It鈥檚 official
Lady Gators鈥� Larkin signs to continue hoops career at Belmont Abbey
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. 鈥� When Emma Larkin announced her decision on social media that she will continue her academic and basketball careers at Division II Belmont Abbey College, the Geibel Catholic senior did so wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but when she signed on the dotted line Wednesday morning in 鈥淭he Swamp鈥� on the campus of Geibel Junior/Senior High School, Larkin proudly wore a 鈥淏elmont Abbey Basketball鈥� hoodie.
Larkin picked the private Catholic liberal arts college in Belmont, N.C., a small city located 12 miles west of Charlotte, on Aug. 20, but made her commitment official on a chilly morning just 16 days from the Lady Gators鈥� opener.
鈥淚t is a relief to get it over with and focus on starting the basketball season,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淚 have always loved basketball, and it has always been my favorite sport, but some can argue and say that basketball is not my best sport because I am very good at track.
鈥淚 kind of flipped back and forth between track and basketball, but ultimately it came down to what I love, and I love basketball, so that is why I chose to continue my basketball career in college.鈥�
Larkin placed seventh in the state in the girls 400-meter dash and 300 hurdles this past spring in the PIAA Class 2A Track & Field Championships. She is also a four-time state qualifier in cross country.
Larkin was joined by her Geibel teammates, her mother and head basketball coach Sara; her father Russel; Geibel assistant basketball coach Cassie Fisher; Larkin鈥檚 personal trainer Mitch Martin; Geibel principal Robert Fetter; and Geibel athletic director Chris Teagarden.
Martin has worked with Larkin since she was in elementary school, and the Cheat Lake, W.Va., resident was proud to witness one of his pupils commit to playing basketball at the next level.
鈥淓mma has been working with me since she was in the fourth grade,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淗er mom and dad got in touch with me about working with her, and she has been with me ever since. My experience with her has been like raising one of my other daughters.鈥�
Martin owns and operates, 鈥淏ody by Mitch,鈥� where he works with athletes who are looking to take the next step in their sport. Most of his clients are from word of mouth.
Martin, who grew up in Baltimore, Md., played college basketball at Fairmont State before settling in the Cheat Lake/Morgantown area.
鈥淓mma has wanted this accomplishment since she was young, and I am glad I was part of the process,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淲e are looking for big things from her. I was here when she scored her 1,000th-career point, and I will be her when she gets her 2,000th-career point.鈥�
The Crusaders compete in Division II of the NCAA and won the Conference Carolinas Tournament last season to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Belmont lost to No. 2 seed Coker in the first round of the tournament to finish its season at 25-6 under head coach Kim Lusk.
Larkin has played at every position in high school with the exception of power forward and center, and the 5-foot-4 inch believes she will follow that trend down south.
鈥淚 think I am going to play a swing position in college,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淚 will go wherever they need me, but I won鈥檛 be playing the four or five. I am 5-4, but I don鈥檛 think I play like I鈥檓 5-4.
鈥淚 get rebounds, I like getting scrappy and trying to play as big as I possibly can. I think I can play 1-2-3 at the next level.鈥�
Larkin enters this season with 1,909 career points, which is second on the Lady Gators鈥� all-time scoring list behind Shelley Bortz, who dropped 1,977.
鈥淚 always dreamed of scoring 1,000, but I never thought I would be anywhere close to 2,000 points,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淚t is exciting but I just try to focus on the next game.鈥�
Larkin is aware of the record, but her aspirations are to help her team reach the WPIAL Class A final and bring an eighth district championship to the program.
鈥淚 want a WPIAL championship,鈥� Larkin said. 鈥淚 would take that over any scoring record. If I score two points a game, but that still gets me a WPIAL championship, I will take that any day. As a team, we are not satisfied until we win a championship. I have great teammates, and they help me so much.鈥