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                         November 21, 2003

Women's hoops' Macfarlane about to set all-time records

By Spc. Eric S. Bartelt
Features editor

"Walk softly, but carry a big stick." The author of that adage probably didn’t mean for it to apply to a six-foot, blond female who has a smile that can light up Christl Arena.

However, it does in Katie Macfarlane’s case.

The hugely humble, team-oriented Army women’s basketball forward came to the United States Military Academy four years ago as a former high school star at Clarence High School near Buffalo, N.Y.

Although she was a star in high school, Macfarlane had to prove herself after receiving only slight national attention during recruiting. The senior forward has packed a wallop ever since.

Macfarlane is now closing in on both the Army women’s all-time leading scorer and rebounding records. She has 1,421 points, two points shy of the academy record and, with 861 rebounds, she only needs 21 to break the current mark.

One would think that her accomplishments are reason enough to put a swagger in her step, especially since she’s been named "Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year." The ultimate team player, however, has other ideas.

"It’s not at the forefront of my mind to break these records, if anything it’s great to represent the league and my team," Macfarlane said. "Being named preseason player of the year doesn’t mean anything until the end of the season. The best I can do is to treat this season like any other and keep focused.

"The vision we have as a team is in the forefront of my mind and the rest may come if it’s deserved," she added.

One of Katie’s biggest supporters, outside her parents Ronald and Kathleen, is coach Sherri Abbey-Nowatzki. Nowatzki notes that Macfarlane is a special player and unique individual.

"What stands out to me is her demand for excellence on and off the court," Nowatzki said. "Whether you’re talking about basketball, the military or the Corps, I think what sets her apart is her expectations. She expects a lot out of herself and expects a lot out of her teammates."

Macfarlane said she is looking forward to a career as an Army Intelligence officer and that she’s appreciative of what her time here gives her.

"When I was looking to come to West Point, I was looking at 20 years down-the-line as opposed to just four years of college," Macfarlane said.

"The development you get here, not only physically and militarily, but also academically, is amazing. Coach and I always joke about how you grow up so much faster here, and that’s something that is a great thing to have at an early age."

The team co-captain, who averaged 17.7 points and 10.6 rebounds a game last season, credits her parents with supporting her through her formative basketball years. She said they would take her to practices and always find extra money to send her to camps. It’s support like that, Macfarlane added, that makes her want to help children obtain their goals in basketball.

"We work a lot with children who want to start learning basketball fundamentals," Macfarlane said. "We hold clinics and at academy events it’s not rare to see our players meet with kids and talk about basketball, school, or sign a ball for them. It’s important to be a great role model for them."

Nowatzki said Macfarlane is the rock of the team and a pioneer for Army women’s basketball.

"You have to have special people that not only buy into your system and vision, but people who you can build around -- and Katie has been that foundation for our program," Nowatzki said. "What sets her apart is she will go the extra mile, put in the extra work to do the things at this level.

"She’s not the biggest person on the floor, which is why she may have been overlooked in recruiting," the coach added. "But we can put her anywhere on the floor, she’s a versatile athlete."

Macfarlane said the coach is the one person who knows her more than anyone here.

"She knows me inside and out, she knows how to motivate me," she said. "She’s taught me about just what a team is and she’s had a huge impact on my life.

"I now take care of others the way she takes care of the team," Macfarlane added.

The firstie goes for the point record today as the team opens the season vs. Columbia at 5:30 p.m.