Rock guard gets new heart, fresh start at playing
By Josh Rizzo
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 1/16/09 Section: Sports
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Or at least most college students will say so.
Professors give too much homework, classes are difficult and bad roommates provide reasons for students to complain.
Just don't tell that to junior Sandra Busser. Busser isn't an average 21-year-old. She has a more pressing problem.
Last July, Busser was diagnosed with syncope, and was rushed to emergency surgery to have a pacemaker put in.
Busser is from Parma, Ohio.
Since she was little, Busser has had a passion for basketball.
Busser said she's been playing since she was in second or third grade. Coming out of high school, Busser was recruited by Notre Dame College (Ohio), St. Peters College (N.J.) and Edinboro University.
Despite interest from some Division II schools, Busser decided to attend Division III Baldwin Wallace College, in Ohio.
At Baldwin Wallace, Busser appeared in 25 games, averaging 2.4 points per game.
But Busser said she wasn't happy at Baldwin Wallace.
She was interested in transferring to a bigger school, with a higher level of competition in basketball.
Busser said one of the reasons she came to SRU was because of junior Marty Kern, a defensive lineman on the football team. Busser said Kern told her SRU was a good school and a good place to transfer.
"Basketball drove me here," Busser said. "Marty was the only person I knew when I transferred here."
But before Busser could play basketball, she had to find a spot on the team. SRU's head coach Laurel Heilman said Busser contacted her.
"She came to SRU and I loved her toughness," Heilman said. "She loves to compete, and gave 100 percent all over the floor. We decided to offer her a spot on the team as a two guard and defensive stopper."
As a walk-on, Busser would practice and play with the team, but would have to pay her own way through school.
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