Tia Wurzrainer gets ready to trigger the Wolf offense. (John Fisken photo)
“It’s not how big you are, it’s how big you play!”
That’s a quote which means quite a bit to Tia Wurzrainer.
Delivered by high school hotshot Ema Smith last winter, it’s a bit of wisdom which spurred on Wurzrainer throughout her 8th grade basketball season.
“That quote stayed with me through the whole season,” Wurzrainer said. “I always think of that quote right before every basketball game and it inspires and motivates me.”
It obviously worked, as she was a ball-hawk for the Wolves, while also showing a light shooting touch, garnering many of her points off of steals and tipped balls.
Now, as she prepares to move up to high school — she’ll be a freshman at CHS in the fall and plans to play soccer, basketball and track — Wurzrainer is getting ready for a juggling act.
“My goals for freshman year are to keep my grades up, while being able to play sports, and still be able to spend time with my family,” she said.
That family includes parents Andreas and Lisa and older brother Sebastian, who just capped his run at CHS by being co-valedictorian.
Tia rides horses with her mom, and hits the slopes with the family (“I love to go skiing with my parents and brother”), which is a tight-knit one.
“My parents have had the biggest impact on me!,” Wurzrainer said. “They have always believed in me and told me that hard work pays off.
“My Dad got me started with soccer and we used to go outside and pass the ball and he comes out and shoots the basketball with me whenever he can,” she added. “He reminds me to have fun and do my best.
“My parents have always told me to be proud of who I am and to not compare myself to anyone else!”
A big fan of her language arts classes (“I love to write!!”), Wurzrainer has also found a second family with her friends and classmates, especially those who she shares the field with.
“One of my favorite parts of being an athlete is the chance to be part of a team, because a team to me is family,” she said. “I also love the rush of games!”
As she makes the jump to high school sports, Wurzrainer wants to work on her confidence, especially in sports she is fairly new to, such as basketball.
Put her on the soccer pitch, which is where she’ll kick things off this fall, and she’s at home, however.
“I have played it the longest and I love the fact that you have to work together with you team to get the ball into the back of the net,” Wurzrainer said. “I always feel excited before every game!”
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