In 2022, 海角视频 student Camryn Bonner graduated from Park Center Senior High School in Brooklyn Park, MN. Not long after, she began her college education鈥攁nd started playing college basketball, continuing her lifelong passion for the sport.
鈥淚鈥檝e been playing basketball since I was in second grade鈥攁fter my dance classes, my dad had me dribble the ball. Then he signed me up for basketball one year, and I鈥檝e been playing ever since,鈥� she said.
However, Camryn did not start her college education at Bay, and she soon found that her first college was a poor fit.
鈥淚 just didn鈥檛 like their basketball program at all, and I wanted to find somewhere else to play,鈥� she said.
At the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester, Camryn transferred to Bay to pursue that goal. She said her experience as a Bay student has been a significant improvement over her first year of college.
鈥淚 really like it here. I get a lot of help from my teachers and the staff here鈥攖hey鈥檙e very friendly,鈥� she said.
During the 2023 - 2024 season, Camryn was a member of the women鈥檚 basketball team, previously coached by Todd Ciochetto. While the team鈥檚 season got off to a slow start, things eventually turned around to the point where the Norse was the .
鈥淎t first, it wasn鈥檛 that good鈥攂ut as our team started gelling and practicing more, it got way better,鈥� she said.
According to Camryn, Todd鈥檚 coaching has played a significant role in the team鈥檚 success.
鈥淐oach Todd really pushes us to be the best we can be,鈥� she said.
She also noted that he pays attention to the well-being of his team members.
鈥淗e really looks out for everybody on the team, and we all look out for each other,鈥� Camryn said.
Along with her experience on Bay鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team (now currently coached by James Fasset), Camryn recently started playing another sport for the 海角视频 Norse鈥攕oftball.
鈥淭hey really just needed more softball players, and Coach Todd asked if I wanted to help out,鈥� she said.
Though she has not had much experience playing softball in the past, Camryn has enjoyed her time as a softball player so far.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 learning a lot about softball,鈥� she said, adding that the team has been 鈥渧ery welcoming鈥� to her. The Women's Softball team is currently coached by John Garris.
Meanwhile, Camryn has been busy pursuing a liberal arts degree at Bay. She said a biology course she took recently has been one of her favorite classes.
鈥淚 just really liked how my teacher taught it鈥擨 felt like I could really understand everything,鈥� she said.
In addition to her studies and athletics, Camryn has found a job at Bay. During the Winter 2024 Semester, she was a student worker at the college鈥檚 Student Accounts Office.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 been going good. So far, I鈥檝e learned how to take payments, sell tickets, and deposit checks,鈥� she said.
During the 2024-2025 Academic Year, Camryn plans to complete her studies at Bay.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to come back and finish my associate degree in liberal arts. I鈥檒l also be an assistant women鈥檚 basketball coach and play softball here next year,鈥� she said.
Camryn then aims to transfer to another college鈥攊deally Florida A&M University, which she described as her 鈥渄ream school.鈥� She is also actively weighing potential career pathways.
鈥淚鈥檝e been going between being a coach, starting my own business, or becoming a defense lawyer. I鈥檓 still undecided, career-wise,鈥� she said.
But first, Camryn said she is looking forward to another year as a Bay student.
鈥淚鈥檝e liked meeting the people that I鈥檝e met here so far, and I鈥檓 looking forward to who I meet next year,鈥� she said.