From the moment Katelyn Keese could hold a basketball in her small hands, she had gotten the concept of the game. She had a small hoop and played constantly with her little brother. As a teen she developed her love of the game by playing with her father and brother every evening in the driveway. Before her mother could blink her eyes, Katelyn Keese was team captain for her high school team in Poolesville, Maryland. She loved being a part of a team from as early as she can remember.

Kately Keese’s coach would call her “smiley” all the time because she was always grinning ear-to-ear during the game. It did not matter who was winning or how tense things were on the court, she was happy to be playing and it showed on her face. It also showed in her every move. Basketball came so naturally to her and she had the mind for strategizing during the game.

“I just loved the challenge of the game and how fast-paced it was. The girls on the team would be getting all worn out and I was just having a blast. I think I helped keep everyone’s spirits up even if we were losing,” said Katelyn Keese. She recalls fondly one of her last games in a big tournament for Poolesville High School. Her parents were there and all of her friends were cheering her on from the stands.

The clock was ticking and they were tied with the visiting team. Katelyn Keese gave her team a quick pep talk during a time-out and her coach supported her plan of action. She knew how much this win would mean to the school and to her teammates.

“With each pass and shot at the net, I felt like I was going to throw up! I just kept talking to my teammates and I figured, as long as we were all communicating, we would get it together. I was right. The ball was passed to me and I had a perfect shot. All I heard was the roar of the crowd and I knew it went in!” said Katelyn Keese with a smile.