Hart on a cloud with silver lining

WILMINGTON -- Alyss Hart, a McDonald High graduate, enjoyed the distinction of being a member of the Wilmington College women's basketball team that won the NCAA Division III national championship last season.
Although only a freshman substitute who played for only one minute in only one game and went 0-for-2 from the field, Hart helped Wilmington to a 27-6 record, including 14-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and to the Quakers' first national championship.
Wilmington defeated previously-undefeated and unanimous No. 1-ranked Bowdoin College in the national championship game in Virginia Beach, Va., 59-53.
And coach Jerry Scheve was named the Columbus Dispatch Women's Ohio Coach of the Year.
Scheve's career record now stands at 264-106, with at least 20 wins in six of his last seven seasons.
Team is honored
Hart, who played basketball at McDonald, was among the Wilmington players who were presented with national championship rings Oct. 23 at Wilmington College during halftime of the Wilmington-Otterbein football game.
She and her teammates also were honored that day at the Wilmington Women's Alumni Basketball Game.
But this coming season, instead of moving up the team ladder with more playing time, Hart has been dropped from the Quakers' roster because only 20 players make the team and she is considered No. 21.
However, although Hart would prefer to play and may even rejoin the team if she is needed, her move from the roster still will have bright spots for her and may be a blessing in disguise and in fact a silver lining.
That's because she will remain part of the squad by serving as the team manager, which will give her valuable experience in other areas of team management and launch her on her goal of becoming an athletic trainer.
On-the-job training
"I'm going to be spending more time in the training room and more time at practice with the trainer. And I will be doing some trainer's work as the team manager and that will give me an opportunity to learn," said Hart.
In fact, Hart, who is majoring in athletic training with minors in sports management and psychology and made the Dean's List with a 3.76 grade-point average, even will be practicing on her own to make improvements in her play with an eye out for a return to the roster based on her ability.
"I want to improve on my shot. That's what I was working on, and I also have to get stronger," said Hart. "I felt that I have gotten stronger at Wilmington by being in the weight room. We didn't lift much in high school, but here we work out three or four times a week, and that's a big jump.
In fact, "When I came home last year for Christmas, everyone noticed my [bigger] size and that I had a lot of muscle tone."
Full of promise, potential
A four-year starter and point guard at McDonald under coaches Barry Clute and Rob Hilbun, Hart was considered a top-notch recruit and came to Wilmington full of promise and potential.
But then, "I got moved [from point guard] to an off-guard spot," said Hart, who specializes in defense and ball-handling.
However, "I did get a lot of playing time on the JV team and started most of the JV games."
She believes her main contribution to the national-championship team was her defense during practice against two of the team's top players.
"At practice, I would play defense on our starting 3-guard, Amy Kincer, and I would just rip her apart and the coach didn't care, but I played the best defense on her because I knew it would make her better," said Hart.
She added, "Kincer was one of our two All-Americans." And, "I made her better."
Wilmington's other All-American was Tara Rausch.
Molded by Clute
Hart, the daughter of Michele Hart, said that Clute, who coached her as a freshman and sophomore at McDonald, has had the biggest impact on her playing career.
"Basically he started working with me when I was in the seventh grade, and teaching me everything I needed to know about the game," said Hart, who said she praises Clute every chance she gets. "And when I stepped in my freshman year, he made me a starter and told me, " 'I feel you can do this,' and that built my confidence. I learned a lot from him."
Hilbun coached her as a junior and senior.
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