By Madyson Montoya — Staff Writer
It seems ridiculous to know what kind of person someone is based on the day they were born. Yet, hardworking, loyalty and humility are the main characteristics found in a Virgo and within sophomore guard Courtesy Clark.
Being born on September 22 was not Clark’s decision, but it cannot be a complete coincidence that these qualities transfer to the basketball court.
As the new season begins for an young women’s basketball team, the Sacramento native is having to step up even though she is only a second year on the team.
“Beforehand, I had trouble with leadership because I didn’t talk as much,” Clark said. “But now, I think I’m becoming a better leader because I’m more comfortable with my game.”
The Sacramento native is a silent worker. She doesn’t need reassurance or the encouragement of her teammates to work hard.
“She leads by example,” assistant coach Alle Moreno said. “She comes to work pretty much every day. You never have to question her heart or hustle.”
Clark’s teammates define her as a “pusher.” It’s no surprise that the Virgo is working hard when no one is watching and would rather have her team fall in line than be told what to do.
The drive she brings ties in with another Virgo similarity, which is being meticulous. On the court, Clark is focused on one thing: her game.
“Courtesy has always been a hustler,” Moreno said. “She’ll go after rebounds, steals, whatever she needs and now she is fine tuning her skills.”
To Clark, the best way to help out the team is to do her job. With only five upperclassmen, there is little room for error on Clark’s behalf.
Coming off a rough season last year, there is a lot on the line and with such a young team, it’s not going to be easy.
“Be better than last year,”said sophomore forward Cydni Lewis. “We’re trying to hit the double digit wins at the very least.”
The sophomores are having to take a big role in this transition and despite Clark being shy, she is beginning to turn into exactly what the team needs.
According to Lewis, Clark brings energy, hustle and is becoming a better shooter after all of the work she’s put in.
“I want to be able to prove everyone wrong because I know they voted us last in conference,” Clark said.
Without a doubt, Clark returns what she is given. When she was at McClathchy High School, she let her grades slip to the point that she was forced to sit out of basketball, resulting in several schools losing interest.
“I fell down on my grades and San Jose State is the only school that stuck with me through thick and thin,” Clark said.
Since then, the team has become her ride or die. Clark sees the team as her family on and off the court, and that is what drives her to work so hard.
A Virgo turns out to embody the qualities of an ideal athlete, and the most respectable trait is humility. Clark has been able to work up from missing a season in high school to becoming a key component on a Division I team.
All of this while she expects not ing in return. She is shy when when it comes to being a communicative leader, as most Virgos are, but Clark has a lot to be proud of and never lets it show.
“Court is a great kid and she gets along with her teammates on the court because she works so hard, and gets along with them off the court because she’s a good friend and loyal,” Moreno said.
Maybe it’s not coincidence that Clark is a humble, loyal hard worker. Embodying the traits of a Virgo is what makes her stand out.
Follow Madyson on Twitter @MadysonMontoya
