Elaine Hasek

WAYNESBURG — There are always different ways to help people learn how to solve complex problems.

As a self-described “math nerd”, Elaine Hasek spends a lot time thinking about how to help people solve those problems. Spending this semester teaching ninth and 10th graders at Carmichaels High School how to better understand Algebra I and II was also a learning experience for her.

Hasek, a Mars graduate, became more well-versed in a variety of teaching methods.

“Knowing that every student learns differently is applicable to basketball,” Hasek said. “Explaining it may not get through to everyone. Instead of telling them to make a ‘V’ cut, I would say watch me make this ‘V’ cut.”

It also helped that the 5-foot-10 Waynesburg University senior guard has developed into a better leader.

The Yellow Jackets, who compete in the Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference, are off to a 1-5 start, but Hasek has found her niche.

She’s averaging 8.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Waynesburg coach Sam Jones said he can see the teacher in her on the court.

“She’s helping people learn the offense,” Jones said. “She’s also willing to gently put her foot in their back when they aren’t working hard enough.”

There was a little doubt what career path Hasek would follow. She always wanted to find an outlet to communicate her passion for math.

“I think that’s the biggest reason for getting into education,” said Hasek, who entered the season as the Yellow Jackets’ leading returning scorer and rebounder. “I had a ton of respect for (former Mars) coach (Dana) Petruska and Sam (Jones). I saw them coaching and teaching the game of basketball and the passion they had. My passion is math. I’m a nerd and love math. I realized I wanted to be able to teach people and help them find their passion in math, too.”

Entering this season, Hasek was focused on playing without over-thinking. Being a cerebral player in the past had made her predictable.

She would decide if she was going to shoot or not before she got the ball.

If one of Hasek’s teammates was hot, she would try to force a pass when it wasn’t there.

“I struggled with being a predetermined basketball player,” Hasek said. “Go with the flow and not let the defender know what I’m doing. I focused on the nitty-gritty and not the big picture of playing a basketball game.”

That has allowed Hasek to play more freely.

Hasek has recorded double-doubles twice this season. She scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against Bethany Dec. 4 and scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds against Mount Union Nov. 22.

“She wants the ball, like any good rebounder,” Jones said. “She’s much more consistent, she had good games and real stinkers (as a freshman). Now, she’s doing way more and her bad isn’t close to what it used to be.”

While her passion for education will always be around, she senses her window closing for basketball.

That is fueling her production.

“It’s the adrenaline of my senior year,” Hasek said. “I want to get more and more stoked for every game that comes up before I don’t have any more left. It’s a wave of emotion and energy to get a win and play with teammates. I won’t get the opportunity to have as many of those as I did in the past.”