Shayli Florine- Finishing Up College

Shayli Florine had a great high school career. No one was better in the low post. Vs. Richwoods in the Sectionals, she dominated a good post player inside. Time after time, we took the ball to the wing so they fronted her. Then the ball went to the high post, she sealed the defense, got the feed and made a nice, soft little hook shot going into the lane. By the time they recognized they had to give her more attention than just one defender, the game was over. This was the story of her varsity career.

Shayli wasn't just tall, she REALLY worked to develop her game. She had a good junior season. When she came back as a senior, you looked at her and said,"Wow, she is a lot better!" She invested time into her game, and it showed.

It seems like just yesterday that she was playing as a Streak. But four years have gone by, and Shayli is getting ready to graduate from McKendree. She had a great college experience, and is headed off to grad school with big things ahead of her.

Four years of college have gone by fast. What were the toughest adjustments as a college student? 

For me, one of the toughest adjustments at first was just being away from family.  Family has always been a top priority, so going from seeing them every day maybe once a month or more (depending on basketball games) was very tough for me at first.  I eventually got used to it and I think it helped me grow and become more independent. 

What was your major at McKendree?

Sport Management.

You have been able to have some terrific internships, could you describe some of the experiences you have had?

My internship  in Guest Services with the St. Louis Blues my junior year is still one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.  I worked many hockey games as well as some pretty awesome concerts. It was tough at times to balance school, basketball, and an internship in the city but it was so worth it.  I learned so much about hockey and event management and met so many amazing people in the sport industry. I even had the opportunity to work at and attend a Stanley Cup Final game which is something I will never forget.  In August of my senior year I started working in Community Relations with the St. Louis Cardinals which has been an awesome experience. Both jobs have given me the opportunity to serve not only fans but the employees that I work with which has been incredibly valuable.  I’m forever thankful for the experiences I’ve had being so close to St. Louis.

What are your options for next year?

I have been accepted to a couple of Big Ten schools to pursue a degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs.  Nothing is set in stone yet, as I’m still working some things out but hoping to have a plan in the next few weeks. There’s lots of variables with the grad school process but I’m confident everything will fall into place!

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to be an Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development at a University.  I am passionate about helping athletes be the best they can be on and off their field of play. 

What was your favorite class in high school? Why?

Honors American Studies.  I had so much fun doing projects for this class and by the end of the year the whole class just felt like one big family. 

What was your favorite class in college? Why?

My junior year, McKendree offered a class called Special Topics: College Athletics.  This class solidified my interest in working in college sports and gave me the opportunity to focus research on my own areas of interest within that field. 

You had a great high school basketball career. What are some of your favorite memories from high school basketball?

The Mattoon Christmas tournament was always so much fun, especially winning it three years in a row.  Also, winning a regional championship my senior year at Dunlap alongside some of my best friends is a moment that will always hold a special place in my heart. 

In college you started some and but came off the bench more. You had a good career at McKendree, where you averaged about 15 minutes per game and 6-7 points per game. It is not easy to go from being a star throughout junior high and high school then play regularly in college but not be the star. I think it says a lot about you that everytime I have talked to you, you have seemed enthusiastic about your team and your role. Was the transition challenging? What made your experience rewarding?

The transition was incredibly tough for me, but I am honestly so thankful to have faced such a challenge because my time at McKendree adjusting to a variety of different roles has taught me so much.  I learned what it means to fully accept my role while still working each day to challenge myself and my teammates. I learned to take pride in things other than scoring and being the star, like working hard in the weight room, and bringing energy to my team every workout, practice and game.  My experience was so rewarding because of the culture/relationships myself and my teammates created and the way we all helped each other grow along the way. Even though my college career ended up different than I pictured going into it, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

How is college basketball different from high school basketball?

Everyone you face in college was the star on their high school team and you can’t take breaks on either end of the floor at any time.  The physicality in college is far above that of high school as well. In high school I was often the tallest and by default stronger than most of the girls I was playing against.  When I got to college, playing against girls my size became a lot more common and I had to put a lot more focus into weight training. 

Based on your high school  experiences and your college experiences, what advice would you give to someone who will be playing for the Streaks next year?

 My advice would be to embrace every challenge you  face because the sooner you understand that adversity can only make you stronger, the more successful you will be on and off the court.

Last question for you- If you could invite three famous or not so famous people (living or dead) for supper- who would you invite?

Pat Summit, Kobe Bryant,  and Katie Nolan