With Mom at Her Side, Spa Catholic Player Makes History
Saratoga Central Catholic basketball player Sophia Ryan celebrates with her family after scoring her 1,000th career point in a game against Lake George on Dec. 4. Photo provided by Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s been 45 years since the 1,000 career points threshold was crossed, but Sophia Ryan didn’t do it alone.
From the sidelines, Saratoga Central Catholic basketball coach Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan witnessed history being made by a girl who is both her star player and her daughter.
“When she was going up for that last shot, I just had this exhilarating feeling come over me as a mother,” DiLorenzo-Ryan said. “As a coach, it’s great to see that big milestone for her… I didn’t want to show too much emotion as a mother. I think if I was out in the stands, I might have shed some tears.”
On Dec. 4, Ryan scored her 1,000th point as a high school basketball player in a victorious home opener against Lake George. The last time someone achieved that feat was in 1980, when Patti King finished her career with 1,031 total points. As of press time, Ryan was only 5 points away from breaking that all-time record. But don’t expect too much fanfare when it happens. Ryan and her coach/mom are laser-focused on winning.
“We’ll just pat her on the back and say, ‘Congratulations,’” DiLorenzo-Ryan said. “She knows she’s got bigger fish to fry now. We’ve got some big games coming up, so [we’ve] got to refocus.”
Ryan wants to ensure her team finishes the season with a winning record, stays competitive against bigger schools, and works hard in practice. Although adept at scoring, Ryan seeks to contribute to her team in other ways; some stat-driven, others more intangible. As a leader, she offers advice and inspiration. As a player, she contributes by racking up assists, rebounds, and steals. “I like to try to make the right play every single time,” she said.
Ryan admires basketball players who maintain their composure during tense or exciting moments. “Cool under pressure” seems to be her mantra. But another source of inspiration is closer to home. “[My mom] is definitely someone that I want to play like,” Ryan said.
Having a parent as a coach is “definitely hard at times,” Ryan said, “but she’s always there to support me, on and off the court.”