May 12, 2016

By Chase Maser

"I feel surprised that I was chosen. I didn't think that I was the kind of person up for the award; I was shocked," says SMC student-athlete, Brittney Chow, 19, recipient of the SMC Athlete of the Year Award for the 2016 Women's Soccer season.

Chow is a modest individual, but her character and drive as an athlete is what separates her from her other teammates. "Brittney has been an absolute joy to coach this past season," says new Head Coach, Aaron Benditson. "She truly embodies the culture that we have been working so hard to establish with the women's soccer program."

Playing in her second season as a Corsair, Chow believes that she has become a good role-model for others, which is what ultimately led her to the award. "I got a lot more experience this season as a player, and being an experienced Sophomore, I could be a better leader to the incoming Freshmen," says Chow. "I had a big influence on them, helping them focus on not only sports, but school as well. It's important to spread that idea to others."

Another idea that took some understanding for all the women on the team was the introduction of a new coach. "It was kind of hard coming from the first season with a different coach and then transitioning to Coach Benditson," says Chow. "But having him as a coach was really helpful. He taught me a lot about the sport, like how to play winger. He taught me how to play the position and he saw potential in me, seeing that I could play in that spot. He definitely helped me take my game to the next level."

The Women's team went 12-7 for the season with 4 ties. Although the results were modest, Chow feels that the team really benefited from building an overall chemistry, creating a strong bond between each player. "The chemistry on the field really determines how the team is going to play," says Chow. "Our chemistry really strengthened this year for all of us, and I know that will lead to more wins in the future."

"My parents are proud of me, obviously," says Chow. "Having your child win an award is a proud feeling. They would like me to focus more on my education, but since I'm doing well in both, it definitely changed their minds." With the demanding schedule of being a full-time student and an athlete, chow has maintained a 3.6 GPA and she will be transferring to 4-year university next spring, majoring in kinesiology.

 "There's more to school than just school," says Chow. "You can play a sport as well, and it's a huge benefit to do that. I think it's important to not focus so much on academics, but to also have a well-rounded experience as a student in general."