For a majority of local high school student athletes, having the opportunity to continue competing in sports in college is something they can only dream about.
A small percentage of those young adults do achieve that goal, including Willa McLaughlin of Glenwood.
McLaughlin, a 2023 Trout Lake High graduate, is continuing her basketball career at Colorado College, an NCAA Division III women’s team in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“This is such a great opportunity and it was definitely only made possible by all of the fantastic coaches and mentors that I’ve had over the years, along with the great parents that I have,” said McLaughlin.
McLaughlin, a freshman backup center, is averaging 1.8 points per game for the Tigers. She is transitioning from being one of the top Class 1A high school players in Oregon to being a role player at the college level. She scored a career-high nine points in her college debut in an 85-48 win over Nebraska Wesleyan on Nov. 10 at Colorado College’s Reid Arena.
“It’s such a blast; I’m having so much fun. I love my teammates and our coaches are great,” said McLaughlin, who is averaging 6.3 minutes of playing time per game. “It’s definitely another level of work for me and it’s very challenging. It’s a lot more work than I ever expected. I knew it would be a lot going in, but it’s definitely a big-time commitment. It has really pushed me to be a lot more organized in managing my time, but I’m having a great time in Colorado.”
McLaughlin and her Tiger teammates will play their next Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference game Jan. 5 at home versus the No. 10 ranked Trinity University Tigers (4-0 SCAC, 8-4) of San Antonio, Texas. Colorado College, guided by Coach Lisa Guhl, is in fourth place in the nine-team SCAC with a 1-1 mark and a 7-3 overall record.
“My first-ever game was super fun and to just go out and have fun by scoring a lot was definitely a highlight,” said McLaughlin. “It’s kind of a whole new learning experience again. I’m kind of relearning things because I’m playing against people who are bigger, stronger, and faster, so I have to regain my confidence, which has been super challenging. It’s really, really great for my basketball growth and I love the challenge of it.”
The Tigers conclude the regular season Feb. 18, which is followed by the SCAC championship tournament Feb. 23-25 and the D-III playoffs starting March 1.
“It’s so interesting, because everyone comes in here used to being the most dominating player on their high school team, but then they we have to learn to adjust to a whole new level, which is a very big adjustment,” said McLaughlin. “I’ve really enjoyed the challenge and I’ve learned so much from my teammates. I’ve had to kind of relearn things and get used to not being the best player on the team, but it’s definitely easier when you have teammates who are so supportive and willing to help you grow.”
McLaughlin and the Tigers have played road games in December in New York, Boston, Louisiana, and Texas. The Tigers also played recent games in Walla Walla and Portland. Parents Jay and Bridget McLaughlin, and 9-year-old sister, Moira, have traveled to seven games this season, including games on the East Coast and in Colorado.
“I’m really proud and excited for Willa in terms of earning and having the opportunity to play at that level and pursue something that she really enjoys,” said Jay McLaughlin. “The program at Colorado College has proven to be a top-notch program. They’ve really done a good job of bringing a great group of young women together and challenging them to become their best. It’s been exciting to watch Willa, and I know that she’s been challenged in a lot of good ways. It’s definitely a tremendous workload for her as she’s participating in the top-notch academics there in addition to the full slate of basketball practice and traveling.”
The Tigers played the Whitworth College Pirates on Dec. 8 (a 66-44 win) and Dec. 11 at Lewis & Clark College (a 70-56 win). McLaughlin had two points and five rebounds in the game in Walla Walla.
Trout Lake/Glenwood girls basketball Coach Dennis Anderson traveled with his team to Walla Walla to watch McLaughlin, who he coached for three years at Trout Lake High School.
“I’m so proud of her and she’s been seeing a significant number of minutes on her team,” said Anderson, whose Mustangs are the OSAA’s No. 10-ranked Class 1A squad with a 9-1 overall record. “You can tell she’s put an enormous amount of work into her basketball skills. I think she’s with a great group of teammates and a high-quality program. I’m looking forward to seeing how she’ll develop as a player the next few years.”
McLaughlin had a stellar four-year basketball career at Trout Lake, scoring more than 1,000 points and earned Big Sky League First Team All League Awards in her junior and senior year in school. As a senior, McLaughlin had an outstanding season, averaging 18 points per game and 11 rebounds a game. McLaughlin was also selected for an OSAA All State Third Team Award.
“The Trout Lake team had just finished playing in a tournament in Umatilla and after that they came to watch our game at Whitworth and it was so fun to get to see everyone and it was a heartwarming experience to see all of the local support, which was just awesome,” said McLaughlin.
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