The above statement has almost become cliché in today’s culture, but still rings true for hardworking student athletes across the nation. And it definitely rings true for the woman who said it: Righetti High School’s Mariah Cooks.
Cooks plays basketball year round, constantly practicing, constantly getting better. She can play any position and is the consummate team player. She sets aside time for her schoolwork, of course, but basketball occupies most of her free time.
“If I really want to get where I want to get I have to go that extra mile,” she said.
The Lady Warriors are not the only team benefiting from Cooks’ hard work. She also plays for the California Storm, an elite women’s club team based in Los Angeles.
The payoff for Cooks is something every young athlete dreams of: a full college scholarship. There will surely be plenty of universities vying for Cooks’ signature next year and though she doesn’t have a dream school, Cooks has an idea of where she wants to go.
“I’m looking for a school with a good basketball team and a good law program. I want to be a judge,” Cooks told the Sun. “I push myself harder than everybody else does so I’ve always been on top of my schoolwork.”
Yes, sports only tell half the story. Cooks had an impressive 3.8 GPA last semester and a 4.2 the semester before that. The thing about hard work is that it’s essential in all areas of life, not just in the gym. Especially to those hoping to don a black robe some day.
Though Cooks is continually working to achieve those long-term goals she is also focused on the short term: winning the Pac 7. The Lady Warriors are currently 2-2 in league play. Their next home game is Jan. 21 versus Paso Robles.
This article appears in Jan 20-27, 2011.
