THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611010264
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 75 lines
When Katie Sherwood needs inspiration, she merely turns to her teammates.
After a Greenbrier Christian Academy girls basketball practice earlier this season, Sherwood emerged from a throng of fellow Gators. She grabbed Deborah Bush for moral support and sat next to a cluster of her teammates waiting to be interviewed.
From that scene, you would have hardly known Sherwood was destined for a huge season. The junior was undeniably the star of the Gators, averaging 15.8 points and shooting 57 percent from the floor for Greenbrier, which went 7-13 overall and 2-7 in the conference during the regular season.
Sherwood's achievements earned her a selection on the All-Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools second team.
First-team selections from South Hampton Roads were Kendra Robins of Norfolk Academy, averaging 16.5 points per game, and Ann Murden of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, averaging 17.8. Walsingham Academy's Courtney Neparlo (17.5 points per game) and Katherine Julian (16.7) and Peninsula Catholic's Lindsey Carney (27.4) also earned first-team honors.
Sherwood was joined on the second team by N-SA's Allison Dunn, Chesapeake resident Elizabeth Swearingen of Norfolk Collegiate, Norfolk Academy's Katie Rowan and Catholic's Ashley Johnson.
Honorable mention honors went to Sarah Michaels and Lizzy Rice of Norfolk Academy; Hass Shaner, Kelly Gillespie and Hallis Harris of Hampton Roads Academy; Katie Redmon of Cape Henry Collegiate; Megan Olesky of Walsingham; and Kristen Brown of Norfolk Christian.
Sherwood is quick to point out that her teammates are what kept her focused and helped her handle her leadership role.
``I'm inspired by Deborah Bush, Kelley Holland, Kristen Spencer, Anna Barrett and Carolyn Sprankle, spiritually,'' Sherwood said. ``And the rest of my teammates.''
In fact, she looked to Bush for confirmation of most statements concerning herself and obviously has the respect of the other players.
However, with respect comes responsibility and the continued pressure to perform at a high level.
``I've got to watch myself,'' Sherwood said with surprising frankness. ``Sometimes my attitude is bad. It's more pressure, it's kind of hard to be the one my people are looking to.''
Sherwood adapted to the pressure over the course of the season, using her friends to help her through the tough spots.
``Sometimes, it's a lot of pressure, sometimes it's different,'' she said. ``My friends help me a lot.''
In addition to her leadership role, Sherwood also dealt with being one of the better players in the TCIS, but playing for a struggling team.
``It's frustrating for her,'' coach Michelle Stiles said. ``She really is incredibly talented, a very gifted young lady.''
Katie is the latest in the line of gifted Sherwoods. Her older brothers, Jason and Scott, both excelled at athletics. Scott currently competes on the Gators' basketball and volleyball teams. Katie also plays volleyball and softball.
In fact, Katie drew Scott into the sport.
``I kind of inspired him, got him into it,'' she said.
Before they became volleyball fanatics, the Sherwoods were a pure basketball family. Now, Katie plays volleyball year-round and may stop playing softball to devote more time to the sport. She plays Junior Olympics for the Coastal Virginia squad in the offseason and now rates volleyball as her favorite sport, slightly above basketball.
``I just love the game,'' Sherwood said. ``The spiking, the feel of doing everything about it.''
For now, Sherwood is caught up in transitioning from the world of TCIS basketball to volleyball. And looking back over her freshly concluded season.
``The people on the team, friendly-wise and as a unit, we've played like I planned,'' Sherwood said. ``Our season's not been what we wanted, but it's still fun playing. I think we've come a long way since that first game.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Katie Sherwood
Greenbrier Christian Academy
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB