Peyton Young hungry for last chance as a Lasell Laser
NEWTON, Mass. (BVM) — For many years, basketball has been Peyton Young’s outlet. A place where the competition takes all the worries from the outside world away.聽
Unfortunately for Young, her senior season was canceled due to COVID-19.聽
鈥淚t was heartbreaking news, especially being a senior, 鈥媌ut it was also expected, Young said. 鈥淚t’s not safe to play now and so just like everything else that’s happened this year, my teammates and I just had to take it in stride.鈥�
Young is from Douglas, Mass., a small town just south of Worcester. She was introduced to sports at a young age but fell in love with basketball in fifth grade. Young currently plays basketball at Lasell University.聽
Being a student athlete at any level brings challenges, but Young is up for the task. Time management is key for Young and she attributes that to her success on and off the court.聽
鈥�I work two jobs, have an internship, take five-six classes each semester, play a sport and still need time to relax and socialize,鈥� Young said. 鈥淚t can be stressful when you have so much on your plate, so it’s important that I learn how to manage all of my responsibilities while also getting the college experience.鈥�
Young has a drive and passion that carries her throughout the season. When things are going wrong and the world is upside down, Young can still fall back on basketball to clear her head. Whether it’s shooting around with friends, practices, or games, Young can always rely on basketball to keep her grounded.聽
鈥淏asketball has always been an alternate reality for me because it doesn’t matter how many things I have going on in my life, once I step onto the court in a game or practice setting, everything disappears. It’s always been a great way for me to relieve stress.鈥�
Even with an intense mindset, Young can take a step back and know that basketball is just a game. Most of all, she wants to have fun while playing with her teammates.
Young’s future was unknown until recently. She decided to get her master鈥檚 degree next year and gain her eligibility back with the NCAA, so she’ll have a chance at redemption with the Lasers. The women’s team at Lasell hasn’t been up to par the last couple of years and Young plans to change that.聽
鈥淢y personal goal for the next season is to secure a playoff position,鈥� Young said. 鈥淚n my two years with this team, we have been so close to making playoffs but have fallen just short. Basketball is a long season, and it takes a toll on our bodies so when it comes towards the end of the season, which is when it really matters, our bodies are just too tired to keep pushing. I want to make it my personal goal that our bodies are in the best condition to push past the end of the season and into the playoffs.鈥�
Young鈥檚 mental toughness and leadership will never be more apparent than this coming season. Being in condition late in the season is something that has been the downfall of teams in the past. Young is determined to not let that happen and use her experience to motivate her group of girls to make a deep playoff run in what is truly her last season.
Young has had a long relationship with basketball that will continue into next year. Although there were ups and downs throughout the last few years, Young’s relationship with her teammates and Lasell as a school has never been stronger. Her determination to be great at what she does on the court should bring her success in her last season.
