There isn't a whole lot that could have gone better for Durfee senior girls' basketball player Shaelyn Carreiro this season.

Mike Thomas Herald News Sports Editor

There isn't a whole lot that could have gone better for Durfee senior girls' basketball player Shaelyn Carreiro this season. Not only did her team qualify for the postseason tournament, Carreiro had a couple of impressive personal milestones as she collected the 1,000th point of her career and then capped her season by winning the prestigious Dave Cowens Achievement Award.

A three-sport athlete at Durfee, Carreiro also was an all-star goalie on the soccer team, and is a member of the track & field team. Carreiro will be continuing her basketball career next season at UMass Dartmouth.

The Herald News caught up with Carreiro and asked her a few questions to get to know her a little better.

 

HN: What person, living or dead, do you admire most and why?

 

SC: I admire my grandmother, Lynn Howard, the most, because she is one of the most selfless, kind-hearted, and hard working people I know. She is the heart of our family.

 

HN: Who is your favorite professional athlete and why?

 

SC: Probably Tom Brady, because he has a great work ethic, and worked hard to get to where he is now.

 

HN: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

 

SC: In ten years, I hope to have my Master’s Degree in Science of Nursing, and hopefully be working as a Nurse Anesthetist in a hospital.

 

HN: What has been your biggest moment as a high school athlete?

 

SC: Scoring 1,000 points this year on my basketball team was the biggest personal moment for me as a high school athlete.

 

HN: What other sports do you play?

 

SC: At Durfee, I have played on the girls varsity soccer team and girls varsity basketball team for the past four years, and I have also joined varsity track and tield this spring season.

 

HN: What is your favorite subject in school and why?

 

SC: I love math, mainly because I am always challenged in math, and I feel like there is always something new to learn.

 

HN: When not playing high school sports, how do you spend your time?

 

SC: Lately, any free time I have is spent filling out scholarships for college. However, if I have no scholarships to fill out, I will either be playing basketball, working out at the gym, reading at the beach, or working.

 

HN: What is your favorite professional sports team and why?

 

SC: The Boston Celtics, because ever since the first Celtics game my dad took me to I have enjoyed the atmosphere of TD Garden, and loved watching them play. The very first game he took me to was on my birthday in 2013, where the Celtics played the Heat, who had just come off a previous NBA Championship. They won in double overtime, when Paul Pierce hit a jumper to win it by two, and Rajon Rondo had just found out he wouldn’t be finishing the rest of the season from his knee injury. The high competitive level they played was an example of how I wanted to play when I got older.

 

HN: If you won a million dollars what would be your first purchase?

 

SC: I would pay for my college education first.

 

HN: What is the biggest lesson you have learned from sports?

 

SC: Teamwork makes the dream work. I have learned from all the teams I have been on, that there is no I in team, and that to win games, and have fun, you must learn to be a great teammate, and play as a team. Having a strong bond with your team is important, because closer teams will most likely work harder to win for each other, rather than one person working hard to win, while the others do not care as much for the outcome.

 

HN: Favorite musician?

 

SC: Bruno Mars, because I have consistently listened to his music since middle school.

 

HN: Do you have any superstitions you use when playing a sport?

 

SC: Yes, I tend to get really nervous before games so when my coach is going over game situations and the team we are playing against, I will usually sit on the floor and stretch to calm my nerves. It helps me to focus, and get loose for our game.

 

HN: If you were principal of your school, what one change would you make?

 

SC: If I were the principal, I would probably put escalators in Durfee, because walking up three flights of stairs often throughout the day becomes very tiring.

 

HN: What do you hope people say about you when your playing days are over?

 

SC: I hope when my playing days are over, that people say I was one of the hardest working players they watched. I always have pride in myself for my work ethic, because when I want something there is nothing stopping me from going after it.

 

HN: Tell us something most people don’t know about you?

 

SC: I have an addiction to avocados. I think it’s a pretty good addiction to have.

 

Throughout the year, The Herald News will be spotlighting local athletes, coaches and athletic directors. If you are a local athlete and would like to participate or know one who you feel should be in the spotlight, send us an email at sports@heraldnews.com.