Athletes of Character: Krista Morrill
By Jared Acuna
“It is an onward push to success, both on and off the court.” High School senior Krista Morrill has been playing basketball for Warrenton for four years now. She is also a member of the Student Council and the National Honor Society. Krista can even be spotted playing the flute in the Colombia River Symphony when she’s available.
“Get your job done in school and at practice, but at the same time, come home and keep up good relationships with both family and friends. It’s a tough job to do, but it can be so rewarding as well.” At just 17, she’s thrives in juggling the things she finds most important. Her secret is sports.
“Being an athlete has taught me to have a great work ethic and get better at managing time. I’ve been taught to become a better leader and given a glimpse into what it takes to be successful in the real world.”
Her versatility in life is matched well with her performance on the basketball court. A utility player for her varsity team, Krista can play anything from a point guard to a wing. She can fill the shoes for whatever her team needs.
With three years of Cross Country and Track also in her accomplishments, it’s surprising to learn that no sport comes easily for Krista. With every step, she must fight a constant battle with asthma. To keep up, Krista avoids exhaustion by inviting more strategy. “It always felt like I had to work twice as hard. I try to listen to everything my coaches say and apply it to the way I play, so I can make my job a little bit easier every time. I’ve had to learn over the years that my job on the team is to play as hard as I can for as long as I can, then sit on the bench until I’ve recovered enough to go back in.”
Krista recognizes that much of her will is due to her parents, Greg and Annamaria Morrill, as well as her church. “Even though basketball has taught me many lessons, I wouldn’t have been able to learn them without the support from my family and the strength given to me by God.”
“If you take any shortcuts, you are left behind in the dust,” concluded Krista, who helped win a big victory for the Lady Warriors on their road to the playoffs last Valentine’s Day.
Submitted Photo
Krista at the free throw line.
“Basketball is such a fast-paced game, kind of like life. You have to constantly push yourself to get better everyday. You can’t give up. In basketball, you get pushed around and fall a lot. You make mistakes all of the time, but if you take even a second to get upset about those things, then someone else is already ahead of you, winning the game. Life and basketball are full of ups and downs, and basketball has taught me how to deal with both.”
