Welcome back Royals sports fans to Royal Talk, a bi-weekly segment where you the sports fan get an up close and personal look at a Warner University athlete in a question and answer forum. In this edition we chat with Krystal Glass of the women’s basketball team under the direction of new head coach Matt Murphy.
Glass, a 5’7 guard/forward from Lovelock, Nevada, is one of four players to transfer from Cascade College (Ore.) with Coach Murphy after the school closed last school year. Coach Murphy was the head coach of Cascade for two years prior to joining Warner.
The Royals 2009-2010 campaign is already underway and they currently sit at 3-2, their best start in three seasons. Glass has already proved to be a valuable component of the Royals’ attack. She leads the team with a .588 field-goal percentage while averaging 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds a game.
A senior, Krystal is majoring in exercise science and hopes to enter the geriatric exercise field once she graduates. Here is more of our interview with Krystal Glass:
1) What were some of your concerns adjusting to a new team, new school, and pretty much a new culture coming from the Pacific Northwest?
To be honest I was a little nervous, my major concern with coming to a new school was if my grades were going to transfer. I have moved around a lot so new places don’t concern me too much. My main concern with the team was how accepting were they going to be and whether we were going to be able to adapt to each other. The culture I can’t explain how different it is but it has never been a concern of mine, you learn to adapt to your surroundings.
2) What were some of the deciding factors when you chose to transfer to Warner with Coach Murphy?
Coach Murphy is just a great person in general. He always has an individual’s best interest in mind and when we talked about me coming down here, we weighed out all my options to make sure this was the best one. The fact that he cared so much about my success helped me decide to follow him to Warner besides the fact that he is a good coach. Another deciding factor was the other girls from the Pacific Northwest that I came with (Sammie Clark, Karli Thomas and Meagan Stanley) because a transition this big would be hard to make alone.
3) How pivotal has Coach Murphy been in the transition from Cascade?
Coach Murphy and his family have helped tremendously in the transition. I have known them for a while so they are a taste of home and they are always there if you need help and your family isn’t close enough to do it.
4) Have there been any players on the team that have helped with the transition?
Everyone on the team has helped with the transition, all of them had open arms when we came in and they are now like a second family. The other girls from the Pacific Northwest have helped the most with this transition just because they are going through the same transition so it’s easier because of them.
5) How would you describe your athletic experience here at Warner?
So far my experience at Warner has been unbelievable; I love every minute of it and I'm just trying to take it all in. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost over so I’m just enjoying as much as I can now.
6) Explain your thoughts on being named a team captain?
To be honest I was shocked but I think it’s because coach knows I will work hard and that the others will follow if they see that. So far it has been a great experience and I like having the feeling that people look up to me. It’s definitely been an honor.
7) Prior to the start of the season, what were some of the goals that you set for the team and for yourself? And have they changed in anyway, now that the season has begun?
My first goal coming into this new team was just trying to mesh well and to have chemistry on the floor. For myself my goal is always to just play hard and do the best I can for my team. The goal has changed now that the first goal has been accomplished. I think our goal now is just to focus on ourselves and come out and play every game to exhaustion and with selfless enthusiasm, and if we do those things I think everyone will like the outcome.
8) Now that you have wrapped up your first month of play, what are some of your thoughts on the progression of the team moving forward this season?
After a month, I just see great improvement. Our defense is being played with such aggression and passion and if this continues our team will be hard to stop which will be perfect for when conference games come.
9) Which basketball player does your style of play reflect? Is there any one player that you try and emulate?
Wow that’s a tough question. I would like to say I play like Kevin Garnett (KG) because he plays with such passion and has great defense and that’s who I would like to be most like, but to be honest I don’t think I reflect any basketball player in particular. I don’t try to emulate any one player; I just go out there and play to the best of my ability.
10) What’s your most memorable moment so far here at Warner?
Since it’s my senior year I’m just trying to take every moment in because it’s going by so fast already but if I would pick one moment it would have to be when we beat Brewton-Parker and that’s because it was the first time our team played well together and intense for an entire game.
11) Finally, what would you to say to an out-of-state recruit looking to play at Warner?
Come to Florida! The people at Warner make you feel right at home. What’s better than being surrounded by great people and sunny weather? It’s a great place for you to grow and develop into the person you want to be.
Check back with us on December 16 for our next installment of Royal Talk. GO ROYALS!