Forrester reigns in the East

[attach]1971[/attach]All of those late nights spent doing homework has finally paid off for Carly Forrester of Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.

During the Town Crier Athlete of the Year awards banquet June 15, Forrester was named the East Region’s top athlete, but when she heard her name called she was in a state of disbelief.

“It’s overwhelming because there are a lot of great athletes here, who deserve this as well,” she said.

After the ceremony, the basketball standout and Sea Cadets officer had a hard time taking her eyes off of the new trophy with her name engraved on it.

“It is definitely cool that I got it,” Forrester said. “I still can’t believe I won it.”

Forrester credits her success with her innate ability to balance both the books and the basketball.

“There was a lot of late nights doing homework, I will tell you that for sure,” she says. “You get home from practice at 6:30, have a shower, have dinner and then start your homework.”

Forrester said she feels her ability to be able to do well in not just basketball but volleyball, badminton, softball as well as track and field, along with school will help her when she attends university in the fall.

How so?

Simple, the athletics and academia play off each other like a give-and-go breakaway.

“By the time you start your homework you are really tired, but in order to keep playing sports you have to do well in school,” the high school senior said.

In the fall, Forrester will be trying out as a cager for the Carleton University Ravens.

“I am going to try out for the basketball team and probably play a bunch of intramural sports,” she said. “I think it is important to continue playing sports because it helps you develop as an individual.”

Forrester said she hopes the Town Crier award will inspire younger athletes in the East Region.

“Never give up trying,” she said. “It may be pretty hard, but if you keep giving it your all it will all be worth it in the end.”