March Madness has officially begun; friends, family and coworkers have been furiously filling out brackets, making educated guesses which teams will make it to the Final Four.
For Marlton native and Villanova senior Laura Sweeney, the experience is much more visceral.
Villanova entered its 10th NCAA Tournament, ranked as an eight seed this year.
The team, however, lost its first-round game at the hands of Michigan, 60–52, last Sunday.
“I’m so proud of the team and making the NCAA tournament. Making the tournament means more than anything,” Sweeney said.
To sweeten the deal, Sweeney was named to the second-team All-Big East team for the second consecutive year.
“It’s a big deal, it’s exciting and it gives you a little motivation and quiet confidence,” said Sweeney, a fifth-year senior with her undergraduate degree in human services, who is going to school for nursing.
Sweeney is a team leader, according to head coach Harry Perretta.
“Laura’s role as a player is to do a little bit of everything — score, rebound, give assists, steal and block,” said Perretta, a coaching veteran now in his 35th season with Villanova. “As a captain, her role is to set a good example, work hard every day and be a positive influence for everyone.”
According to Perretta, Sweeney is a 24/7 athlete, rarely taking a break from practice.
Sweeney leads the team in both scoring and rebounding.
“Without her we wouldn’t be in the NCAA tournament,” Perretta said.
Before Sweeney’s career at Villanova, she was a dominant athlete at Cherokee High School.
According to Villanova’s website, Sweeney was a four-year letterwinner, varsity starter and all-conference pick, a two-time All-South Jersey selection, 2008 Burlington County Player of the Year, MVP of the 2008 All-State New Jersey All-Star Game and senior team captain.
Additionally, Sweeney holds high school records for most points scored with 2,037 and most rebounds with 1,285.
“I loved playing in the school district. I still keep tabs on the schools, it was a competitive league to play in,” Sweeney said. “I think it had a lot to do with me coming to play at Villanova.”
Perretta took notice of Sweeney her sophomore year, while she was playing with the Running Rebels, an AAU basketball team.
“She was a very dominant player in South Jersey.
“We were lucky enough to get her to come to Villanova,” Perretta said.
Sweeney was redshirted, or able to practice and workout with the team but unable to compete in games, her freshman year.
Perretta has noticed drastic improvement in Sweeney’s game.
“I’ve seen her grow in terms of confidence. She wasn’t confident,” he said. “She needed to understand how good she was. Because she’s so shy and so unselfish she needed to know she could exert herself and take the shot.”
Sweeney attributes her well-rounded understanding of the game to Perretta.
“I understood what the coach needs and wants more than ever. I still am nervous, but I rely on the last three years that have brought me into my last year,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney is focused on the needs of the team and dedicated to taking the Lady Wildcats as far as possible.
“I think I’m keeping the team grounded and reminding them we made the tournament for a reason and we’ve gotten better as the games have gone on,” Sweeney said.
“I had fun every year but without a doubt this was the best year playing basketball. I can relate it to my teammates and coaches. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
For more information on Villanova basketball and the NCAA Tournament visit, www.villanova.com.
