The Jewish Link and The Humble Toast would like to recognize Lily Chorzewski as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The Westchester Day School eighth grader is one of the many stars on the WDS Wild Basketball team. When asked about Lily, WDS Coach Amy Kirschenbaum told The Jewish Link, “Lily is the type of player that all coaches dream of. She is hard-working, dedicated, reliable, committed and ready and willing to take constructive criticism. She is never arrogant nor does she brag in regards to her successes. She looks to help her teammates, lead them and support them in whatever way possible. Lily is a mensch on and off the court. I feel very fortunate to have been able to coach her and teach her. I have learned a tremendous amount from her.” WDS Sixth Grade Dean Morah Rachel Blumenthal added, “She is a rockstar basketball player at Westchester Day School and a great person. She always looks around and sees her teammates as equals. She is the definition of a team player!”
Lily congratulations on being recognized as this week’s sportstar of the week. What is your favorite sport?
Basketball is my favorite sport! The competitive nature and the constant room for improvement makes basketball a game I continuously want to play. Each day, I practice and try to master handling and shooting skills. Additionally, since all of my friends play basketball, gym class and team practices are team building experiences and opportunities for me and my friends to build chemistry. Basketball is a sport that is based on collaboration, so it also provides an incredible opportunity for me to become close with new people.
What is your earliest sports memory?
My earliest sports memory was in kindergarten when I played tennis with three friends. We had a class each week and worked on our swing. After this, I began to take a greater interest in tennis and kept playing for many summers to follow.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Steph Curry is my favorite athlete because his story inspires me. He started his career as a small guard, who was shamed due to his height and alleged lack of strength. He also had a father who was an overachiever, so Curry had a high bar set for him. He had to work hard each day to prove his capabilities to those around him, and his perseverance led to his eventual draft into the NBA and his ability to become one of the best shooters in the NBA. I aspire to have the self motivation and perseverance that Steph Curry had and I admire his hard work, which led to incredible success.
What is your pregame routine?
A pregame warmup is very important. My school basketball team works on running, shooting and ball handling. In order to be ready for the game, I specifically work on dribbling up the court at a steady rate, ready to break a press. As the point guard, I also like to do a weave drill in order to work on my passing and court awareness, preparing me to make plays on the court with my teammates.
What do you like to do when you are not playing sports?
When I’m not playing sports, I love being with my friends and family. On weekends and in my spare time, I love watching movies, playing cards and laughing with friends and family. My friends and family are a major part of what occupies my attention each day.
What is your favorite sports moment?
My favorite sports memory was in the beginning of this year’s school basketball season, when we won our first game. This specific memory was so great because last year we had a rough season. We hadn’t won a single game and our team’s confidence was pretty low, but when we won our first game this year, we proved to ourselves that we were capable. It built up our confidence as a whole, promoting our team’s unity.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
When I practice each day or play basketball games, I am sometimes disappointed about losses or missed shots. However, I believe that being a Sportstar means that instead of focusing on a loss, I can recognize how I have played and see the bright side of what I have done. By recalling and focusing on my teams’ successful moments and my personal accomplishments (like when I have many assists in a game or when the play that I drew works out), I am able to better encourage and motivate the team as their captain.
The Humble Toast Sportstar of the Week will receive a $25 gift card to The Humble Toast. Please send nominees for an upcoming The Humble Toast Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week to [email protected]
