photo by Liz Berie
Freshmen guard Kaitlyn Smith dribbles the ball up the court during the women’s Senior Night game against Midway on Feb. 11. Smith averaged 8.2 points per game and led the team in assists during her freshman season. 

Going back as far as seventh grade, Point Park women’s basketball player Kaitlyn Smith has focused on succeeding on and off the basketball court. The Baden, Pa. native laments she has always fallen a bit short, whether it was a close brush with a championship on a grade school team or later in high school on a team that didn’t receive much clout from the community.

“I can still remember how horrible I felt when I looked up at the clock and saw that we had the lower score,” Smith said of that loss. “That was the moment when I made a promise to myself that I would do all that I could to make it to the top.”

Now a starting point guard at Point Park as a freshman, Smith still has the same drive to win a championship, and she is working harder everyday to make that childhood dream become a reality. 

“Throughout my past, I have been so close many times to the finish, but have ended up just a bit short and I want to be able to go all the way,” Smith said.

Smith has been playing basketball since the second grade. In her childhood, she participated in other activities such as girl scouts, soccer, dance and ballet, but basketball is the sport that inspired her more than anything else.

Because Smith’s parents both played basketball in their college years, she grew up in a house where retired jerseys hung on walls and trophies were placed on desks.  

“It was almost inevitable that I would learn to love and play basketball,” Smith said. “It was very important in my house, which is why I would put in 300-plus hours of work every summer to improve my ball-handling, shooting and speed.”

At first, Smith hated these “sinister sessions” as she called them.

 “I would literally have to drag myself out of bed, but ultimately I realized that these rigorous training sessions have definitely improved my talent and allowed me to advance in my basketball career,” Smith said.

Smith’s first coach was her father, who played basketball for Westminster College from 1975-79.

“My dad was easily the biggest influence in my life when it came to basketball,” Smith said. “Even though he played in college, he never forced me to play. Once I decided when I was eight years old that I wanted to play for my elementary school, he has been there every step of the way. He has coached me from the beginning and is the reason I am playing college basketball today.”

Since committing to basketball a decade ago, Smith has learned how to manage her time wisely, especially in high school. 

“It [playing basketball] was harder than I expected it would be coming in as a freshman,” Smith said.

Smith attended Quigley Catholic High School in Baden, Pa., where she was the point guard for the girls’ basketball team that had a record of 20-6 in the 2014-15 season.

In her senior year, Smith’s team played against Vincentian Academy, the former WPIAL champions, in the semifinals.

“We had lost to this team in the semifinals for the past two years,” Smith said. “This game was huge and even though most people were stacking against us, everyone knew it was going to be a close game. We were neck-and-neck the entire time, but as the end neared, we just couldn’t pull out the win.”

After graduating high school, there wasn’t a doubt in Smith’s mind that she would continue to play basketball.

“I couldn’t imagine never putting on my uniform again and being on the court alongside my team,” Smith said. “There’s a real thrill out there.”

With juggling basketball and academics her senior year, Smith had a limited amount of time to find a college that could cater to both her academic and athletic needs.

“The process of becoming a college athlete was easily one of the most stressful situations of my life,” Smith said. “Firstly, I had to get seen by college coaches, which wasn’t going to happen being at such a small high school. I had to travel all summer for several years so that college coaches would be able to see me play, and then if they liked me, I had to see what they had to offer and if it was the right program for me. It was by no means a quick or easy process, and it caused a lot of stress in my senior year since I didn’t make a decision until late April about where I wanted to go.”

While going to college in a city wasn’t ideal for her, Smith decided that Point Park would be where she would study business management and continue her basketball career. 

“I came to this university because I got a great scholarship; I knew the coach was great, and the program was a winning one, so I really couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” said Smith.

She averaged 8.2 points and 2.3 assists per game in her first season.

As a point guard, Smith is responsible for calling all the plays and overseeing where everyone should be. 

“The most important thing about being a point guard is seeing the entire floor and being a leader on the court,” Smith said.

 “Everyone on the team depends on Kaitlyn to set the tempo of the game, which can be a ton of pressure, especially as a freshman,” said junior point guard Carly Corcoran.

Since winning is the ultimate goal of any game, pressure is a feeling that is most prominent amongst players. 

“In the game, I have to set a good example and stay positive because the team feeds off my energy and looks to me for guidance.” Smith said. “I have to make on the spot decisions because in the heat of the moment, there isn’t time to look at my coach and figure out what he or she thinks. On the floor, I have to be the coach and I have to do what needs to be done to make sure the team’s successful.”

“I’ve never seen her give up in a game, and that speaks volumes about her as a player and a person,” said junior point guard Leah Hurst. 

Smith recalled times throughout her basketball career when she faced hardships. 

 “There were, and still are, times when my team loses a game or faces a setback that I wonder if it’s all worth it, but it’s in those moments that I look back at how far I’ve come and it pushes me to move forward and keep trying.”

“Looking back, basketball is what has made me who I am today,” said Smith, “I have become a leader and learned what it means to not accept failure, but to keep fighting to be better.”

“Kaitlyn is the definition of a true teammate because she’s great to play with, but aside from basketball, I could go to her for other things because she’s always optimistic,” said sophomore point guard Angelina Starr.