Senior overcomes injury and returns to lineup
By Bill Kostkas
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Sports Extra
Off seasons for most athletes are pretty routine, and consist of yearly rituals, which consist of conditioning, and practice.
For Slippery Rock senior point guard Nikki Presto, the offseason began a little earlier than she's used to.
Just 17 minutes into a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference match up against the Gannon University Golden Knights, and after being 2-4 from the field with four points, Presto's season faced a sudden setback.
"I heard a pop and a snap," Presto said. It felt like my leg was in two pieces."
At the time the injury occurred, Presto led the team in assists per game (3.6), was fourth on the team in points per game (9.1), second in field goal percentage (.510), second in free-throw percentage (.804) and was third in rebounds per game (5.4).
After tearing her ACL, the former Thomas Jefferson High School product hasn't had a chance to get back into basketball mode until this past September. As a senior in high school, Presto averaged 20 points per game. Presto also was a member of the track team and played softball in high school, sports in which she lettered in a year each. Presto said that a bit of her softball throwing style makes an appearance while she makes some of her better passes on the court.
"A lot of the passes I throw are side-armed," Presto said. "I think it has to do with the way I played softball."
The four-year starter really enjoyed the chance to come to SRU and star for the basketball team right off the bat.
"I was really interested in the Physical Education department, since that's my major," Presto said. "I also was excited about the coaching they had here and about the chance to step in and start right away."
Head coach Laurel Heilman saw something special when recruiting Presto.
"She has some natural athleticism you can't teach," Heilman said. "She brings excitement to the game. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to get."
Heilman also was surprised to see Presto ready for the season and was really proud of her commitment this offseason.
"I didn't think we would get her back this early," Heilman said. "The fact that she's ready to play says all you want to know about her and how hard she works."
Throughout her high school career, Presto scored over 1,000 points and earned a WPIAL Class AAA section five selection twice, lettered all four years, while leading her team to section five championships twice.
Now, being one of the more experienced point guards in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Presto looks to a great 2009 season.
"I think I bring a lot of experience to the table," Presto said. "I've been here for four years. I'm one of the quicker point guards in the conference. I should be able to use that to my advantage."
For Slippery Rock senior point guard Nikki Presto, the offseason began a little earlier than she's used to.
Just 17 minutes into a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference match up against the Gannon University Golden Knights, and after being 2-4 from the field with four points, Presto's season faced a sudden setback.
"I heard a pop and a snap," Presto said. It felt like my leg was in two pieces."
At the time the injury occurred, Presto led the team in assists per game (3.6), was fourth on the team in points per game (9.1), second in field goal percentage (.510), second in free-throw percentage (.804) and was third in rebounds per game (5.4).
After tearing her ACL, the former Thomas Jefferson High School product hasn't had a chance to get back into basketball mode until this past September. As a senior in high school, Presto averaged 20 points per game. Presto also was a member of the track team and played softball in high school, sports in which she lettered in a year each. Presto said that a bit of her softball throwing style makes an appearance while she makes some of her better passes on the court.
"A lot of the passes I throw are side-armed," Presto said. "I think it has to do with the way I played softball."
The four-year starter really enjoyed the chance to come to SRU and star for the basketball team right off the bat.
"I was really interested in the Physical Education department, since that's my major," Presto said. "I also was excited about the coaching they had here and about the chance to step in and start right away."
Head coach Laurel Heilman saw something special when recruiting Presto.
"She has some natural athleticism you can't teach," Heilman said. "She brings excitement to the game. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to get."
Heilman also was surprised to see Presto ready for the season and was really proud of her commitment this offseason.
"I didn't think we would get her back this early," Heilman said. "The fact that she's ready to play says all you want to know about her and how hard she works."
Throughout her high school career, Presto scored over 1,000 points and earned a WPIAL Class AAA section five selection twice, lettered all four years, while leading her team to section five championships twice.
Now, being one of the more experienced point guards in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Presto looks to a great 2009 season.
"I think I bring a lot of experience to the table," Presto said. "I've been here for four years. I'm one of the quicker point guards in the conference. I should be able to use that to my advantage."
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