Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Junior Ava Valek

To say the Lady Wolves basketball team is young this season would be an understatement. The varsity roster has two sophomores and four freshmen, meaning there is a great need for leadership to get the younger players up to speed. Junior Ava Valek, who plays the center position, has a tall task ahead of her this season, both from a leadership standpoint and the expectations of her play. However, Head Coach Abe Carretto and Ava’s teammates believe she is more than up for the challenge, which is why she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Ava’s tried many sports as a kid, but basketball quickly became her favorite. “Ava started playing in kindergarten, and her mom was her first coach,” says Brian and Sarah Valek, Ava’s parents.

After playing for the Junior Wolves feeder program through junior high, Ava decided to stop playing travel and focus on her high school team. As with athletes across the country, her freshman year was cut short by the pandemic, but she made enough of an impression to be pulled up to the varsity as a sophomore. Coach Carretto recognized Ava’s grit and talent, saying, “I saw Ava was willing to work as hard as the rest of the varsity players, and she was physical and willing to sacrifice for the team.”

Playing the center position requires perhaps the most physicality of any position on the floor, but Ava’s leadership and court vision are what Ava prides most. “I want to be the best leader for my younger teammates,” says Ava. She continues by saying, “I feel like I’m a very vocal player on the court and can see what is happening during the game, and I try to let them know what I see and how that can help them.”

Although the Wolves have started slow out of the gate, that continued leadership will continue to prove invaluable to Coach Carretto and the young Wolves. “Ava is very vocal with encouragement towards her teammates,” says Carretto. He goes on to say, “Ava is always trying to remain positive and talk with her teammates even in some tough situations. She has a great attitude and is even playing through some pain this year, so she is really laying it out there for her teammates.”

Despite playing through some injuries this season, Ava is leading the team in rebounding with 5.5 RPG, and is also contributing 5.6 PPG. Dealing with the adversity of injuries is not only helping the Wolves on the court but will also help Ava build empathy for her career path beyond high school as well. Ava plans on following in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a nurse.

“Ava has always taken great interest in helping others,” says Brian and Sarah. They go on to say, “Her participation in the athletic training course at OE this fall reaffirmed that interest in the field, as well as recent experiences helping family members with medical issues. She is unfazed by emergencies and is an effective communicator.”

Sarah Mantooth Humbert, who has taught Ava in Chemistry as a sophomore and is currently her forensic Science teacher, has seen firsthand why Ava will excel in the field. “Ava is a funny, engaging, and compassionate person,” says Sarah. She goes on to say, “She strives to do well in her classes, motivated by learning and obtaining skills that will help her grow as a person and future nurse. She brings a warm smile, comforting laugh, and confidence to those around her, all of which are qualities that will help her bedside manner in the field.”

As a junior, Coach Carretto has big expectations for his center for not only this year but next as well. “I think with all her experience this year, and improving her game with the outside jumper, she can average a double-double next year.” He goes on to say, “Ava is a vocal leader already, so I would not expect that to change.”

However, Ava and her teammate's concern will be taking the new pieces this season and working together to develop trust and cohesion on the floor. For future Wolves, Ava advises them to, “Put yourself out there and try to make as many new friends as possible, and not rush through it because the time goes by very quickly.” Although the season began only a few short weeks ago, the conference stretch will be here just as quickly, and the Wolves are hoping their quick development will make them a force in the SPC.