10 Questions With ... Gracelynn Figueroa -- Women's Basketball

This week, we celebrate Orange Coast College women's basketball and our first "10 Questions With" segment features sophomore guard Gracelynn Figueroa.

1. Do you remember when you first started playing basketball? What is it about the sport you love so much?

"I started playing when I was 10. My mom used to play in high school and my brother also played so I grew up into it. I played some other sports growing up, but basketball was what I stuck with. I played in high school and I tore my ACL in my knee my junior year and I thought I was done. I went to Grand Canyon University my freshman year and I just played for fun. I came back to home after my first year and was going to go to Santa Ana College when I got a call from my old coach that Golden West and Orange Coast were looking for players. I visited both schools and decided that OCC was going to be a better fit for me. There were only two girls on the team when I checked out OCC, but that didn't matter. I wanted to go to a team that was going to have fun and I knew I was going to become a better player at OCC."  

2. Take me through last year. Obviously, there were so many variables that were working against your team, but I was so proud of how you all just stuck together and did the best you could. What were the positives you took from last year?

"I think the biggest positive was we were building the foundation for Coach Sammy. We did the best we could and we stayed positive. We were at every practice and we did what we had to do to and we hoped to get more games in at the end of the season. It was all about the love of basketball."

3. So for this year, you finally got players to play, but now, we can't play because of COVID. How have you been able to stay sharp through the pandemic and how excited are you go get back with your teammates again?

"Over the summer, we would meet three times a week with zoom meetings and team bonding. Now we are on zoom Monday through Friday, doing workouts online and doing a lot of team bonding. We have been doing some mental training as well and we are doing things to keep us balanced. Coach is having us read a book with the team and we discuss how the book relates to us and our lives. We are working hard in all levels to get back on the court. It's not just about basketball – it's about life in general. Working on the mental side of things has really helped us all. It will help us on and off the court."

4. How would you describe the coaching style of Coach Sammy? I know you had a bit of a different year last year, but tell me about how she was able to handle all that was thrown at her as a first-year coach?

"I think she handled it really, really well. It could have been so easy to quit with so much adversity thrown at us. She could've said, "Maybe this isn't for me … maybe it's bad luck or a sign that it's not the right thing for me." But she was always on top of things and she was always super organized. There are no surprises with Sammy. She sets the schedule from Day 1 and it stayed that way. She did a great job of keeping us together and she did her best to stay positive through all of it."

5. What are your goals for this upcoming year? Any advice for the incoming freshman for this year's team?

"My best advice to the freshman would be time management. Coach Sammy is very reasonable and if you communicate with her, you'll be fine. But, you have to get your things done. I'm just excited to get back on the floor and give it our best. I'm hoping that we can all play well together and continue to be positive. I am looking forward to just meeting these new friends and making longtime friendships with them."

6. If I gave you a 24-hour pass from Covid and you could do anything that you used to do, what would it be?? What do you miss the most from this isolation??

"I'd probably spend it with my closest friends and family, including my grandparents. I miss going to the beach and going to the movies. Hopefully we can do all of these things very soon."

7. All kids like to eat … what are your favorite meals??
   1. Favorite food in general – "Cheeseburgers and hot wings … mango habanero is my favorite flavor for hot wings."
   2. Favorite pre-game snack – "People make fun of me for this … but it's a snickers bar! I used to eat one before my games in high school and it really worked for me."
   3. Favorite post-game meal – "In n' Out burgers after a game is always a good choice."
8. When you're not playing basketball, what do you enjoy doing?? Any hobbies or interests???

"Outside of basketball, I'm studying early childhood education. I also babysit for my aunt and she has a child with Autism so I enjoy spending time her with and taking her out and making her happy. I've always been the girl at the party who hangs out with the little kids. I've always loved kids and spending time with him."

9. In the COVID world, everyone has been binging TV shows … what have been a few of your favorites shows to watch over the past few months??

"Friends is one of my favorite shows so I'm always watching that. Another show I just got finished watching was Shameless … it was great!"

10. What are some of your plans after OCC?? Perhaps a career beyond Basketball??

"I've thought about staying in California for school … perhaps Cal State Fullerton or Long Beach State. But I also love the San Diego area so a school down there would be great too. I definitely want a career working with infants and toddlers. My mom might be opening up a day care, so I might want to help her run that."