K9 Mentality

By: Kayleigh Heckel

The number nine often represents the end of one thing, but the start of something else. When I became a Trojan, I knew I wanted to pick a new number and starting this new chapter of collegiate basketball seemed like the perfect time to honor where I’ve been and stay focused on where I’m going.

K9 was a natural nickname, combining my new number, acknowledging the underdog I’ve always been and embracing the mentality I bring every time I step on the court.

Growing up in a small town in New York, Port Chester, my family’s athletic history was everywhere. My mom played softball at nearby St. John’s. My dad played baseball at St. John’s and had a career in the minor leagues. My paternal grandfather and great grandfather also had minor league careers. My maternal grandfather played basketball at Long Island University and in the Eastern Pennsylvania Professional League. My family history inspires me everytime I put on my jersey. No one understands the hard work and the sacrifice better than those who have done it before me.

I want to carry on the athletic legacy of my family. Despite often being an underdog: overlooked and underestimated throughout my athletic career, my family knows all the hard work I’ve put in behind the scenes to get where I am today.

I look at both of my parents as huge role models, both athletically and personally. Even though I don’t play the same sport in college as they did, all sports are connected by the same principle of trying to get a little bit better everyday. The work ethic that I’ve learned from my family has helped me become the basketball player that I am today. 

Trying to be the best athlete I can be is just in my blood.

When I started playing basketball in elementary school, I was on an all-boys team. Between that, and playing in the backyard with my two older brothers, the years when I really learned the game and fell in love with it, I was playing alongside boys. No one ever took it easy on me, and it definitely got rough sometimes. I would get upset, but it pushed me to get better. That work ethic, that toughness is something I try to bring with me every time I step into the gym, whether for practice or a game, I’m always trying to bring that K9 mentality. 

From Day 1 playing with the boys, I’ve always been an underdog. The K9 mentality is believing that all I have is all I need. I’m moving forward, not focusing on the setbacks. I’m building my own reality, not living in the one others have created for me.

My family and my circle believe in me. I believe in myself. And that’s enough.

Despite the highs and lows, the tough moments and the ones where I didn’t feel like going to the gym, I learned that above all, basketball is supposed to be fun. That’s why I love being a point guard. I love passing and facilitating and seeing my teammates succeed. My role, in part, is to make sure that everyone else on the court is also having fun and succeeding in their respective roles.

It’s easy to have fun when you’re winning, and I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of our team this year where we’re doing a lot of it. I love winning, maybe too much, but for me that’s always been and always will be the most fun part of basketball. 

We still have so many opportunities this season to win in big moments and big games, and my only real personal goal at this point in the season is to contribute to our team making it as far as we can. 

Despite the challenges of being so far away from home, this team is really close and it feels like my second family. Because we’re playing more games on the East Coast, my family, including my grandpa, have been able to watch more games in person. Whether he’s watching in the stands or from his couch, he always texts me after games. He tells me to be aggressive, play my game and keep working hard. He reminds me to bring that K9 mentality every time I step on the court.

That belief, even from 3,000 miles away, gives me all the confidence I need. The K9 mentality is the fight I fight when people are doubting. The fight to protect my dreams. I haven’t come all this way just to let others dictate my path.

I want to inspire others to believe in themselves, just like I believe in myself. I want to inspire others to work hard to make themselves better every day, just like my family has inspired me to do. I want to bring that K9 mentality to everything I do.

I already have everything I need to achieve my dreams and goals, on and off the court. It’s the K9 mentality.