Alumni Update - Agnus Berenato

Being apart of the Mount Women's Basketball Family doesn't end when you play your last game or walk across the stage to graduate. A part of our Behind The ARCC posts will be Alumni Updates from former players. Our first update comes from Agnus Berenato '80, who is currently the Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Pittsburgh. The Mount WBB team lost to Pitt December 29 this season 58-45. She wrote a post about her experience playing for the Mount, how it feels to play against us, and what it means to be apart of the Mount family. Enjoy!!

 

Playing for the Mount was an awesome experience. Of course, like any team, we had great wins and tough losses but the special thing was the competition and team. Fr Delaney was my first Coach, and I still consider his daily lessons my game plan for life. Fred "Mad Dog" Carter was my other coach at the Mount and I cheer him and jeer him depending on the day! Coach Carter is the main reason I am coaching today so when we have a big victory, I cheer him and when I suffer a devastating loss, I jeer him.

The team was what made it work for me. The likes of Margaret Diaz, Sue Janowiak, Lynne Phelan, Maureen Cashen and our self appointed manager/operations man AJ DeLaurentis made the Mount team special. The team Masses. J Term. Van rides and stops at that damn Pizza Hut off Hagerstown Rd. Team meals. Scrimmage vs the twisted Coyle twins of Rutgers. These were the memories I will never forget. The game is the game but life is what the game is all about. I learned many things at the Mount being on the basketball team, but the best was just having a uniform and a seat on the bus.

When I coach against the Mount it is very difficult for me. My emotions run high and I wonder if the student athletes know how lucky they are to attend such a great University. Honestly, I get goose bumps every time I speak of the Mount but when it comes to competition, winning is the name of the game!!!

I was and am fortunate to have the Mount woven into the fabric of who I am. I will always be thankful for the Spirit of the Mount and it makes me smile to think of the wonderful Catholic Community I belong to.