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| Salida High School senior Sammi Gentile signs a letter of intent Wednesday to attend the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs on a basketball scholarship. |
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Gentile receives UCCS basketball scholarship
Kevin Hoffman
Mail Staff Writer
Hard work on the basketball court will help provide a college education for Sammi Gentile after she signed a letter of intent last week to play basketball for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
Gentile signed a letter of intent to play for the Lady Mountain Lions starting in 2011. Although the scholarship isn't a full ride, she said it will cover a significant portion of her college tuition and expenses.
Her decision, she said, was based upon good feedback from women's basketball coach Steve Kirkham and proximity of the campus to friends and family.
Eric and Dawn Gentile, Sammi's parents, were at the signing and said they are proud of the honor and their daughter's decision.
"She's worked hard since fourth grade when she started playing basketball. She's definitely put the time in," Eric said.
Gentile played basketball for Salida High School and regularly attended summer camps and tournaments outside the state in addition to practices in Colorado City, Pueblo and Denver.
Her parents said she attended two large National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments in Portland and Seattle during the summer.
They provided an opportunity to play for recruiters before investing more time at camps in Colorado Springs.
Gentile has a 3.5 grade point average and is a member of National Honor Society and S Club.
She received athletic letters in basketball all four years in high school and has been a three-sport athlete annually.
Gentile also played volleyball four years, golf two years and competed with the track and field team two years.
"All my hard work finally paid off," she said.
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