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Defense is Strength of Gapinski's Game

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By Nicole Frkol
IV Leader Staff

Defense is the name of her game, and for freshman guard Leah Gapinski it's a tenatious defense.

"Leah is very defense oriented, but also has a big responsibility in bringing up and handling the ball," said Lady Eagle coach Steve Crick. "Her best attribute on the floor would definitely be her defense though. We put her on the opposing team's leading scorer and time and time again she has shut her opponent down."

Since she has been able to walk, Gapinski remembers having a basketball in her hands. Looking up to her Grandpa's basketball stories Gapinski knew that she wanted to live out his stories in her own career.

Gapinski started playing basketball at the Peru YMCA in intramurals, but got on her first team in sixth grade at Peru Washington Grade School. From Peru Washington, Gapinski's defensive skills made the way to LaSalle Peru High School. There she gained the reputation for touch defense that has carried on to IVCC.

"Leah is a very firery player who is a spark plug for us on the court," Crick said. "She keeps the team fired up and is very vocal on the court."

In choosing IVCC many factors played into her decision. "It was close to home and by knowing most of the girls coming here, I knew it would be a fun time," Gapinski said. "And it has been."

As for this season, the Lady Eagles have had to overcome injuries but are coming back strong looking towards the regional tournament.

"We started off strong together as a team at the beginning of the year, but second semester has plagued us with injury," she said. "Those injuries brought our confidence level down as a team but everyone has stepped up since then and taken on this new challenge.

"Our team is much like a puzzle, the pieces have been taken apart, but we are pulling together to make it a whole again."

Future plans for Gapinski include transferring to play at a four year university and study dentistry. Some schools she is considering are San Diego State and University of Illinois.