VILLANOVA, Pa.- Senior captain Shannon Drakeley seems to be again on her 4 years as a Wildcat and what she has added to the legacy her household has constructed at Villanova.
The West Chester native has been a Nova fan for so long as she will be able to bear in mind. She grew up attending Villanova basketball video games together with her household and had her coronary heart set on being a Wildcat from a younger age. Drakeley’s affinity for the college attracts from the legacy that her grandfather, Jim Huggard, had left when he suited up for the Wildcats from 1958 till 1961 on the boys’s basketball roster.
Huggard, or “Hug” as he was recognized on the time, performed a big function on the Villanova basketball workforce main the ‘Cats to 2 NIT (Nationwide Invitation Match) appearances and a number of robust profitable information. Huggard was named All-Massive 5 as a junior and senior, incomes the Most Beneficial Participant award as a senior captain, and nonetheless holds the Villanova document for single recreation assists (16). Huggard went on to play professionally within the previous Japanese League after he graduated and was inducted into the Massive 5 Corridor of Fame in 1978. He continued to be a proud Villanova alumnus and fan up till his passing in October of 2020, forsaking all of the love he had of the college to his kids and grandchildren.
Though Drakeley didn’t pursue the identical sport as Huggard, she continued the household legacy via discipline hockey. Drakeley’s mom, who performed discipline hockey, launched her to the game at a younger age. In the direction of the top of her highschool profession, she went via the standard recruiting course of and had curiosity from a number of completely different colleges, however as soon as head coach Joanie Milhous supplied Drakeley a spot on the workforce, it was a dream come true. Huggard was ecstatic when his granddaughter shared the excellent news with him and watched all of the video games on the livestream.
Even after Huggard handed on, Drakeley continued to really feel his presence and felt proud to hold on their connection via Villanova.
“I really like Villanova and every thing that it is about. I do know that each time that I am right here and step out onto the sphere and I am sporting Villanova throughout my chest, I really feel my grandfather with me,” stated Drakeley. “Though he is gone, I do know he is at all times with me and that he’s watching down on me and supporting me via every thing.”
Drakeley liked the thought of following in her grandfather’s footsteps and even wrote his jersey quantity “24” on her persist with have part of him together with her on the sphere, but it surely was her time create a legacy of her personal.
The captain has been an enormous contributor for the Wildcats on the defensive finish throughout her four-year profession showing in 40 video games at again, recording 24 begins, and tallying one profession defensive save. Drakeley has determined to proceed her journey as a Wildcat for a fifth 12 months and add on to her stellar athletic resume.
Wanting again on the season, Drakeley mirrored on the accomplishments she and the workforce had achieved.
“I am actually happy with our workforce general. It was an amazing season, an amazing profitable season, and I believe that we completely simply confirmed our core values and requirements and actually put forth the most effective effort each single day, recreation, observe, regardless of the scenario was,” stated Drakeley. “I really like the women and I really like this workforce. I believe it simply actually confirmed how shut we have been on the sphere.”
Drakeley earned spots on the BIG EAST All-Educational Group, NFHCA Nationwide Educational Squad, and has been a NFHCA Scholar of Distinction the final three years. Her teammates and coaches have recommended her laborious work, dedication, management, and powerful work ethic on and off the sphere. Drakeley is a real function mannequin for the student-athlete and takes her function on the sphere as severely as she does within the classroom. Drakeley might be graduating in Could of 2023 with a level in Finance in addition to having her pre-med necessities met.
The legacy that Drakeley has been constructing upon and desires to go away behind after her fifth-year stint are centered on what it takes to not solely be a robust participant however a robust well-rounded individual.
“I simply need to depart behind a legacy primarily based on the qualities that my grandfather instilled in me. A legacy that exhibits robust work ethic, willpower, and competitiveness each on and off the sphere,” stated Drakeley. “I need to depart these concepts behind and go them on to future generations as a result of these are issues that he instilled in me that make me who I’m.”
Coach Milhous expressed the superb work Drakeley has proven all through her collegiate profession making it clear she has already left a mark on this system and fulfilling the legacy she desires to go away behind.
“Shannon has been an inspiration to all these round her. She constantly offers 100% to every thing she does on and off the sphere,” stated Milhous. “Her nice angle and willpower are unwavering even when she battled via a concussion. We’re thrilled Shannon might be coming again for a further 12 months.”
As a fifth-year chief and future alumna, Drakeley desires to proceed to show the qualities she believes in and assist Villanova discipline hockey after her time on the sphere is thru. Drakeley touched on what it means for her to be a Wildcat and what her expertise at Villanova has meant to her.
“Being a Wildcat means every thing to me. My grandfather would at all times say as soon as a Wildcat, at all times a Wildcat. He took nice pleasure in that and I am excited that I am going to be capable of do the identical,” stated Drakeley. “I’ll undoubtedly be saying as soon as a Wildcat, at all times a Wildcat to everybody that I can. I am tremendous happy with my time right here and I am so grateful for the chance to have performed the final 4 years on such an amazing workforce. I am wanting ahead to at least one final season and to proceed to share this expertise with my grandfather.”