Ashley Larrea Featured in Long Island Advance

Always striving to improve her skills
Scored for Pat-Med, now Larrea does it at St. Joseph's

by Jim Furlong - Long Island Advance

Ashley Larrea is quick to say, "I was the sporty girl."

For the last eight years, she's devoted thousands of hours to her athletic career, competing in three varsity sports at Patchogue-Medford High School and also the last four years helping boost the women's volleyball and basketball teams at St. Joseph's College.

Larrea has earned a reputation for superior dedication and her sustained effort to keep improving herself.

"That is the only way you get better," she said. "No matter how hard you play, there is always room for improvement. I say to myself, it all comes down to what you are willing to give. Dedication is putting in the time to play hard and work hard all the time; willing to make sacrifices for your team and willing to push your teammates."

Larrea, a 5-6 senior guard, produced plenty of hustle last Saturday. She contributed college career highs of eight steals and six assists when St. Joe's won its home opener, dominating the second half to beat the City College of New York 70-49 at the Danzi Athletic Center With her parents, Barbara and Gus, and her grandparents, Susana and Gustavo, watching, she played 36 minutes; She was frequently scrappy and aggressive.

"I am an animal on defense," she said with a grin. "I dive on the floor. I am definitely consistent with that. I have been a defensive player all my life. I always give 110 percent. I am not heavy on offense."

SJC coach Mike Petre, after his team improved its season record to 2-1, praised Larrea. "When you ask her, 'How did you do?' she says, "We won or lost,' " said Petre. "Ashley is, by far, the hardest worker on the team. She gives great energy out there all the time. She elevates the play of her teammates. It makes them more accountable for what they are doing."

Since the Golden Eagles currently have only eight healthy players, Larrea has averaged 38 minutes of playing time, and she grabbed 23 rebounds in three games.

"If you ask any coach, they need worker bees," said Petre. "Ashley is also a vocal leader."

Larrea switched sports early in November. She was a co-captain for the SJC volleyball team, which finished with a 19-7 record. Sparkling as a defensive specialist, she earned secondteam honors for the All-Skyline Conference selections.

Larrea has not always been a starter.

When she moved up from Saxton Middle School, she played JV basketball at Pat-Med High (a 10-minute walk from her house) during
her ninth- and 10th-grade years. As a junior she gained more playing time and earned a starting job as a senior for coach Jeff Hansen.

"I worked to being a starter," Larrea said.

For the Pat-Med volleyball team, Larrea was a two-year captain for coach Carrie Gangl and made the All-League team.

"She had the best attitude and was a driven, determined athlete who was dedicated to her team, her sport and to getting better," said Gangl.

"She was cut from volleyball in the ninth grade and came back the following year to try out again. I can't say enough about the character that she showed me at an earlier age by her coming back and ultimately making varsity as a 10th-grader.

"I still tell her story every year when I'm about to make cuts. She is a positive role model for high school girls' volleyball players."

Larrea sparkled for the Raiders with her defensive skills and versatility.

"As an athlete, she would play any position that the team needed and would work harder than the average player because she wasn't able to play club volleyball," said Gangl. "She was a three-sport athlete and was trying to manage each sport accordingly, but loved being in the gym. She played outside hitter for two years and had a very successful senior season making it to the playoffs. She was the ultimate competitor and hated to lose. She also was a vocal leader on the court and a motivator with her play.

"Ashley was the type of athlete coaches love to have on their team. She was such a pleasure to coach and we still keep in touch four years later," he said.

During her high school career, Larrea earned eight varsity letters, also playing No. 1 singles for the Raiders' badminton team.  Twice she was named the girls' scholar-athlete team member for Pat-Med. For her future, Larrea will graduate from SJC with a degree in Spanish secondary education. She hopes to teach and also become a coach.