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March 4, 2010

Every year, Texas Women’s Basketball coach Gail Goestenkors hand-picks reading selections for all of her student-athletes. Goestenkors carefully connects each one to the individual, choosing books that can educate and inspire – and impact the Longhorns on the court, and in life.

Throughout the season, TexasSports.com will visit with Goestenkors and the Longhorns to learn about the books that were read, and what everyone learned through the process.

Ashleigh Fontenette
I read Yes, You Can Change the World, which is about a young man who arrives at his father’s funeral expecting no more than a dozen people, and instead sees hundreds. Many of these people had never met his father but had been touched in some way by his lessons, and the impact they had on their lives. The man then sets out on a mission to discover his father’s secret to changing so many lives.

One of the lessons the son learned was to “focus, not on what’s wrong with a person, but on what makes them right -- see their strength within their weakness.” This is something we can take directly to the basketball court, because we have to identify areas where we can get better, and improve them. Strengths are sometimes just hidden underneath weakness.

He also learns that “in every interaction, your perspective sets the stage for how the other person responds to you.” For me, as a point guard, I have to think about I approach my teammates. If I’m positive, the team will be positive.

Gail Goestenkors
Ashleigh really had to grow into her position as a point guard for us this year. We knew she had the mentality and attitude to do it, because she’s relentless. She’s just a fighter, and is ready and willing to always take on the grandest challenge. She attacks, and never believes that she will be denied.

As a point guard, though, she had to understand things beyond just the physical -- beyond just basketball. Her attitude and actions, emotions even, can affect the entire team. A good point guard knows how to always have a positive impact.