Nutley Female Athlete of the Month

Courtney Wilde
NHS sophomore, girls’ basketball

“Courtney Wilde has been our most consistent player all year long. She has been our leading scorer in most games. Her three-point shooting has improved this year. The best thing about Courtney is when the team or coaching staff needs a laugh or someone to break the ice, Courtney seems to always be that person. She keeps working hard and improving. She will be a 1,000-point scorer for us in a couple of years.”
— Larry Mitschow, girls’ basketball head coach

How did you get into basketball?
I played rec basketball and when it was time to play travel ball I begged my parents to let me go out for the team even though I was playing several sports. I was literally the last pick and almost didn’t make the team.

Those green shoes you wear on the court are eye-catching.
What are they?
The green shoes, I played for a AAU team called the Celtics and they were green and white. I had some big games in those shoes so I don’t want to take them off.

What’s your best on-court memory?
There have been so many great memories. One of the greatest memories was being able to play alongside Blair Watson in the state quarterfinals last year. There was a huge crowd and even though we lost, the excitement and energy was unlike any other experience I’ve ever had. Playing with Blair taught me so much about focus and leadership.

How do you get pumped up for a game?
I get pumped up by putting my beats on (headphones) and listening to motivating music and getting focused.

Tough season so far. How does the team stay positive?
The team stays positive because we know we are very young and talented and our best basketball is ahead of us. The future is very bright for us.

Is there anything about you that people might be surprised to learn?
Something surprising about me that some people don’t know is that I would like to be a special-ed teacher and a coach like my father.

What are you watching on TV and what’s on your music playlist?
I am currently watching “The Office” on Netflix and my playlist consists of
a lot of rap.

How do you spend your free time these days?
I am a three-sport athlete, so I don’t have a lot of free time. So if I’m not
playing a sport, then I am working on my studies.