2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman makes big impact on program
Daniel Barrack
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Sports
Rachele Fitz is a 6-foot freshman forward from Seven Hills, Ohio. Fitz began her interest in basketball when she was in second grade, playing for the community recreational league.
Fitz's interest in the game grew larger and larger until she reached high school. While playing at Trinity High School, Fitz scored 2,073 points and accumulated over 1,400 rebounds. The Trinity High School star won many prestigious awards in her four year stint, including awards such as division III player of the year, first Team All-Ohio District III, first team all-district and many more. She was named most valuable player all four years at Trinity High School and led the team in scoring and rebounds each season.
Since that time, Fitz has graduated from Trinity High School and is now a major contributor to the Marist women's basketball program. Like every high school graduate beginning their career in college, Fitz noticed the differences right away.
"The speed of the game is the biggest difference," she said. "When I first came here, I didn't know about each schools' defense and how they run and play together. There is also a big difference about how to run our offense and defense. It usually takes freshman a year to learn the system and the game is a lot quicker. The first game I played I kept saying 'Oh my God!' There are much more hand signals and there is a name for everything we do."
While Fitz is still adjusting to the speed of the game, the eight time rookie of the week brings a lot to Marist basketball, both personally and athletically.
"I think more than anything me and my roommates (freshman guards Brittany Engle and Lynzee Johnson), bring the team together because we level out everyone and feel like we can just talk and communicate with everyone," Fitz said. "In terms of basketball skills I think I help improve our rebounding, scoring, and just the little things to help our team out."
Fitz is definitely helping out. The Red Foxes lead the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 10-0 record in conference play, while two of the teams four loses have come to #5 Duke and #1 Maryland.
Fitz's interest in the game grew larger and larger until she reached high school. While playing at Trinity High School, Fitz scored 2,073 points and accumulated over 1,400 rebounds. The Trinity High School star won many prestigious awards in her four year stint, including awards such as division III player of the year, first Team All-Ohio District III, first team all-district and many more. She was named most valuable player all four years at Trinity High School and led the team in scoring and rebounds each season.
Since that time, Fitz has graduated from Trinity High School and is now a major contributor to the Marist women's basketball program. Like every high school graduate beginning their career in college, Fitz noticed the differences right away.
"The speed of the game is the biggest difference," she said. "When I first came here, I didn't know about each schools' defense and how they run and play together. There is also a big difference about how to run our offense and defense. It usually takes freshman a year to learn the system and the game is a lot quicker. The first game I played I kept saying 'Oh my God!' There are much more hand signals and there is a name for everything we do."
While Fitz is still adjusting to the speed of the game, the eight time rookie of the week brings a lot to Marist basketball, both personally and athletically.
"I think more than anything me and my roommates (freshman guards Brittany Engle and Lynzee Johnson), bring the team together because we level out everyone and feel like we can just talk and communicate with everyone," Fitz said. "In terms of basketball skills I think I help improve our rebounding, scoring, and just the little things to help our team out."
Fitz is definitely helping out. The Red Foxes lead the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 10-0 record in conference play, while two of the teams four loses have come to #5 Duke and #1 Maryland.
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