November Halftime Report - Yasmene Clark '23

When Yasmene Clark ’23 fell during a September AAU basketball game in 2020, she recalls feeling a little unstable getting up, but didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until the doctor confirmed it a couple days later that she knew – she had torn her ACL, an injury that typically sidelines athletes for an average of 8-9 months. While Yasmene was able to come back in just seven months, she was forced to miss her sophomore year golf and basketball seasons. That year was emotionally draining, but she believes it was also instrumental in developing her into a better leader as the lone senior on the Varsity Girls Golf team and the lone returning starter on the Varsity Girls Basketball team.

 

Like many athletes, Yasmene tried almost every sport possible when she was younger, but golf and basketball were the two that she decided to pursue in the end. Her dad introduced her to basketball and her grandfather introduced her to golf, and she took to them both right away. These two games are extremely different in skill and atmosphere, but she believes each sport has made her that much better at the other. With basketball, she loves the “thrill” of competition that is present in every moment, whether trying to score on one end or stop someone on the other. Golf is a lot more peaceful but can be extremely isolating due to the individualized nature of the sport, competing against yourself, and the course. Yasmene shares that while golf is often frustrating, it prepares her well for the “mental tenacity of basketball.”

 

Much of Yasmene’s time revolves around practices, games, and training, so when she was injured, it was hard to have so much free time and not be able to do the things she loved the most. In the beginning, she recalls being extremely “down” on herself, but some advice from an old teammate helped give her some perspective. Lawren Cook ’18 is an old family friend and played for the same AAU organization as Yasmene. She had come back from a similar injury in high school and served as a huge source of support for Yasmene, checking in on her regularly and encouraging her to stay involved with her teams and learn to lead from the sidelines. Yasmene took Lawren’s advice to heart and worked hard to be present for her teammates while also working hard in physical therapy to get back as soon as possible. Yasmene credits those seven months away from her two sports with developing her into the leader she is today.

 

As the only senior on the golf team this fall, Yasmene cherished the opportunity to pour into the younger players and set a good example as a player and a teammate. She wanted to emphasize the importance of “finding your own way of success” and encouraged her teammates to not fall into the trap of comparison. With such an individualized sport, she wanted them to understand that their goal should be “being the best version of yourself, not necessarily the best player on the team.” The team finished 4^th overall at the State Championship, and Yasmene finished 6^th individually, making All-State.

 

Varsity Girls Golf Head Coach (and current Upper School Math Teacher), Dan Wilkie, recalls arriving at CCES the same year Yasmene transferred from St. Mary’s. He immediately knew she would be a special player and leader for the program. While Coach Wilkie is quick to highlight all of Yasmene’s many accomplishments on the course, he believes some of her most lasting impact will be how she led by example. He calls Yasmene “a golfer who listened, asked for, and accepted help; a teammate who cared for the other golfers on the team; and a leader who showed her team how to be successful and treat others with kindness and respect.”

 

The transition from golf to basketball is quick, but Yasmene is excited to be back in the gym as the defending state champs prepare for their upcoming season. Winning the title last year is a memory she will cherish forever. In addition to winning state, Yasmene was named All-Region, All-County, and All-State. The All-State nomination was last minute – her name was not initially included, but after seeing her dominant performance in the state championship game, the committee changed the list to add her. That’s certainly a theme with Yasmene. Those who know her describe her as competitive and confident, but also extremely humble, someone who always works hard and just lets her game speak for itself.

 

Yasmene describes last year’s championship team as one that worked together and was very intentional about building chemistry on and off the court, and she hopes to instill those same values into this year’s team. She is excited to see this team come together and believes they can definitely compete to defend their title.

 

Girls Basketball Head Coach, Ja’Net Vicks, has always appreciated Yasmene’s ability to be both a competitor who “excels on the basketball court” and a leader who “makes everyone feel seen and appreciated” – qualities all leaders should have. Coach Vicks watched Yasmene battle through the injury that kept her off the court for an entire season, but says: “when she [Yasmene] was faced with adversity, she was able to see the bigger picture and rally her teammates to be the best that they can be.”

 

Yasmene has big goals when it comes to both her sports. She recently committed to playing basketball at New York University, where she plans to pursue a degree in engineering. After college, she hopes to play on the amateur golf circuit before continuing into her career. While she’ll soon be competing for a different team, dressed in a different color uniform, she has one last season as a Cavalier, leading by example and letting her game speak for itself.