really looking forward to the upcoming season because it will be her first year playing a high school sport. She is also very excited to be playing her freshman year on varsity because the FRHS basketball program is competitive and high achieving, and it is an honor to make the team right off the bat in high school. One other thing Steffeck is looking forward to is reflecting on the season and the improvements she has made by the end of the season.

A lot of high schoolers think playing on a varsity team is difficult as a freshman because the freshman athletes are looked down upon. However, Steffeck states, “It has nothing to do with the grade you are in. The coaches have the same expectations for freshman as they do for the upperclassman; high intensity, and effort is required from everyone.” The freshman throughout the whole program also do not get treated differently just because of their age. Ashley Steffeck makes the comment, “We never get treated differently besides the nickname ‘freshie.’” Other than the common and harmless nickname, being a freshman and playing a sport helps the transition from middle school to high school as you make lasting friendships with your teammates and meet upperclassmen as well.

For every season, FRHS teams always set goals, and the players often set individual and team goals as well. This year, the team have several goals, including being city champions, conference champions, and then to make it to the coliseum. The teams have been known to be very successful in the past and Ashley Steffeck hopes to continue that success by helping the team reach their goals. Her individual goals, however, include: “when you walk into the gym, people see all the basketball records. Career records for steals, points, rebounds, assists, three points, free throws, etc. Since I am only a freshman, by senior year my goal is to beat all the records. Along with the career records, it is also a goal of mine to break some single game records.” Hopefully by the end of the season Steffeck and the girls basketball program can accomplish the goals they set for themselves.

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Wish the girls basketball teams luck in their pre-season tournament in Gillette, as the games start tomorrow. Also, their first home game is Wednesday, December 16 against Pine Creek: Varsity plays at 6:30, JV and C team play at 5:30.

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About the Contributor

Haley Rockwell, Sports Editor

Senior Haley Rockwell is a dynamic character in the Fossil Ridge setting, bringing many dimensions to Etched in Stone as well as everything else she is involved in. Her in-depth athletic background enables her to contribute accurate stories on the many sports teams that compete for Fossil, making her leadership of sporting event coverage on the Etched in Stone publication crew. “I’m an athlete, so I’m involved in a lot of sports, and I think that gives me an advantage writing about it since I’m so passionate about it”, she said. As an ambitious soccer player, talented photographer, and member of the journalism program for the past three (now four) years , dedication is definitely a quality that Haley never fails to bring to the table. In fact, her hard work and dedication has earned her commitment to the University of Northern Colorado for soccer, where she is thinking about majoring in business with a minor in journalism. “Journalism has been a big part of my life for the past four years, so I want to continue to pursue it if I can!” she exclaimed.

Apart from being involved in journalism, athletics, and demanding academics, Haley is very interested in the arts. Alongside photography, she also finds peace in the relaxing qualities that drawing offers. “If I need something to escape from the stress of school and soccer, I’ll go draw instead”, she explained. The subject that she most frequently captures in her artwork are wolves, which she considers to be her personal spirit animal. A lover of animals, Haley also has a black cat at home named Shay. She is the oldest of two sisters, and knows very well the responsibilities of taking the lead and making crucial decisions. Haley’s talents are bound to pave a pathway that will take her far, no matter where she chooses to travel. Her strong sense of individuality, hard work, and passion are essential tools that will lead her to a bright and prosperous future.