Decisions make difference
When basketball is all one knows as life itself, the decision as to where you play makes all the difference in the world.
Monique Bruggeman, a sophomore on the College of Eastern Utah’s women basketball team, has from experience that the right place and time is important. Bruggeman was raised in Riverton where she knew, while growing up, that Riverton High School was where she would attend. All her friends and siblings either attended or would attend the same school. Making her way to high school age, Bruggeman played basketball with her future teammates.
This archived article was written by: Dyana Thurgood
When basketball is all one knows as life itself, the decision as to where you play makes all the difference in the world.
Monique Bruggeman, a sophomore on the College of Eastern Utah’s women basketball team, has from experience that the right place and time is important. Bruggeman was raised in Riverton where she knew, while growing up, that Riverton High School was where she would attend. All her friends and siblings either attended or would attend the same school. Making her way to high school age, Bruggeman played basketball with her future teammates.
Taking every step necessary, Bruggeman was successful in making the basketball and volleyball teams her freshman year. Just as any high school athlete, she enjoyed the ups and downs of high school, all while playing ball. When the end of her junior year came, tension between her and the coaching staff caused a riff in the situation. It came down to one of the best decisions she ever made: transferring to Bingham High School, their rival neighbor.
Having transferred, a strain between childhood friendships came about. However, knowing this was for the best, Bruggeman continued on with life and made new friends and teammates at a new school. Bingham’s head coach, Rand Rasmussen, made the greatest positive impact in her career, “He changed my life for the better. He believed in me and saw my potential. Without him, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to play at the next level.” Through his efforts, Bruggeman was recruited by Western Wyoming Community College and attended her freshman year in ’08-’09.
Bruggeman’s experiences her first year in college weren’t as great as had hoped for. There were positive and negatives to the situation, but overall, ended with a choice to transfer to CEU.
“I have made many friends along the way. My roommates are awesome and they just happen to be my teammates as well,” Bruggeman says. This year has been a struggle for the lady Eagles, but friendships have been successful off the court. Maddi Hind, a teammate, says, “Mo constantly works hard, day in and day out. She is one of the most athletic players on our team.”
Bruggeman has had a successful season thus far, and continues to progress. With only a few weeks left until the region tournament, CEU fans are excited to see what strengths and influences she brings to the court.
