Women's basketball: Native Georgian took a chance on Hamline
All-MIAC women's basketball player came to Hamline for 'good character.'
Hannah Rael
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: Sports
Wilkowski found Hamline through her cousin who used to assist with coaching alongside the women's basketball head coach Melissa Young-Kruse.
After being recruited by Young-Kruse, she made her decision to be a Piper.
"[It] was very comfortable to come here,"she said. "I wasn't looking for a win at all costs program, I was more looking for the good character."
Other than being familiar with the head coach and program, Wilkowski was generally unfamiliar with the university.
"I didn't know a thing about the school," said Wilkowski, "I didn't even know where it was located. It was basically to play basketball."
The difference in climate between Savannah and Saint Paul was a big change for Wilkowski, who said she had never lived in snow and did not own a coat or boots when she first came.
Adapting to collegiate level athletics provided a challenge for her as well.
"When I got here, I was pretty raw," Wilkowski reflected. "[It is] totally different, you pretty much learn that you've been doing everything wrong your entire life."
Her improvements contributed to her recognitions within the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). She was named to the MIAC All Conference team both freshman and sophomore year.
This past summer, Wilkowski was asked to play for the USA Athletics International Team and competed in Ireland for ten days.
Also notable is her selection to the First-Year All-American team following her debut season as a Piper.
Regarding court sense and court feel, Young-Kruse said, "she is one of the best players I've ever coached...she studies the game, studies opponents and picks up on things very quickly."
Not only is Wilkowski a good player, she is a good student too. She has made the Dean's list every semester at Hamline.
"She strives to be excellent in everything she does," said Young-Kruse, "her faith, her academics, her athletics, her friends."
After being recruited by Young-Kruse, she made her decision to be a Piper.
"[It] was very comfortable to come here,"she said. "I wasn't looking for a win at all costs program, I was more looking for the good character."
Other than being familiar with the head coach and program, Wilkowski was generally unfamiliar with the university.
"I didn't know a thing about the school," said Wilkowski, "I didn't even know where it was located. It was basically to play basketball."
The difference in climate between Savannah and Saint Paul was a big change for Wilkowski, who said she had never lived in snow and did not own a coat or boots when she first came.
Adapting to collegiate level athletics provided a challenge for her as well.
"When I got here, I was pretty raw," Wilkowski reflected. "[It is] totally different, you pretty much learn that you've been doing everything wrong your entire life."
Her improvements contributed to her recognitions within the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). She was named to the MIAC All Conference team both freshman and sophomore year.
This past summer, Wilkowski was asked to play for the USA Athletics International Team and competed in Ireland for ten days.
Also notable is her selection to the First-Year All-American team following her debut season as a Piper.
Regarding court sense and court feel, Young-Kruse said, "she is one of the best players I've ever coached...she studies the game, studies opponents and picks up on things very quickly."
Not only is Wilkowski a good player, she is a good student too. She has made the Dean's list every semester at Hamline.
"She strives to be excellent in everything she does," said Young-Kruse, "her faith, her academics, her athletics, her friends."
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