At first glance Mikayla Koconis-O’Malley, Div. 874, seems just like one of the many juniors that have earned their spot on this year’s Girls Varsity Basketball Team. However, Koconis-O’Malley has proven to be more than just another face on the court. She not only plays on the Basketball Team, but she is also on the Girls Varsity Swim Team and on the Girls Varsity Water Polo Team.

Koconis-O’Malley started playing sports at the age of eight. She first started taking swimming lessons because her sister was one of the coaches, and was later urged to join the team, which increased her interest for the sport. Then, in fourth grade she began playing basketball, and she has been active in both sports ever since.

Koconis-O’Malley is able to excel in all three sports despite their close proximity to one another. She must quickly transition from one sport to the other and always maintain a fresh focus and commitment for each sport she is playing.

Koconis-O’Malley’s ability to transition from one sport to another so quickly may be astounding to most people, but for her it has become a common occurrence.

“I think because I’m already conditioned so that’s not really a problem,” Koconis-O’Malley said. “I’ve always done sports so it’s easy.”

With this basketball season already underway, Koconis-O’Malley is a prized possession for the team. Ms. Ulmer, Koconis-O’Malley’s basketball coach, said, “She is somebody that not only coaches trust but her teammates trust as well. Almost like a calming force on the court for her teammates.”

Koconis-O’Malley’s hard work and defense are a great contribution to the team, and she serves as an example to her teammates for how they could improve their game, Coach Ulmer said.

Speaking about Koconis-O’Malley’s biggest strength on the basketball court, teammate Yesenia Rodriguez, Div. 869, said, “I think it’s her chemistry with her teammates, and how she knows where they’ll be at the same time. Wherever we are, she knows, and she’ll give us the ball.”

When reflecting on her current style of play on the court, Koconis-O’Malley said, “I think with basketball as I got older I got more disciplined and more focused, so it was easy to learn new things. As you get older you learn to play as a team and not just for yourself.”

Speaking to Koconis-O’Malley’s influence over her teammates, Ms. Ulmer said, “She’s competitive, she’s confident, she’s courageous, and she holds herself to high standards, which ultimately holds her teammates to high standards, so she leads by example.”

Teamwork is very important to KoconisO’Malley, who enjoys playing as a team instead of an individual because her teammates are what keeps her motivated.

“I always want to do the best I can because then I know if I don’t I’ll feel guilty,” Koconis-O’Malley said. “If I don’t play as hard as I can I’ll have let my team down.“

Ms. Ulmer said she believes that KoconisO’Malley could play basketball in college, but she has not decided if she wants to continue playing basketball in college. She is not set on any plans for the future but is instead focusing on the current basketball season.

“I definitely want to do well,” Koconis-O’Malley said. “We’re such a good team. We’re all really good players, so I’m excited. We’ll do really well in whatever way we can.”