A little inspiration from her mom, and a lot of work on the court has helped St. Ambrose senior, Samantha Saladino accomplish many feats during her final season on the Queen Bees basketball team.
This is only Saladino’s second year playing basketball at the collegiate level, but you would never guess that when looking at her statistics. In her conference she averages 16.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Saladino also does well under pressure, and is shooting 86 percent when at the free-throw line.
In the Midwest Collegiate Conference, Saladino is ranked 2nd in field goal percentage, 3rd in rebounding, and 6th in scoring. Saladino’s skills on the court have largely contributed to the SAU women’s basketball team’s success this year. The teams overall record is 23-6, but their season is not over yet.
On Sunday, Feb. 24, the team played William Penn in the MCC semifinals. After defeating the Lady Statesmen, 77 to 66, the Queen Bees will head to the conference championship where they will play against Grand View.
This has been a year of great accomplishments for Saladino, although her strength was not only put to test on the court. Her mom, Joy, who has always been an inspiration to her, was diagnosed with kidney cancer one year ago. Joy had an operation to have her kidney removed, and since then she has been cancer-free.
“Seeing the struggles she went through with cancer and how hard she has fought really inspired me to play every game like it was my last,” Saladino said.
Saladino’s mom has always been a big supporter of her and her sisters, and is always there to support Saladino at all of her many athletic events. On Saturday, Feb. 9, the SAU basketball teams hosted a “Pink Out” to benefit cancer research. At the women’s game, against Iowa Wesleyan, Joy Saladino was made an honorary coach and honored before the game.
After graduation in May, Saladino plans to find a job in coaching at the college level for either a basketball of softball team. She would also enjoy being a strength and condition coach at the college level. Considering all of the success she’s had, it is no surprise that Saladino hopes to continue her career in college athletics post-graduation.
In addition to being a star on the basketball court, Saladino has also been playing collegiate level softball for three years. She is one of five girls, and is the only one of her four sisters to play two sports at the collegiate level.
It is hard to believe that she even has spare time, but when she does, Saladino says she enjoys hunting.