February's Student Athlete of the Month: Bianca Mechelin!

Bianca Mechelin is a Junior on the Frazier Mountain High School’s Varsity girl’s basketball team. She is a starter on the team, and loves what she does. Bianca currently plays three sports: cross country, basketball, and softball. Her favorite of the three is basketball, and you can catch her in the gym shooting hoops. This is an interview on her basketball experience this 2017 season.

(Falcon Beat) FB: What do you find special about your favorite sport?

(Bianca Mechelin) BM: My favorite sport to play in high school is evidently basketball. Not only do I absolutely love the game and its dynamics, but I think one of the most special things about this sport is that it is intense all the way around. When you and your team make consecutive baskets in a row, that is when you get the adrenaline rush. As a result, we become more determined in our defense and excited with our offense. Afterwards, we get to talk about what we need to improve on- and of course laugh and bond as a team. This is why basketball is so special to me, and will be the most memorable sport I have played in high school.

FB: Do you plan on playing basketball in college?

BM: It depends on what college I go to and how everything plays out. I will probably want to play recreationally, if anything.

FB: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

BM: I have a lot of personal accomplishments in my sports. One of them would probably have to be during my sophomore year of varsity basketball, when we played at Santa Clarita Christian. Throughout the entire game we only had 5 sophomore players with one sub. We did lose that game, but I made 5 3-pointer shots in that game alone. 2 honorable mentions go to making varsity softball my sophomore year without ever playing the sport before, and playing with varsity basketball my freshman year with about 8 other players.

FB: How do you work with your teammates?

BM: My teammates and I know each other's groove pretty well; we are familiar with and comfortable with the team. Most of us have played together for a long time. I try to encourage my teammates to push themselves to the fullest of their abilities, while also pushing myself to keep up with them.

FB: What would be your ultimate achievement?

BM: My ultimate achievement for me and the entire team would be to make it to CIF championships. During the pre-season is when we face high-intensity teams, which I think will prepare us this year for league. A personal achievement would be to make 1st all-league player.

FB: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

BM: Whenever I am feeling unmotivated, I look at the big picture of being an athlete. I have to remind myself where my inspiration is derived from, and that is doing everything for the glory of God. I am re-inspired after every game whether it's because of a well deserved win or hard-fought loss because I remember where my inspiration comes from.

FB: Do you have a saying or motto you live your life by?

BM: Not anything particular, but a I do like Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

FB: How do you set your goals?

BM: I set my goals by one goal at a time. I do have a long list of goals that I keep, and my motivation for the next goal comes from achieving the first goal.

Thanks for choosing me as the Athlete of the Month, you can see the girls Varsity basketball team play their games.

Thank you for your time Bianca, we wish you luck on the last stretch of your season.

#athleteofthemonth