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Florzak will focus on basketball
Senior says she's skipping cross country next season
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-05-13
Now that she’s lived her dream, Anna Florzak wants to live another.
One year after running cross country and playing basketball for Iowa State, the Cyclones’ senior guard has decided to focus on the hardwood for her final year in Ames.
“It was something I always wanted to do,†Florzak said. “I’m glad I did it, but now I want put all my effort into basketball.â€
Once cross country season ended last fall, Florzak knew she would only play basketball as a senior. Once the basketball season ended with five seniors graduating and three freshmen transferring, Florzak knew she made the right decision.
“I love to do everything, but with this being my senior year, everything that’s gone on and me wanting to make a difference, I felt this was my time to step up and this is what I had to do,†Florzak said.
So Florzak will spend the summer lifting weights and playing pick up games when she’s not working for the Kansas City Chiefs as a marketing intern. The 5-foot-10 Kansas City native plans to lift before work, where she hopes to work on marketing the ISU-Kansas State football game on Oct. 3 at Arrowhead Stadium, and in the evening work on her shooting and play in some pick up games.
“I know there are some schools there, and I know the UMKC coaches, so hopefully I can set something up where I play a few times a week with them,†Florzak said.
ISU coach Bill Fennelly expects his guards to play a larger role this year since Genesis Lightbourne is the only post player who returns. Four seniors graduated, and freshmen Ashley Arlen transferred to Wayne State (Neb.).
Even though Fennelly expects his three incoming freshman forwards, Anna Prins, Amanda Zimmerman and Chelsea Poppens, to come in and contribute, he knows the Cyclones will likely have to experiment with a four-guard lineup during the fall.
And that is where Florzak, a reserve guard who has scored 74 points in her career, may be able to help ISU.
“We have always played four guards here, and we didn’t last year at all, so that was in the back of our mind that we will probably have to do that for a while,†said Fennelly in April.
Florzak had a successful cross country season, finishing 46th at the Big 12 Championships. She tried to take part in both sports last fall, but after a few weeks decided to focus on cross country until its season was over.
She said she enjoyed forging relationships with people she wouldn’t have met if she wasn’t on the team and believed that cross country put her in the best shape of her life.
But at the same time she missed the camaraderie that came with being a basketball team.
“Basketball is a team sport, and running can be more individualistic,†Florzak said. “Since I was away, it took me a little while to feel like I was part of the program again.â€
While Florzak is grateful that she dabbled in cross country, she’s looking forward to putting all of her energy into one sport.
“I’m thankful for (running cross country), but at the same time, that chapter of my life is over,†Florzak said. “I’m looking forward to what’s next.â€
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
Senior says she's skipping cross country next season
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-05-13
Anna Florzak ran cross country and played basketball during her junior season at Iowa State.
Ames Tribune file photo.
Ames Tribune file photo.
Now that she’s lived her dream, Anna Florzak wants to live another.
One year after running cross country and playing basketball for Iowa State, the Cyclones’ senior guard has decided to focus on the hardwood for her final year in Ames.
“It was something I always wanted to do,†Florzak said. “I’m glad I did it, but now I want put all my effort into basketball.â€
Once cross country season ended last fall, Florzak knew she would only play basketball as a senior. Once the basketball season ended with five seniors graduating and three freshmen transferring, Florzak knew she made the right decision.
“I love to do everything, but with this being my senior year, everything that’s gone on and me wanting to make a difference, I felt this was my time to step up and this is what I had to do,†Florzak said.
So Florzak will spend the summer lifting weights and playing pick up games when she’s not working for the Kansas City Chiefs as a marketing intern. The 5-foot-10 Kansas City native plans to lift before work, where she hopes to work on marketing the ISU-Kansas State football game on Oct. 3 at Arrowhead Stadium, and in the evening work on her shooting and play in some pick up games.
“I know there are some schools there, and I know the UMKC coaches, so hopefully I can set something up where I play a few times a week with them,†Florzak said.
ISU coach Bill Fennelly expects his guards to play a larger role this year since Genesis Lightbourne is the only post player who returns. Four seniors graduated, and freshmen Ashley Arlen transferred to Wayne State (Neb.).
Even though Fennelly expects his three incoming freshman forwards, Anna Prins, Amanda Zimmerman and Chelsea Poppens, to come in and contribute, he knows the Cyclones will likely have to experiment with a four-guard lineup during the fall.
And that is where Florzak, a reserve guard who has scored 74 points in her career, may be able to help ISU.
“We have always played four guards here, and we didn’t last year at all, so that was in the back of our mind that we will probably have to do that for a while,†said Fennelly in April.
Florzak had a successful cross country season, finishing 46th at the Big 12 Championships. She tried to take part in both sports last fall, but after a few weeks decided to focus on cross country until its season was over.
She said she enjoyed forging relationships with people she wouldn’t have met if she wasn’t on the team and believed that cross country put her in the best shape of her life.
But at the same time she missed the camaraderie that came with being a basketball team.
“Basketball is a team sport, and running can be more individualistic,†Florzak said. “Since I was away, it took me a little while to feel like I was part of the program again.â€
While Florzak is grateful that she dabbled in cross country, she’s looking forward to putting all of her energy into one sport.
“I’m thankful for (running cross country), but at the same time, that chapter of my life is over,†Florzak said. “I’m looking forward to what’s next.â€
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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