Amanda Schroeder is a freshman at Sinclair majoring in dental hygiene. She is also a star basketball player, playing forward on the Sinclair women’s basketball team.
The Tartan Pride is having a great season. They are currently ranked 9th nationally and sit atop the OCCAC standings, and Schroeder is a big reason why. She is currently ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring with 26.2 PPG, 2nd in total points with 654, 2nd in FGs made with 241, 2nd in FTs made with 129 and 1st in FT percentage at 89.6 percent.
This has led her to be named the OCCAC player of the week five times, along with being named the Buckeye Charters November Player of Distinction.
“It feels rewarding because all the hard work you put in is paying off,” Schroeder said.
These numbers and her success, have brought Schroeder college basketball opportunities beyond Sinclair, but she is focused on this season.
“Coach said a bunch of schools were calling about me, but I didn’t really ask what schools,” said Schroeder. “I’m going to focus on that after this season.”
The six-foot forward has been playing basketball since the 3rd grade, only not always as a forward. In high school she played mostly under the rim.
“I think I like playing the wing more just because it gives me more options,” she said. “In high school I couldn’t really shoot outside but now I am diversified.”
Schroeder has faced challenges through this position change but has worked hard to overcome them.
“I knew I would be playing the wing here though, because we already had Madison [Connally-Banks] and Aaryn [Evans],” Schroeder said. “So, during the summer I just worked on my shot a lot. Perimeter defense is a lot harder because I’m not as quick as them.”
This is also true in the classroom. There have been challenges, but Schroeder’s tenacity to do well extends to this area too.
“Time management has probably been my biggest challenge so far,” Schroeder said. “The classes are more difficult here and there is more homework, plus we have more away games and they’re further away.”
The Carroll High School grad made the OCCAC All-Academic Team, boasting a 3.92 GPA. She looks to make the Academic All-American Team and can easily do so by keeping her GPA steady through the Spring semester.
“I take my academics very seriously,” said Schroeder. “I would say academics come before basketball.”
If Schroeder does return, it will be a big factor in continued success for the basketball team. She would continue her pursuit of a degree in dental hygiene, but if she ends up transferring somewhere else she will be switching to something in the marketing and business field.
Paul Helmers
Reporter