She’s scored almost 1,000 points in her basketball career.  She led South’s women’s basketball team to the Sectionals last season.  She’s already committed to play Division I basketball at Denver University. She’s South’s basketball captain Carie Weinman.

Weinman began her high school basketball career by starting in the point guard position on varsity as a freshman.   According to Weinman, with three full years of varsity experience under her belt, she believes she can set an example for her underclassmen teammates.

“Of course it’s scary to be an underclassman on varsity,” Weinman said. “But I think I can be a good role model for [younger players], since I know how [challenging] it is to be a younger player on the team.”

According to Weinman, she does not only see herself as a mentor for her younger teammates, she has emerged as the leader for her entire team. When emotions are running especially high, Weinman says that her “game-control” takes over.

“There’s a lot of instances where it’s easy to get overwhelmed or to start getting worried or ancy,” Weinman said. “I try to set the tone of calmness and to make sure everyone’s supporting each other by giving high-fives to all our teammates.”

According to junior Liz Lapierre, Weinman has been an important player on the team since freshman year.

“Now as a senior, everyone looks up to [Weinman] because she is so committed,” Lapierre said.

Steve Weissenstein, the women’s varsity basketball head coach for all four years Weinman has played at GBS, acknowledged her ability to dictate the team’s in-game performance.

“It’s great to know that she’s like another coach on the floor,” Weissenstein said. “I can tell her what I want her to do, and I know she’s going to get [the job] done.  She’s out there to guide the ship.”

Weinman expresses that selflessness is an important role for a leader, and that she would never want to be a bossy, arrogant captain.  Although Weinman has earned many personal awards, she credits most of it to her teammates and coach.

“Basketball is a really big team sport, so I can’t really take credit for everything for myself,” Weinman said. “I try to see what [Coach Weissenstein] pictures will happen on the court, and I try to execute [his vision] to the best of my ability.”

Weissenstein can sense Weinman’s team-first drive on the court, but doesn’t discourage Weinman playing the game with an edge.  He noted that Weinman’s hard work to improve her overall game, especially in developing her jump-shot, has not gone unnoticed.

“Weinman’s really [selfless] and isn’t even close to being someone with a big ego, she just does what the team needs to have done to make us successful,” Weissenstein said. “I told [Weinman] at the beginning of the year that her goal should be to be ‘Ms. Basketball’, and she’s worked really hard to make that happen.”

With college approaching quickly, Weinman will have a brand new group of teammates to work with at Denver University, under women’s basketball coach Kerry Cremeans.  With her strong basketball skills, Weinman believes she is up to the task of playing at Division I level.

“The goal is always to be starting for the team, but I have to earn my spot,” Weinman said. “For my travel team, we like to play fast, but here at Glenbrook South we don’t always play fast; we like to run through a lot of plays.  I have both sides of the playing styles, so I believe I’ll fit in with the playing style just fine.”

Lapiere believes that with Weinman’s leadership on and off the court, the team can go to state. According to Weinman, with the help of her teammates and coach, she is ready to start this season and end her high school career with a State championship.