By Mary Patalita
Special to GoHolyCross.com
To Raquel Scott (Ridgewood, N.J.) basketball has always been more than just a sport. The lessons she has learned from basketball make it even more special for Scott. Named first team All-Patriot League and Academic All-Patriot League in her junior season, Scott was looking forward to continued success in her final season with the Crusaders.
Unfortunately, Scott tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the beginning of her senior season. Despite being sidelined for the rest of the year due to injury, the lessons she has learned from participating in athletics will carry her through this injury and into her life after basketball.
From the beginning of her athletic career, Scott's parents have been a positive influence on her because they never put pressure on her athletically.
“They never wanted basketball to become a job for me, and I think because of that I learned to play from a passionate perspective in my life versus playing to win or playing to score points,” said Scott. “After games in high school my mom would ask if I tried my hardest because that's all you can do, that's all you can control how hard you play, how hard you work, and how good of a teammate you are.”
The intangible skills she learned from her parents growing up have made an impact on her career. Never feeling pressure from her parents helped Scott to enjoy the game and allowed her to play for the love of basketball.
Similarly, Scott learned by example from watching her sister growing up. Her older sister, Ariel, was a volleyball national champion at Penn State. Following Ariel and playing volleyball with her in high school taught Scott how to be a leader.
“She was so good that it gave me something to look up to,” said Scott. “She was always very competitive and pushed me. Being on the same team made me a better player just by playing with her. That's what great players should do; they should make other people want to be better versions of themselves. You can't just rely on one great player; you have to encourage your teammates to rise to the same standards.”
Learning from her sister taught Scott the importance of learning by example as well as leading by example.
Beyond her family, head coach Bill Gibbons has made an impression on Scott as well. “I have learned from him to have a passion for the sport,” said Scott. “He gets on us when we lose, but he always is hopeful and encouraging about the next game. He really wants the sport to remain fun for us. He goes into the next game or practice with an optimistic mentality.”
Gibbons has educated his players beyond the court and equipped them with values of positivity and doing things passionately. These ideals will carry with them past their days in purple and white.
Specifically Scott's time at Holy Cross has shaped her to be the player she is today. By working outside of practice, Scott has individual motivation to improve her game.
“At the collegiate level you can never get complacent; you always have to do the extra work like watching film and being a student of the game,” said Scott.
Putting in the extra time to succeed and doing things that others may not be willing to do, sets Scott apart from the crowd. This lesson she learned in her basketball career has developed her into a stronger person.
"Raquel is a natural born leader whose presence overtakes a room and a basketball court,” said Gibbons. “It has been rewarding to witness her growth and maturity in both those areas through her four years at Holy Cross. There is no question in my mind that Holy Cross was the right place for Raquel to grow as a student, as an athlete and most importantly, as a young woman. I have a feeling that I will be telling stories of Raquel's success for many years to come."
Being a student-athlete requires finding balance between both athletics and academics. For Scott, she feels that the keys to success in the classroom and on the court are connected.
“The skills of time management and mental toughness apply in the classroom and on the court,” said Scott. “When learning something when you don't necessarily want to, being mentally tough to get through is huge.”
Scott has mastered both aspects of being a student-athlete. This was recognized by her selection as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award for notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Overall, her career at Holy Cross has shaped her as a person. “I would mark my experience with Holy Cross basketball with becoming a more mature person,” expressed Scott. “I think in a lot of ways basketball, especially playing at such a competitive level, has made me grow so much as a person and also as a player. I have learned a lot of life skills that I will take away into the real world. That's more important than the wins and losses.”
After graduation, Scott will begin working for JP Morgan in New York City. The life skills she has learned from Holy Cross will propel her forward in the workplace.
“My strength and conditioning coach put on our workout packet 'get comfortable being uncomfortable' and I think that is something you have to learn so quickly being a Division I athlete,” said Scott. “My two internships at JP Morgan were one of the toughest things I've ever done, but a lot of the life skills I learned being an athlete I also applied in my internships.” For Scott, athletics helps her succeed in more ways than just on the court.
These lessons Scott picked up through basketball she has also imparted on her teammates. “It's been such a pleasure playing with Raquel,” said senior co-captain Kate Gillespie (Washington, D.C.). “She is one of the hardest workers and most vocal leaders I have ever played with, but the thing about Raquel that has most stood out to me is her consistent effort. She plays hard no matter the circumstances, whether it be a pickup game in the preseason or a Patriot League playoff game.”
Although Scott's career ended sooner than she had hoped, she has learned many intangible skills from the sport of basketball. Participating in athletics has given Scott lessons that will last a lifetime.
This story appears in the 2016 Patriot League Tournament program, which is available for purchase at host sites for both the men and women's basketball tournaments.
