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01/30/2024 12:40 AMThere are certain people in life who are meant to lead, no matter what situation you put them in. That exact sentiment applies to Leticia Pires, who has made her mark as a leader on a variety of athletic circuits at Westbrook.
The senior forward/center has been playing basketball for nine years since she was in third grade, and if it weren’t for a family push to get her involved, she would never have found her love for the court.
“I had always played travel soccer in the fall and spring, and had nothing to do in the winter,” says Leticia. “So my parents signed me up for basketball, and I've stuck with it since.”
Leticia is currently in her second year serving as a captain for the Westbrook girls’ basketball team, and she has found success in that role by constantly being a role model for her younger teammates, and being someone they can admire and lean on for support.
“This is my second year being a captain for the Westbrook girls' basketball team,” Leticia says. “My philosophy as a captain is to lead by example. I try to be a person my teammates can look up to, and also try to be an example of how to act, whether it be on the court respecting all the refs’ calls, or off the court doing little things, like holding the door open to the locker room for everyone during halftime or before practice.”
Westbrook girls’ basketball Head Coach Sean Donadio has seen Leticia gain several strides during her tenure as a Knight, and he sees her as a versatile and talented athlete, with an even better personality and team-first attitude.
“Leticia was also a captain for the girls’ basketball team last year as a junior,” says Donadio. “Leticia is one of those special kids, a high achieving student-athlete who is grounded in reality. Leticia is ranked No. 1 in her class, and not only does she captain the girls’ basketball team, but she also captains the soccer and the track team. Her awards list, both academically and athletically, are impeccable. However, what is even more remarkable is how inclusive and collaborative Leticia is with her teammates. Leticia makes sure every voice is heard and every team member knows their value. We could not execute on our mission of getting better every day without Leticia.”
Leticia has been playing varsity basketball since her sophomore year, and is currently leading her team in points this season with 11, and in rebounds, with 10 per game. On top of these on-court accolades, she also balances the athletic endeavor with other sports, too.
“Leticia is just a natural athlete who has gotten better every year in basketball,” Donadio says. “She doesn’t play basketball outside of basketball season, as she also plays soccer and track. I am a strong believer in girls playing multiple sports in their high school career. Leticia has been able to deliver outstanding performance and leadership for all the sports programs she participates in at Westbrook. I wish more kids played multiple sports during the school season, as it makes them a better all-around athlete, and Leticia is the poster child for that.”
The Knights got off to a rough start in the beginning of the season, losing two key starters from last winter. Leticia was called upon to help get her teammates through the obstacle, and she embraced that role and faced it head-on, while also crediting her coaches for their strong leadership and knowledge of the game.
“This year has been a bit rough for our team, losing two key starters last year and with having constant injuries this year, but, although the scores have usually not gone in our favor, we've held our own in this conference,” says Leticia. “We have greatly improved since the beginning of the season. We also have arguably the best head coach, Sean Donadio, and assistant coach, Paula Fitzgerald, in the Shoreline there to guide us, which has made it much easier.”
With Leticia being a three-sport athlete, there is not a lot of turn-around time in between soccer, basketball, and track seasons. Because of this, her body has taken a bit of a toll as she has navigated through, while also trying to manage her time and give 100% on each athletic circuit.
“The only real challenges I've faced have been small injuries that just keep piling on as the seasons go on, because I don't have any offseasons doing three sports and playing over the summer,” says Leticia. “Otherwise, the only challenge I've had has been time management, but I've had the luxury of having a pretty positive experience with sports in high school.”
Leticia has found a way to overcome these challenges by getting enough sleep and rest, whether that be to recover from muscle soreness, or being mentally/physically tired.
Leticia has learned from sports that not everything in life comes easy, and Donadio has certainly seen her challenge herself, even when the odds were against her. He also adds that Leticia is the heart and soul of the basketball team, encouraging every player to play better every day, and being the leader that everyone gravitates towards.
“The majority of them were early on when she was thrown into the fire as a starter sophomore year, with little to no basketball experience because she missed a good portion of her freshman year due to COVID,” says Donadio. “She was playing against much bigger, stronger, and more experienced girls. There were many long nights. However, Leticia learned from each one of those experiences, and is now the one giving other coaches and players fits.”
Leticia notes that she will not be participating in sports after she graduates from Westbrook in June, however, she is excited to support the teams wherever she ends up.