Sports helped Mia White to budget her time better
Geibel Catholic’s Mia White was one of the top scorers on both the Lady Gators’ soccer and basketball team as well as one of the softball team’s leading hitters, earning opportunities in all three sports because she was always on the move.
The recent graduate wouldn’t have it any other way. White, daughter of Woody and Gloria White of Monessen, has been selected as the top female student-athlete in the graduating class at Geibel Catholic High School through the Fayette County Student-Athlete Scholarship Program. Sponsored by Davis and Davis Attorneys at Law, the program provides a $500 award to the top male and female student-athletes in each of Fayette County’s seven high schools. A luncheon to honor these 14 student-athletes will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at Uniontown Country Club.
White was also Geibel Catholic’s recipient of the B’nai B’rith Award.
“Actually, it helped me balance my time,” said White, a 4-year, 3-sport athlete. “I had to put in more time studying to stay ahead of things.
“If I didn’t play sports, I’d be more of a procrastinator.”
White’s favorite subject is math, and she found ways to use the discipline during her athletic career, especially as one of the better jump shooters, particularly beyond the 3-point arc, in the area.
“It actually helped me in basketball with the angles of shooting. In my mind, I was able to get that arc or angle,” explained White.
As a 3-sport athlete, White not only had to deal with the time constraints each season created for academics, but the physical demands of each sport.
“The transition from soccer to basketball was pretty smooth. I was in shape from soccer. The transition from basketball to softball was slow. Hitting was slow to come. Then going back to soccer, I had to get used to using my feet on the ball instead of my hands,” said White.
White decided on her sport after she opted for a college, and that decision was to go to Carnegie Mellon University. She will play basketball and plans to major in economics.
White used advice offered by teachers in athletics and from coaches in the classroom.
“My teachers were very influential. Mr. (Justin) Stevenson said ‘You are responsible for you. Academically, those are your grades,'” said White. “Mr. (Pat) Klocek (Geibel’s girls basketball coach) said ‘You are a student-athlete. The student comes first.'”
White wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, and did so when she became the softball team’s pitcher despite no experience at the demanding position.
“My first two years we had a good team, but we’ve been rebuilding the last two years. I still love playing the sport. It was tough. I wasn’t used (to losing),” said White.
With so much success in a fine athletic career, White has many memories to look back on, but one particular basketball game stands out.
“I’ll always remember when I was a sophomore Avella hadn’t lost in a few years and beat us the first time we played. We beat them 95-65 in the second game. They didn’t expect it. That was the turning point when we took over the section.”
If her opinion were ever solicited by teammates she’s leaving behind, White would offer the following advice.
“Have fun while they’re playing,” said White, “and academics are more important.”