Athlete of the Week

When looking at Helene Schutrumpf, BK '03, one sees a sincere smile, a shy giggle, and a beautiful countenance resembling the Swiss Miss girl. Schutrumpf admits that she is a little homesick and is excited to see her family for a few days over spring break. She speaks of her love for her birthplace, Germany, and recounts memories of beautiful South Africa, where she lived from age two to age six. However, Schutrumpf has grown into a person of many passions; beneath this seemingly innocent façade lurks a wild woman. There are two perfect settings for this amazing Yalie. One is the basketball court. The other is Toad's Place.

REBECCA ROSENTHAL/YH Helene Schutrumpf, BK '03 Women's Basketball Hometown: Boulder, Colo. Height: 5'9" Major: Economics Favorite weekend spot: Toad's Place Favorite sports teams: Any Yale team Favorite Food: Sushi Favorite Dining Hall Food: "Uh, lettuce?"

As a starter on the women's basketball team for the past two years, Schutrumpf has had a powerful impact on the success of the team. This year, she ranks second in scoring for the team, with an average of 7.4 points per game. On top of this, she averages 3.1 rebounds per game. As a freshman last year, Schut-rumpf ranked fourth on the team in both points and rebounds, second in steals, and third in assists. Furthermore, in high school she was a three-year letterwinner as a guard, receiving All-League, All-County, All-State, All-America, and Who's Who in American High School Sports honors.

However, the most surprising thing about these statistics is that Schutrumpf doesn't really know them. Schutrumpf's roommate, Sally Bernstein, BK '03, explains that basketball is so much a part of Schutrumpf's life that it's not about the statistics—she just loves to play the game. "It's not a part of her identity in the number of points she scores—It's something that makes her her," Bernstein explains. After she plays an amazing game, Schutrumpf will be the first one to return to her cozy Berkeley suite and rave about the success of all the other players on the team.

Schutrumpf's modesty has not inhibited her basketball career, which started in fifth grade. Schutrumpf recollects that she began playing because she was always tall for her age, and soon she began playing on her older sister's team. She loves basketball because it is physical, competitive, and challenging. As her game indicates, Schutrumpf truly feels at home on the court.

However, another home awaits her on Saturday nights. Schutrumpf cites Toad's Place as her "home away from home." Here she lets her craziness out and feels a little removed from the rest of the world. Schutrumpf is always up for a good time and loves to dance. The big question is, of course, how does Schutrumpf feel about the booty cam? "I am all about the booty cam," she admits.

Schutrumpf doesn't know what her future will hold, but she is not planning on pursuing professional basketball. Her ideal job would be with the television show Fashion Emergency, where she could "rescue people from their fashion woes."As for her own fashion sense—her Halloween Wonder Woman costume says it all. Photo by Rebecca Rosenthal.

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