By JARROD POTTER
CASEY’S favourite Cavalier can’t wait to become a Vandal.
Cranbourne basketball rising star Renae Mokrzycki, 20, has signed her intent to join the University of Idaho women’s basketball team for her junior and senior years of college, making the switch from North Idaho College at the end of the current season.
The talented forward said the University of Idaho scouted her out and wanted her to sign early to make it official.
They (University of Idaho) came to a training session and said they will keep an eye on me because they thought I had improved since last season,” Mokrzycki said.
“Then they came to a couple scrimmages and said they want me to sign with them early.
“When I went on a visit they brought me in like I was already part of the team and having that sense of security is very important.
“I wanted to make sure that I get on well with the coaches and girls before I made any big decision and The Vandals did that.”
The move means Mokrzycki will play in the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Division 1 Women’s basketball competition – the best standard of competition in the college system, a challenge she is eager to undertake.
“Unbelievable is an understatement,” she said.
“I’m so grateful and happy to be thinking that I will be continuing my basketball career in a Division 1 uni.
“Everything has happened so quickly first with starting ‘Juco’ (junior college) now signing to a Division 1 uni early is simply mind blowing and I couldn’t have asked for a better pathway.”
The 2012 Big V Division 2 women’s MVP and All-Star Five member said she’d miss her North Idaho College team mates, but was keen to get across the fact that it is still close to everyone at North Idaho College.
“Definitely going to miss the coaches and girls, the season has just started but we all get on well and cause no drama which is something you want in a team,” Mokrzycki said.
“The beauty that Coeur D’Alene has, especially by the lake, will be missed but I’ll still get to see my host family so I’m happy.”
Mokrzycki wanted to thank her family and friends, “for their support and being my backbone through my journey” and said her journey so far is testament to working hard to achieve something greater than ever anticipated.
“Life is full of many opportunities that you create yourself,” she said.
“You might feel that things don’t work out or push you away, but just fight it and stay strong cause in the end you can look back and say ‘I made it’… just like I have made my dream come true.”
In the mean-time Mokrzycki is on fire playing for North Idaho, snaring 11 points and 14 rebounds in the Cardinals’ 72-58 win over Casper College.
