Senior Standout Reaches 1,000 Point Milestone

When Kelsey Oddis isn’t putting the final touches on her Psychology major or breaking the Pitt-Greensburg cross-country team 6K record with a 25:09 time, the senior is spending much of her time on the basketball court. She recently hit the 1,000-point career mark on Jan. 10 in a 62-48 win over La Roche at the Bobcat.

“It was pretty cool that all of the hard work pays off, but it was just another basketball game,” said Oddis.

“It speaks to her work ethic and abilities, but it also inspires her teammates and has them dreaming at another level,” said Coach Hayley Schaetzle, who is in her first full season as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Pitt-Greensburg. “It shows where Pitt-Greensburg Women’s Basketball is heading. The impact she will leave will go far beyond the 1,000 points she scored.”

Oddis started playing basketball at a young age. Her hard work and dedication both on and off the court propelled her to become a four-year letter-winner at Burrell High School to her current status of AMCC Academic All-Conference in her first three seasons at Pitt-Greensburg.

“I’ve always liked to be active,” said Oddis. “When I was young, I picked any sport I could, and it just happened to be that I was decent at basketball so I kept with it. I always like to work hard at things. It also keeps me in shape.”

That discipline has led Kelsey to many career and team highs. She credits Coach Schaetzle for many of those attributes.

“She’s a motivator and pushes you to be your best,” Oddis said of her coach. “She always has your back and you can talk to her about anything. She’s more than a coach to us. She’s pretty much family.”

Oddis plans to stay involved with basketball in the future, whether volunteering at Pitt-Greensburg or eventually coaching. Her playing days may be coming to an end, but Oddis has high hopes for her teammates.

“We have a great group here, and we have grown so much as a team,” Oddis said. “They are all very talented, and I know they will continue to work hard and trust each other.”

According to Coach Schaetzle, it will be very difficult to replace the leadership qualities of Oddis, but she is very encouraged about the lasting effects Oddis leaves behind on the others.

“They will be coming in as sophomores definitely playing like juniors next year, and that’s a direct result of Kelsey’s efforts and what she put into this program,” Coach Schaetzle said of her returning roster. “Her legacy will definitely continue on through these young ladies with the way she’s become a great friend and teammate to them.”

Photo via pittgreensburgathletics.com