Basketball player proved herself a leader

Editor's Note: These two stories are the eighth and ninth parts in a nine-part series profiling faces to watch in fall and winter sports.

by Kathleen Gibson
THE POST

Ohio women's basketball Head Coach Lynn Bria calls guard Cathy Szall an "interesting story."

When Szall, a Columbus native, came to Ohio as a freshman, she did so as an un-recruited walk on with nothing but hoop dreams and determination.

Szall said she first visited Ohio's campus during basketball camp with her high school team, and ended up loving the school. The mechanical engineering major eventually chose Ohio for academic and athletic reasons.

"I knew that here, if things didn't work out with basketball, I'd still get a good education," Szall said.

By the time she chose Ohio, however, there were no remaining basketball scholarships. Determined to make the team, Szall not only secured her spot, she led the 1999 Bobcats in everything from points to free throw percentage. Szall was given a full scholarship in her second quarter at Ohio, Bria said.

Guard Ronita Whitfield said coming in as a walk-on meant additional challenges for Szall.

"She had to prove herself, show her skill more than someone who came here on scholarship," Whitfield said.

Bria said she counts Szall as an asset, regardless of how she came to the team.

"She's definitely earned a spot on the team," Bria said.

Last season, Szall played in every game, and led the team in three pointers. She was second in free-throw percentage and third in field goals.

Whitfield said Szall's greatest contribution to the team is a combination of shooting skill and fierce determination.

"She's obviously a great shooter, but she's (also) very competitive - she always plays really hard," Whitfield said. "She's always positive - she's not a negative player."

Center Brittany Collins said it's not just Szall's game that sets her apart.

"She's basically just an all around great player," Collins said. "And she's definitely a team leader."

Szall said she is confident in her abilities on the court.

"I work hard," she said. "I'm good at reacting to how the defense is playing, getting open. We have great drivers on our team, and I just work at getting open for them."

Bria said Szall's talent and determination make her a player to watch in the upcoming season.

"I couldn't say just one great thing about her. She's a great team player and she works very hard on her game," she said. "She just wants to win."