Since the first grade, South Haven High School basketball player Rachel Turek has loved the game of basketball. Now a varsity player and a point guard, Turek thrives in the chaos of the moment on the court. 

“I love the atmosphere of the sport and everything that comes with it. When I step on the court, my only focus is on the game and everything else slips away,” said Turek. “As a lover of all things defense, the fast pace and constant decision making is something I thrive on. It is impossible to have a set play or know what to do in every situation, but thinking on my feet and covering up mistakes is a fun part of the game.”

There isn’t much she doesn’t love about the game. Even the bus rides are something she looks forward to doing with her teammates. 

“From bus rides and team bonding to the many suicides and time outs with yelling involved, it is all alongside my family of teammates. I don’t love basketball for the fun of getting a ball through a hoop, I love the sport because it has given me memories and life lessons I will never get anywhere else,” said Turek.  Next year after graduation, Turek will head to Kansas State University where she plans to major in Human Development and Family Sciences then eventually go to nursing school and become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatrics.