Sterdis’ accomplishments speak louder than words
Carrie Sterdis isn’t one to boast about her accomplishments. In fact, she’s as elusive as an antelope when it comes to answering questions about herself. Fortunately, her resume more than speaks for itself.
Sterdis, the daughter of John and Debra Sterdis of Fayette City, was a four-year member of the girls basketball and softball teams at Frazier High School, and also ran two years of cross country.
The 17-year-old senior had a positive influence on each of those programs.
Sterdis played point guard for four years in basketball, she was her cross-country team’s top runner and she was captain of Lady Commodores’ softball squad as a senior.
She had positive academic results as well with a 4.10 grade point average that placed her fourth in her class.
Sterdis was selected as the top female student/athlete at Frazier High School and will receive a $500 scholarship through the Davis & Davis Student/Athlete Scholarship Program.
The program, sponsored by Davis & Davis Law Firm and coordinated by the Herald-Standard, will culminate with a banquet to be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Shady Side Inn.
Sterdis did much more than play sports at Frazier. She was a member of the National Honor Society, was the senior class treasurer and was involved in Interact, SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and student government.
She will attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg this fall. She is undecided on a major. Like many high school graduates, she is quite certain what she wants to do in life.
“I really like biology and chemistry, but, to be truthful, I think I might possibly like to go into accounting in college,” Sterdis said. “But I might like to be a pharmacist, too. I’m not really sure just yet.”
What is certain is that Sterdis is a quick learner. She didn’t even begin to play organized basketball or softball until she was 11, which is relatively late in a day and age when parents push their children into sports almost as soon as they can walk.
“Janine helped me out in both sports,” Sterdis said of her 20-year-old sister. She also has a 10-year-old sister, Stephanie.
Sterdis has proven to be a team player.
Point guard wasn’t her preferred position, but she did it because that’s what the team needed.
“I didn’t mind playing there,” she said. “I liked it.”
Trying to handle constant defensive pressure, especially presses, and trying to distribute the ball properly was a challenge for Sterdis.
“It would get kind of frustrating sometimes,” she said. “But my teammates would be there to try to help me out.”
Several basketball players were told to run cross country, but Sterdis was the only one who adhered to that request.
“I did OK,” she said. “I won a couple races. It felt good to run cross country. I think it did help me.”
The Lady Commodores suffered through a winless season in softball, but Sterdis stuck it out while some players quit before the year was over.
“I’m just not a quitter,” Sterdis said. “I was captain of the team and I was truthful. I would try to bring them up, look for positives, but I couldn’t lie to them either. We weren’t a very good team, but I think we did try our best.”
Sterdis did see herself as a leader in form or another for each sport her senior year.
“Yeah, I tried to be, and it’s nice to think others respect you and look up to a bit,” she said.
In addition to being a three-sport star, Sterdis also played summer league basketball and softball.
“It gets hectic sometimes, bouncing from one thing to another,” Sterdis said. “It could be tough at times. Sometimes I would take homework with me to the games and try to do it during the JV game if I could.
“But I’m glad I did what I did. I’m glad I was in the sports I was in, and I’m glad I did everything else, too.”
As is natural, Sterdis was looked at as Janine’s younger sister many times.
“I got compared to her a lot, and that’s OK,” Sterdis said. “I guess I’d like to think I made a name for myself while I was here at Frazier.”
Even if she doesn’t like to talk that much about it, she most certainly has.