|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Spotlight on Former Athlete: Anna Petrakova Women’s Basketball 2001-05 10/29/12Spotlight on Former Athlete: Anna Petrakova Women’s Basketball 2001-05 10/29/12 Petrakova among elite as Olympian
By Bruce Brown
Written for Athletic Network
August 31, 2012 Ragin’ Cajun basketball fans knew Anna Petrakova had talent.
From 2003-2005, they watched the Russian import blossom into one of the most versatile players in the history of the school’s women’s program.
When she was finished, she had scored 1,252 points, hit 48.6 percent of her shots and a school-record 76.6 percent of her free throws, had pulled down 774 rebounds and owned the career record for blocked shots with 188.
Just as importantly, she helped turn the program into a winner with a 22-9 senior season that ended with UL playing Middle Tennessee in the finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
But Cajun fans couldn’t know that was just the beginning.
Petrakova has played professionally since graduation with a number of teams in her homeland, and this summer she competed in the London Olympics as a member of the Russian women’s squad that barely missed earning a medal.
“We missed getting a medal twice,” Petrakova said in frustration. “We defeated Turkey in the quarterfinals, then should have beaten France in the semifinals to reach the gold medal game. There’s a lot of speculation why we lost that game.
“Then we played Australia for the bronze medal. They had a very big post presence, and that’s what we were lacking. We started young players at the post. We were lacking in height, and size also.
“I didn’t get much playing time in the medal games. We could have done better.”
While the on-the-court experience came up short, the Olympic experience was worth the four years of trying since Petrakova missed making the 2008 team for Beijing.
“It was disappointing, but the whole Olympic experience has been great,” she said. “People were cheering for their country, even those who hadn’t watched you before. Everybody has been very supportive. They say, ‘We still love you.’
“People were so happy for me because I stuck with it for 4 years.”
It was the experience of a lifetime in many ways.
“I thought there would be more free time,” Petrakova said, “but mostly we hung out in the Olympic village and ate at the cafeteria. We only went in to London twice. You need a whole day. It was great to see all the athletes, the living legends.
“I was amused. Every event was packed _ badminton, field hockey, London was so into it. The people were polite, sweet and happy to host.
“But it took so much out of you to get there, and you say ‘Is that all there is?’ We missed the opening ceremony because we had an early game the next day. You focus on the competition and miss all the fun, but the experience was still unbelievable, great.”
Petrakova said being on a national team on an international stage was special.
“The biggest thing is that you’re representing your country, and that’s so cool,” she said. “People chose you, and that’s a great responsibility. You felt their energy behind you. You don’t feel tired because you have that extra energy.
“It’s like playing for UL, only 10 times that. It was huge, powerful.”
The smooth-shooting forward admitted there were times when that adrenalin led to missed shots in the heat of competition, but she wouldn’t have traded it.
Petrakova survived a series of tension-filled tryout camps too make the team,, bouncing back from her 2008 attempts.
“They make cuts every two weeks, and you hope it’s not you,” she said. “Until the last moment you have no idea if you make it. In fact, three days before the final cut, there was an article that said I was cut. It was so frustrating for me. It was speculation, and it was intimidating.
“Then on July 17 _ elimination day _ we beat a semi-pro men’s team and I hit 9-of-10 shots and did really well. I don’t know if it was because of that game, but I made the team.
“I had mixed feelings because that meant somebody else got cut and we all know each other since we were little, but I had been trying to make the team for so long.
“I’ve grown more confident in my game. I think I’ve gotten better in every aspect. Now I’m not intimidated by the more experienced players.”
That confidence is symbolized by Petrakova’s ongoing efforts to play for better and better pro teams, and this year she was on a club that captured the Euro League crown.
“I like to challenge myself,” said Petrakova.
She’s come a long way from Earl K. Long Gym and her integral role in coach J. Kelley Hall’s program.
“When I graduated from UL, I thought I would come back home, play pro for 3 years, earn a little money and go back to school,” she said. “I even took a test for business school and applied for my master’s. Now, I’m not thinking about school so much.
