WC Player Spotlight:  

Gintare “Gigi” Mazionyte

Gintare Mazionyte remembers some wisdom her mother, a basketball coach in their home of Lithuania, once gave her.

A basketball is round. It's up to Gintare – or “Gigi” as she is more commonly known – where it bounces.

The 6-foot-2 Weatherford College Lady Coyote guard/ forward is using that philosophy to help her decide where she will play after this season – a season that once again has her among the leading players in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.

"This is my destiny. I'm in the right place," she said of being at WC. "I know I'll have to move on to another school, but for now I'm glad I'm here. I have everything I need here at Weatherford College."

Of course, when she does have to move on next season, there are an abundance of schools that will be clamoring for an All-Conference player. She originally had her sights set on TCU, but now schools such as Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UTEP, Southern Miss, Oral Roberts, Virginia Tech, SMU, Hawaii and Ole Miss, to name a few, have been trying to persuade her to come their way.

"It's funny, TCU didn't want me before I came here, and now they are very excited," she said. "But I'm trying not to think about next year. I really don't know where I'll go."

Two seasons ago the Lady Coyotes missed the Region V Tournament for the first time in more than three decades. But last season she helped them return to the event, and now this season she has helped them once again enter the nation's elite.

But among her top qualities is being humble.

"It's not just me. We've achieved this together," she said.

Gigi said going to the World University Games with her national team from Lithuania helped her focus on what is most important in her life.

"The 18 days I spent in China changed my attitude. It was worth all the hard work just for the time I spent there," she said. "I saw so many interesting things and people, and I realized it was all because of basketball.

"I sat with a guy from Africa. He'd never seen a basketball game before."

Gigi, who is the first in her family to come to America, has adjusted well to the lifestyle here. She does, however, miss a couple of things.

"I lived next to the beach. I miss the beach. I'm a beach kid," she said with a giggle.

And she missed some of her favorite cuisine.

"I miss Lithuanian food," she said. "Oh my gosh, do I miss it. I can't be on a diet. I'm addicted to food. You only live once, so you've got to try everything."

When she's not playing basketball, Gigi loves to read and draw – or talk to her family on Skype. And while she, like most young people, goes on Facebook, she's hardly addicted.

"Sometimes I think it's the worst thing because it can take up so much time, but most days I'm glad I have it because I can stay in touch with people," she said.

She's undecided on her major, but is considering medicinal therapy. Whatever she does later, she has a 3.8 GPA now.

"Anywhere she goes she'll do great," said Lady Coyote coach Bob McKinley. "I can call or Facebook her on a Saturday and ask what she's doing, and she'll respond, `I'm studying.'"

Gigi said leaving WC will be tough also because she loves her teammates and coach so much.

"Coach McKinley is the most amazing person. He cares about everyone. He's special," she said. "And coach Reda (Petraitis) is amazing also."

After college, Gigi does, like many, dream of a professional basketball career.

"Everyone hopes for the WNBA, but I'm also excited about Europe," she said. "When I was in Lithuania I thought my future was in the states. Now I'm here and you never know."

But for now, her philosophy is, "I'm 20. I'm young. I have many opportunities. I'm enjoying life. Complain less, be happy more."

McKinley said she drives herself hard, however. That, he said, is a major reason for her success.

"She's really hard on herself, but she's really happy," he said. "It contradicts itself, but it's true. She's just a happy person."

With the Lady Coyotes enjoying their best season in years, Gigi has one thing she'd definitely like to see happen before she leaves. She wants to help her team reach the NJCAA Tournament in Salina, Kansas in late March.

"I really believe in my team and coaches, and I believe we can get there," she said. 

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by Rick Mauch