Westfield Owls鈥� senior guard Melissa Gray is back on the court
WESTFIELD, Mass. — Senior guard Melissa Gray lost out on a season last year due to the pandemic causing an uproar all across the world. The NCAA canceled the Lady Owls鈥� season alongside the entire college Division III.
For the past two years or so, the pandemic has been causing so many horrific and sad realities all across the nation. For college sports, it has been a very crazy ride because athletes don’t know if they will have a season or not because of this deadly virus.
Luckily, star guard Melissa Gray has one more opportunity to make her presence felt on the hardwood. One more year of eligibility has been granted to the guard for not playing last year due to the pandemic.
鈥淭o think about this year being the last year I put on an Owl uniform makes me sad and also shocked,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淵ou never really listen to someone when they tell you how fast it goes by, but it sure does. It makes me look back to the past years and all the amazing memories I will leave here with, and hopefully one more MASCAC championship.鈥�
When becoming a senior, you start to look back on the years and refresh your memory on everything you’ve accomplished. The growth that comes with being a senior from a freshman in college is huge.
When asking Gray what advice she would give her younger self, the guard had this to say.
鈥淭he advice I would give to the freshman Melissa Gray is to treat every game like it鈥檚 your last, to enjoy every second, the good and the bad,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 remember there would be some practices where I would think, 鈥業鈥檓 so tired, I can鈥檛 wait to get out.鈥� This year I鈥檝e had a whole different mentality with knowing how fast it goes and by cherishing every moment I have with my team.鈥�
Athletes like Gray don’t come around often and when they do, it’s important to live in the moment and cherish the greatness they bring.
Not every athlete has something or someone they play for, but for Gray, it’s her dad.
鈥淢y dad was a phenomenal basketball player and has taught me so much,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e has been there for me through it all, countless hours of shooting around with me and helping me work on my game. He has been my rock throughout my life and I don鈥檛 know what I would do without him.鈥�
Gray has always let her playing do the talking which is why she has gained so many accomplishments and accolades over the years. But with this year being her last with this squad, roles have changed for the better.
鈥淚n my past years, I鈥檝e never been a very vocal player,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always liked to play my game quietly and lead by example. This year has been a bit different, with me being a leader in a different way. I have been more vocal this year than I ever have in my basketball career. With having a young team, it鈥檚 my job to help guide them and try to inject that confidence into them. Every player on my team is so open to learning and taking advice, and that has made my role a whole lot easier.鈥�
Gray has won multiple MASCAC Championships with the Owls and it hasn’t always been with the same group of players which makes it so much more interesting. This year, she has an entirely different squad but still has the same mentality.
鈥淭he team we have this year is very different from my past teams and one of the reasons for that is how young we are,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have so much talent on this team and there is a lot of potential there for us to be great. One big thing that I try to emphasize to the underclassmen is confidence and knowing that you belong out there on the court.鈥�
Confidence bleeds prosperity because when you believe in yourself and in your team, nothing can stop you but yourself. You play your best game when you don’t think too much and let your instincts become your power on the court. Gray has displayed that time and time again which is why she is on the verge of breaking the school record in points and it’s so well deserved.
鈥淭o possibly break the school record in points is such an amazing feeling,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 look back at all the work I鈥檝e put into this game and this is one of those milestones I feel like I鈥檝e been working towards. Whether I break the school record or not, I am so grateful for the game of basketball and everything it has taught me.鈥�
If you want to check out Gray on the court, the Westfield State Owls will be hosting Springfield College at the Woodward Center on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.