Citrus College women’s basketball’s Marisol Chavez-Delgado was named Citrus College Co-Female Athlete of the Year after averaging 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Owls.
The sophomore forward overcame a shoulder injury that kept her out of all but three games last season to win the award.
Finishing second in scoring and first and rebounds on the team, Chavez-Delgado helped the Owls improve from 7-19 last season to 14-14 this season.
“I was so excited to get back on the court after not being able to play the season before,” Chavez-Delgado said.
Having missed the majority of last season, Chavez-Delgado said the process was tough because “I had to re-learn how to use my left arm and it was very frustrating.”
Chavez-Delgado went to physical therapy twice a week for about three months as she rehabilitated to get back on the court. She credited her recovery to her support network.
“I had great people around me to help me through this,” Chavez-Delgado said. “I know some athletes don’t play the same after an injury and I feel like I didn’t let my injury affect me.”
Watching her teammates from the bench last season was hard for Chavez-Delgado and she said she “felt helpless.”
She did not let the injury affect her staying engaged with the game action and she said she learned a lot by watching her teammates play.
In her return she started in 25 of 28 games, scoring in double figures 19 times for the Owls. Chavez-Delgado led the team with a 54.5 field goal percentage.
Chavez-Delgado was named to the First Team All Western State Conference East, along with her Co-Female Athlete of the Year award.
She said she will remember this past season, because of her teammates and head coach Linnae Barber Matthews.
“We helped each other grow as players and individuals,” Chavez-Delgado said. “It was always a good time with them. I would also have to say that Coach B (Barber Matthews) also made this season very memorable.”
Chavez-Delgado received a scholarship to Lindenwood University-Belleville in Illinois to continue playing basketball, where she will transfer as a biology major.
She said basketball has helped her with her major because “it has kept me motivated over the past years, and having a coach that not only focuses on basketball but on our academics is a lot of help.”
Basketball has helped her prepare for any adversity if it comes her way, she said.
“I know I can apply everything I learned in basketball to my major,” Chavez-Delgado said. “Same thing with biology, it has pushed me to be a better player. I not only wanted to get a scholarship just to play, I wanted one to continue my education and that’s what I did.”
