Alaskan Penguin has got game

This story appears in the Jan. 26 edition of The Independent.

Flying more than 1,500 miles from Anchorage to Washington were not in vain for Deborah Simmers, who has now become one of the leaders of the Clark College women's basketball team.

The 18-year-old, freshman guard lost no time and won the confidence of head coach Nancy Boone, becoming one of the five starters on the court.

After the start of this season, Simmers said she wanted the team to start matching as one to reach the team's full potential.

"I think we are going to find a lot of obstacles we need to overcome," Simmers said, "but I think it will be good."

Boone said Simmers is a great guard, emphasizing her ability to handle the ball and rebound fast.

Simmers said she doesn't like to play by herself, and always tries to move the ball around. "I look for other people to make the points," she said. "I pass the ball a lot."

"Deb has really good ball-handling skills," said teammate Caitlynn Patterson. "She is a team player (and) she makes sure everybody is included."

Simmers graduated from Anchorage Christian School, where she played four years of basketball. Since then, she was teammates with sophomore Clark guard Chelsea Dyson, who recommended Simmers to Boone as a potential addition to the women's basketball team.

According to Boone, Simmers has shown responsibility and commitment, being the last one who leaves the gym. "She has a coach-able spirit, and she comes and asks, ‘What do I need to work on?' and she goes and does it."

Boone and Simmers agree that the best thing about this team is that it is drama-free, which is usually something that can break up a group.

"Usually with girls, stuff happens," Boone said. "But here, (there is) nothing about ‘you dated my boyfriend' or ‘I don't like your personality.'"

Simmers qualities seem to go above the court, as some teammates describe her as a great friend.

"She is probably one of the kindest persons I know (and) she is very sweet," Patterson said.

Boone said Simmers has what it takes to play after she ends her time as a Penguin, because she knows and can play all the positions. "She wants to play at the next level, and she knows that in order to play at the next level, she has to work and work harder."

Simmers, who is a Biology major, plans to transfer to a four-year college after Clark, where she would like to keep playing.

"I really want to (keep playing)," she said. "It is my goal."

Contact Juan Luis Cornejo at j.cornejo@students.clark.edu.