Nero’s Legacy

By John Kovach

kovach@vindy.com

Her basketball playing days over, Lowellville native focuses on her career

Amanda Nero of Lowellville is preparing to embark on a new career after enjoying a strong finish to her basketball career at Slippery Rock University and leaving a rich, four-year legacy.

Nero, a senior guard who recently was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division player of the week, is planning to do an internship at the Creekside Fitness and Health Center in Canfield this spring.

She will complete her final classroom work this semester, and then begin her internship after May 2 to finish her graduation requirements.

“I will be working with different projects, planning projects, helping with contracts, dealing with equipment and its maintenance and learning how it works and how to maintain it,” said Nero.

“I will be working on the business side [at Creekside]. I majored in recreational management and minored in business administration,” said Nero.

Nero will be working under Lori Hillman at Creekside.

“I will be learning how to run a fitness center,” said Nero, the daughter of Mario and Denise Nero, who has a 3.7 grade-point average.

Nero hopes to launch her new career in late summer.

“I would like to work at either at a community center like Creekside or a college fitness center like at YSU,” said Nero.

“I worked at YSU last summer at the Andrews Recreation and Wellness Center. It also counted with credits toward graduation. It’s called a practical experience course and I got paid,” said Nero, a former Lowellville High basketball standout under coach Tony Matisi who has been playing basketball since she was a little girl.

Nero who averaged 26.5 points for two games to lead The Rock to wins over Lock Haven (101-72) on Feb. 18 and Clarion (64-61) on Feb. 22, to win the PSAC weekly honor.

In her final two games Nero was 19-for-29 (66 percent) from the field, including 10-for-14 (71 percent) from 3-point range, and a perfect 5-for-5 at the foul line.

Against Lock Haven she scored a career-high 38 points on a 13-for-17 (76.5 percent) shooting, including 9-for-10 (90 percent) from long range.

Against Clarion, Nero sank two free throws with 1:41 left to snap a 61-61 tie and deliver the win.

For the season, Nero led Slippery Rock (11-16, 6-8 PSAC West) in three statistical categories — scoring (298 points, 11.0 average), 3-point goal percentage (45.5 on 46-for-101) and free-throw percentage (87.2 on 34-for-39).

She also was second in field goals made (109) and third field-goal percentage (109-for-222 for 49.1 percent). Her 46 3-pointers also were second.

Nero has capped her career under coach Laurel Heilman ranked No. 5 at the school in 3-point field goals (153), and also finished with 929 points, 330 field goals, 214 assists and 94 steals.

Nero said now that she would like to take a break from basketball but hasn’t ruled out the option of returning later.

“There is a possibility later on that I would be back in basketball as a coach on the high school or college level. I would love to coach college basketball but most likely it will be high school,” she said.