“Now, I want to play as long as my health and my boyfriend (a basketball pro in Moscow) let me. I’ll stay focused on basketball while I can. For now, I’m looking at 3 or 4 more years, until I’m 31.
“It has gone better than I expected. I never thought I’d make the Olympic team and get to feel that power.”
Why not try for that feeling again? The 2016 Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an Petrakova may still be playing.
“That would be a great finish,” Petrakova said. “I’d always said that one of my goals was to visit Brazil one day. Now it seems like an approachable goal.”
Petrakova’s wide world still includes south Louisiana, from friends in Lafayette to her sister Marina and her family (two daughters and a son) in Baton Rouge, and she returns every year for visits.
“I’m thankful for what UL gave me, basketball-wise and people-wise,” she said. “My character and personality are due to UL. My American experience has helped me to communicate, to see a different approach. I have both a Russian and an American view on things.
“Coach Hall gave me so much confidence, and you had to believe it when people keep telling you.
“I re-charge on that American spirit. It’s my second home. I like America a lot.”
Bruce Brown
Written for Athletic Network
Bruce Brown lagolden83@aol.com
Please click here for Anna Petrakova’s Athletic Network Profile.  Pictured above in 2005, Anna and Bernette Tolston, Athletic Network Captains. Click here for the Basketball (W) photo gallery, then the 2002- 2005 years.
Click here for a photo of Anna and one of her Russian teammates at a 2011 visit to Prejean’s Restaurant in Carencro.
Click here for annoucement story of Anna making the Russian Olympic Team on July 18, 2012.
Click here for a September, 2012 story about Anna and the EuroLeague Women. Our rich athletic traditions were entrusted to the vision, hope, loyalty, and dedication of those former athletes and we will forever owe them a debt of sincere gratitude. May God bless each of them and their families.
Anyone with information, materials, pictures, memorabilia, etc., of the university’s former athletic program participants is requested to contact Ed Dugas at athleticnetwork@louisiana.edu Thank you.
The Photo Gallery Link located on the left side of the home page at www.athleticnetwork.net contains over 12,000 pictures of former and current athletes and support groups. Just click on photo gallery and when the menu appears, click on the sport or support group you wish to view. The years of pictures posted for that team or group will appear and you may click on the year you wish to view. One click on a thumbnail picture or narrative and it is enlarged; a click on the enlarged photo and it reverts back to the thumbnail. The Athletic Network seeks to post pictures of each team and support group for each year they represented the university. The stories of the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 honorees featured in the Spotlight on Former Athletes are still included in the News Page and may be viewed by clicking on "more news" at the bottom right of the News Box, scrolling down, clicking on the title of the story. Those spotlight features which are no longer shown in the News Page, have been moved to the Lagniappe Link of the "History of UL Athletics" located on the left side of the home page. The Spotlight on Former Athletes announcement has also been placed in the profile of each honoree, excluding the pictures. 2012 2011 2010 2009
Ed Dugas served as feature writer. January – Tim Thompson Men’s Basketball 1957-61. February – Gene Bacque Baseball 1956 & 57. March – Dr. Louis Bowers – Tennis 1956-58, Track 1955, Coaches 1964-66. April – Dr. Carter Lomax, Jr. Tennis 1974-76. May – Johnny Morris, Jr. Football 1927-29,Men’s Basketball 1927-30,Track & Field 1928-30, Golf 1927-28, Coaches 1947-49 . June – S.L.I.I. Athletic Pioneers I July – S.L.I.I. Athletic Pioneers II August – 1912 – A Special Year – First L’Acadien September – Glenn Davis Lafleur Football 1966-69 October – Bill Bass – Boxing 1938 & 39, Football 1938-40, Coach 1971-75 & 1983 November – Tom Nolan – Cross Country & Track & Field 1971-76, Coaches 1978-83 December – Military Personnel – Military Page posted 2008 2007 Peace, Ed Dugas
Ed Dugas, Research Coordinator (337)482-0999
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
