For players on the opposing team, having to guard junior Christie Bergesch can be a challenging task. But even more so, it is dangerous for whoever tries to take the basketball from her.
“Christie is known for having really sharp elbows, so whenever we scrimmage or do shell drill at practices no one wants to guard her,” teammate and senior Jamie Lazaroff said. “She has hurt or elbowed almost every one of our players at one point in the season, but we are glad to have her on our team during the games.”
Regardless of whether her pointy elbows are deserving of the credit, Bergesch has posted significant stats throughout the season.
According to Bergesch, she has averaged a double-double in four games this season, meaning she has compiled double-digit stats in points and rebounds in each game. Among those was one of her best performances to date, when she scored 18 points and came up with 15 rebounds in a game against Fort Zumwalt East.
Bergesch has established herself as one of the team’s best offensive players. According to STL High School Sports, she leads the team with an average of 13.8 points per game, compiling 220 points in 16 games. She is also among the team’s best in free throw percentage and in field goal percentage, making 40.72 percent of the shots she takes.
Meanwhile, Bergesch’s aggressive style of defense and her height have earned her a spot in the local leader boards.
According to STL High School Sports, she ranks 49th in the Metro Area with 139 rebounds, averaging about 8.7 each game.
Bergesch is not unfamiliar with this sort of success. She has started for the varsity team since her freshman year and, as a sophomore, she averaged a double-double for the entire season in points and rebounds. She likes to attribute her achievements to the hard work she puts forth on the court day in and day out.
“I really try to hustle all the time and at both ends of the court,” Bergesch said. “I pride myself on it.”
Girls basketball coach Mr. Brian Guilfoyle can confirm that Bergesch’s work ethic sets her apart from others and has allowed her to excel at the sport.
“What makes Christie unique is her ability to work hard without being asked to do it,” Guilfoyle said. “She works extremely hard and loves to be competitive. When it comes to basketball, Christie can play aggressively and compete with anyone that she is up against.”
Although she has a competitive and often serious demeanor, Lazaroff points out that Bergesch is always able to lighten the mood during tough practices.
“We were doing a shooting drill and Christie was in my group with Alyssa Waitz,” Lazaroff said. “We both shot at the same time and the balls collided in the air and hit Christie in the head. She fell down and we couldn’t stop laughing.”
With the end of her junior basketball season quickly approaching, Bergesch is unsure whether she wants to play basketball at the collegiate level. However, if she decides to play, Guilfoyle thinks she has what it takes.
“Christie has the drive and motivation to be successful at the next level,” Guilfoyle said. “Players have to remember that it takes hard work in the classroom as well as on the court, and Christie is performing well on both fronts.”
While she still has a lot of time to contemplate her plans for college, Bergesch wants to make the best of the season and not worry about the future just yet.
“We’re trying to win as many games as possible, and with our team spirit and talent we believe we can go far in districts or state,” Bergesch said.
