BasketBall Connect

HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

August 10, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my pleasure to write this letter of support on behalf of Katie Wilder. I have had the privilege of knowing and coaching Katie for two years at Humboldt State University on the Women’s Basketball Team. Student-athletes like Katie Wilder are the reason why we go into the coaching profession; she is the epitome of an ideal student-athlete on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. She is an outstanding athlete, leader, teammate, friend, competitor, and is an overall person of character, integrity, dedication, attention to detail and hard work. Katie is always willing to do whatever is necessary to be the best she can be and whatever is important for the good of the group. After just one year in the program, Katie was voted a team captain because of her ability to lead, her dedication to the team and program, as well as her outstanding contributions during game play and practice.

Athletically, Katie has excelled at Humboldt State, in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) of which we participated last season. She made an immediate impact in the program when she joined the 2005 upon transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College. She portrays the perfect example of hard work and intensity on a daily basis whether it’s an individual workout, team practice, or game situation. In her first season at HSU, Katie earned a starting position at the guard spot and made an immediate impact in the conference as an All-Conference Honorable Mention. She helped take the program to its best season in a decade with a 17-10 record going in to the post season. Behind the efforts and leadership of Wilder, the team made the NCAA Division II National Tournament and competed in the West Region Championships. An example of Katie’s unselfish nature was when she was asked to change positions mid-year from shooting guard to point guard. While she is perfectly capable at both positions, at the point guard position Katie was asked to distribute the ball, thus sacrificing personal statistics for team success. Katie is the type of person that does this without hesitation because it is what is best for the team. Coming into the 2006-07 season we expected Katie to be our shooting guard and leading scorer, but due to an injury to a teammate she was moved back to the point guard spot. Once again, she made this selfless act without hesitation. She was responsible for either setting her teammates up to score or scoring herself on every possession as well as leading a team as the lone returning starter with nine newcomers on the roster. This is a daunting task for most people, but one that Katie saw as an opportunity, rather than as pressure. Despite being the main focus of every team we competed against, Katie consistently performed on a nightly basis. She led the team in assists (4.56 apg), free throw percentage (88%), steals (1.6 spg), and was second in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (5 rpg), and 3 point shots made (45). She is ranked in the conference in most statistical categories and is one of the most talented all around players in the CCAA and West Region. Some awards, records and honors she earned this year are:

• Kodak All-American Honorable Mention
• DII Bulletin All-American Honorable Mention
• WBCA/Kodak All-West Region First Team
• Daktronics All-West Region Second Team
• California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) First Team
• National Strength and Conditioning Association All America Team
• ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District women’s basketball 2nd team
• CCAA Rankings (2006-07):
6th in scoring (15.1 ppg)
2nd in assists (4.56 apg)
1st in free throw percentage (88%, 107/122)
6th in 3FG made (1.67 pg)
• HSU Single Season Records (2006-07):
12th in Total Points (408)
7th in assists (123)
9th in Three-Point Field Goals made (45)
6th in Free Throws (107)
• HSU Career Records (2005-07):
7th in assists (218)
6th in Three-point Field Goals made (90)
• HSU Strength and Conditioning Record
Broke the All-time squat record in her weight class by squatting 255 lbs.

Katie Wilder has represented herself and Humboldt State University extremely well both on the court and in the classroom. She is an intelligent person with an outstanding work ethic, which helped her earn a 3.39 cumulative GPA while also contributing significantly to the basketball program and holding down a part-time job. Katie is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology with an option in Exercise Science and a minor in Health. She has worked in both the Human Performance Lab and the Student Recreation Center to gain valuable experience in the field. Katie’s goal is to acquire a career in the field that will enable her to better the lives of other people through exercise and nutrition. I have no doubt that Katie will reach her goals and excel in whatever field she chooses.

In closing, it is my hope that the reader has been able to catch a glimpse of the quality of character Katie Wilder possesses. She is a rare and unique individual whose presence has made an enormous impact on our program and whose absence will be sincerely felt with graduation. It has been such a pleasure to have crossed paths with this fine young woman, and I know that she will do big things with her life after graduation. In the teaching and coaching professions, we have the opportunity to impact our students during an impressionable time of their lives. While I hope this has occurred, I know that Katie has made more of an impact on me than I could ever make on her. I am a better person and coach because of her and am honored to have been a part of her educational journey. If I can provide further details about Katie Wilder, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Joddie Gleason
Humboldt State University
Head Women’s Basketball Coach
707-826-5943 (office)
530-864-4239 (cell)
gleason@humboldt.edu