Standing out in the sporting world.

When someone ask me about my favorite sport or sporting event I would love to cover for a semester, the easy answer would be any automotive sport. From Nascar, with Chase Elliot or Joey Logano, to the Formula 1 with the legendary Lewis Hamilton. From the destructive world of Monster Jam, to the competitive field of motocross, I find enjoyment in watching and covering them all. These are sports I’ve watched as a child and stuck with them to this day. Just the other night I was screaming at my TV while watching a Monster Jam freestyle event. Some may find it a little odd when I answer that question, but it’s also shows how honest and carefree I am in what I find thrilling. Although these are my favorite sports, there is another sport that has caught my attention this semester and I’m proud to say it is on our very own campus of Iona College. I’ve had the opportunity to attend the Women’s basketball game a few weeks ago and I must say it was a very action-packed game. 

The division 1 team this season has a 4-11 record with their top player being Morgan Rachu with an average of 32-85 in rebounds and Shyan Mwai, who has an average of 32-106 in rebounds as well. Head Coach Billi Chambers has been coaching the women for 6 season and has been making her girls grow. She spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Virginia Tech before her big move to New Rochelle. Back in 2016-17 Iona’s women’s basketball team flaunted the MAAC Rookie of the year. According the Gaels athletics page, “Through her first five years leading the Iona program, Chambers held an 84-74 (.532) overall record”. 

To me it’s not just about the stats, the wins or losses or who had the championship title. What makes me excited for a game is what happens in the moment. When I watched their game, I saw determination, I found the crowd (though smaller thee usual) cheering for the athlete they support and overall seeing how hard these women work to receive the W is refreshing. Sometimes hard work goes unnoticed especially when you have an impressive men’s basketball, who has won the NAACP championships numerus times.  

As the season continues to wind down, something I hope to do, is create stories that brings more light to the team, and make students, professors and fans of other sports, find the enjoyment and thrilling side to Women’s Basketball here at Iona. To follow the team on their journey will not be easy but like the players on the team, determination to achieve a goal is one I’m expecting to do. Going forward, I expect to see the team continue to grow and hopefully bring home some wins for Gael Nation, as well to show future Gael players to have that same drive to make the name of Iona be one that spreads through the roasters. 

Also I'm hoping to take the world of equestrian riders and expose the sport for the good. Not only are the riders normally, undiscovered as "not a real sport", but the horses themselves, trained for years and sometimes need a little extra loving.