2008 Woodie Awards
IN THE CARDS: Casey Clark
Clark aims to be top player in SUNYAC
Hugh Barry
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Sports
Originally published: 2/21/08 at 3:40 PM EST
Last update: 2/21/08 at 6:54 PM EST
For any new incoming freshman athlete, playing a college sport can be extremely difficult. It is even more difficult for any freshman to start his or her first season. Most players do not find themselves starting full time until they are a sophomore, junior - or possibly never.
That wasn't the case for forward Casey Clark. During Clark's freshman year on the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team during the 2006-07 season, she started 21 out of 25 games she appeared in and her statistics showed it.
Clark averaged 5.7 points a game last season along with her team leading 21 blocks and placed second in rebounds, averaging 5.4 a game.
Although Clark is a natural born athlete, she had plenty of motivation and support from her family growing up in Athens, NY.
"My parents got me into it," Clark said. "They always made me go to games when I was younger and my older brother played as well."
Clark attended Coxsackie-Athens High School where she accomplished a number of things including team MVP in 2002, 2003, 2004 and in 2006, she was named to the Patroon Conference First Team and the Coxsackie-Athens Female Athlete of the Year. However, Clark admits that playing in college is a completely different game than high school.
"In college, every player is good and you work more as a team," Clark said. "Players don't just have more talent, they have more strength and they are more team oriented."
Although Clark's talent could have brought her to a number of different schools, she chose PSUC because she knew it was the right place for her.
"I really liked the campus, - Coach Cole and the team just seemed really close," Clark said. "Coach always pushes me to work harder and always lets me know if I'm slacking. She gave me the confidence to work hard and become a good player."
Head Coach Cheryl Cole said, "She is intense, hard working and an excellent rebounder. She is developing some strong back-to-the-basket moves."
That wasn't the case for forward Casey Clark. During Clark's freshman year on the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team during the 2006-07 season, she started 21 out of 25 games she appeared in and her statistics showed it.
Clark averaged 5.7 points a game last season along with her team leading 21 blocks and placed second in rebounds, averaging 5.4 a game.
Although Clark is a natural born athlete, she had plenty of motivation and support from her family growing up in Athens, NY.
"My parents got me into it," Clark said. "They always made me go to games when I was younger and my older brother played as well."
Clark attended Coxsackie-Athens High School where she accomplished a number of things including team MVP in 2002, 2003, 2004 and in 2006, she was named to the Patroon Conference First Team and the Coxsackie-Athens Female Athlete of the Year. However, Clark admits that playing in college is a completely different game than high school.
"In college, every player is good and you work more as a team," Clark said. "Players don't just have more talent, they have more strength and they are more team oriented."
Although Clark's talent could have brought her to a number of different schools, she chose PSUC because she knew it was the right place for her.
"I really liked the campus, - Coach Cole and the team just seemed really close," Clark said. "Coach always pushes me to work harder and always lets me know if I'm slacking. She gave me the confidence to work hard and become a good player."
Head Coach Cheryl Cole said, "She is intense, hard working and an excellent rebounder. She is developing some strong back-to-the-basket moves."
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