As evening approached, a woman spoke up.
“I'm sorry. Can I ask you one more question?”
A microphone was handed to her.
“Is there anything we seniors can do to help young people, whether it’s sports or academics?”
West Ottawa senior and Miss Basketball Gabby Reynolds answered.
“Let's have a conversation. It doesn't have to be about sports, just normal conversation,” said the West Ottawa women's basketball co-captain and point guard.
Photo credit: Andrea GoodellEvergreen Commons President and CEO Jill Ver Steeg (right) with Miss Basketball Michigan Gabby Reynolds (left) and West Ottawa teammate Taylor Catton He led a question and answer session with Mr.
Reynolds and her teammate, shooting guard Taylor Catton, spoke to a group Monday night at Evergreen Commons during a question-and-answer session followed by photos and trivia.
Community support means a lot to Catton.
“Thanks to the community that supported us, we were able to keep going and have a better season than anyone expected,” she says. “When I go to games and have people cheering me on (in the stands), it always makes me want to do my best.”
Photo credit: Andrea GoodellWest Ottawa basketball players Taylor Catton (center) and Gabby Reynolds speak to a man after a Q&A at Evergreen Commons.
connect generations
Jill Ver Steeg, president and CEO of Evergreen Commons, said Monday's intergenerational event is aimed at bringing young people and older people together.
“We truly believe in the power of intergenerational connections and lifelong learning,” she says.
Reynolds is the daughter of Evergreen Commons staff member LeeAnne Reynolds.
“A lot of people watch her play throughout the year, and I thought this would be a fun culminating event that would bring older and younger people together,” Ver Steeg says.
Photo credit: Andrea Goodell
competition
Reynolds has five siblings and has a natural and ongoing competition with his two brothers, especially in sports.
“I think I got a little old because I was always losing to my brothers. (Basketball) was one of the sports that I really wanted to be good at so I could beat my brothers.” says Reynolds.
For Reynolds, the best part of the sport is winning, especially against tough opponents.
The crowd cheering, the back-and-forth game, hitting every shot — when things fall into place, that's the thrill she seeks.
Catton said playing with talented teammates is fun, but what's even better is working with great people who make him want to play better.
“It's really great to see someone work so hard and see it pay off,” she says.
miss basketball
When Reynolds heard about the Mick McCabe Miss Basketball title, which is given annually by the Michigan Basketball Coaches Association, winning the title became her biggest goal.
Announcements from the governor's office and state officials specifically emphasize Reynolds' willingness.
“Her unquenchable energy and will to win each game is as great as her playing ability,” it read.
Reynolds averages about 30 points per game and scored a career-high 47 points against Jenison on February 13, breaking the school record for single-game games that stood for 54 years. Her career score of 1,899 broke another school record set in 1987. She led her team to the state quarterfinals for the first time in over 35 years.
Reynolds received 12 Division I offers to play college ball, and she chose George Washington University, where she said she “felt like home.”
Photo credit: Andrea GoodellTwo fans check out a photo exhibit of Miss Basketball Michigan Gabby Reynolds before a Q&A at Evergreen Commons.
“I feel like there are a lot of distractions that get in the way of personal success,” she said, adding that she needs to “keep her foot on the gas.”
Her pedals are pressed against the metal.
Reynolds finished her last class on Friday. Today she attended her high school convocation and will attend her graduation ceremony later this week. On Saturday, the Reynolds family will head to George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where Gabby will begin basketball practice next week.
The four weeks of practice will be followed by a four week summer school session. After a short break, the fall semester begins.
Even as he moves forward, Reynolds is still thinking about his future. Her ultimate dream may be to become a professional basketball player, but she is considering choosing between her law studies and sports management.