King succeeds at Brown
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Caroline King's sophomore year at Brown University proved more profitable than anticipated.
And it could have been even better.
King, a Valencia resident and 2009 Oakland Catholic graduate, maintained a 3.8 grade-point average as a community health major at Brown and was back-up center on the women's basketball team.
She received the squad's Hustle Award and the university's Bessie H. Rudd Award for enthusiasm, spirit and leadership, becoming the first sophomore to ever claim that honor.
“I got to speak at the senior athletic banquet, which was quite an experience for me,” King said. “I was shocked to win that award, very humbled and honored by it.”
King missed five games this past season due to a concussion and had planned to serve an internship at a hospital in Dublin, Ireland, this summer, while studying at Dublin City University.
Those plans were derailed when she had to undergo recent surgery on her right rotator cuff as the result of an accident while doing offseason training.
“”Just one of those things that happens,” King said. “I should be good to go for the start of next season.”
The Rudd Award is presented to the female varsity athlete at Brown who has done the most to promote women's sports at the university. The award is named in honor of Bessie Rudd, in recognition of her leadership in the development of quality athletic programs for women.
King served as president of Brown Nation, an on-campus organization that promotes support of the school's athletic teams. She is also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and volunteers at the Rhode Island free clinic.
“Brown Nation promotes and encourages attendance and support for athletic events on campus and that's important to me,” King said.
She received the Hustle Award for giving extra effort physically and mentally, along with pushing her teammates to do the same.
“That award was voted upon by my teammates, so I treasure that,” King said.
Brown finished 10-18 — 6-8 in the Ivy League — this past season. The Bears were fourth in the league standings and King averaged eight minutes in the 23 games she played in, averaging 1.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Her season highlight occurred in a 56-48 win over Dartmouth, when King came off the bench to play 20 minutes, score four points and grab a career-high nine rebounds.
“My biggest goal next year is to stay healthy and help the team win an Ivy League championship, because that's what we're here to do,” she said. “We have a lot of players coming back, but I'm hoping to compete for a starting position.”
King averaged eight points and 10 rebounds per game during her senior year at Oakland Catholic. She averaged 10 minutes of playing time per game her freshman year at Brown.
