Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / April 24, 2013, edition 1 / Page 9
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iffar SPORTS rittany Gwyn fights injuries, finds acceptance as gay athlete Like the No. 1 WNBA pick, Gwyn focuses on game Maayan Schechter mschecht@unca.edu - t chnt ;iaainst Charelston Southern on Jan. 9,2012. ittany Gwyn goes up for a shot g Photo by Dustin Stuart- Contributing Photographer Opinion Editor UNC Asheville women’s basketball player Brittany Gwynn broke her jaw and tore both ACLs as a gay col lege athlete. Gwyn, a sociology stu dent and 5-foot-7-inch guard, from Raleigh who moved to High Point, found a passion for basketball when she was nine years old in a recreational league as a way to kill time. It was not until eighth grade when she found a passion for playing and seriously considered the thought of playing for the rest of her life, or until she could no longer play she said. However, bigger problems arose. “I had problems at home with my parents and then, getting in trouble at school with my teacher, not go ing to class and skipping school,” Gwyn said. Gywn considered the mil itary as a serious option for her future and even spoke to a recruiter. But decided in the end, the military was not for her, mainly because she was ineligible due to poor grades in school. Gywn had to sit out her junior year, and played about 10 or 12 games her senior year. “Then, by the grace of God. UNC A looked at me and gave me a scholarship,” Gwyn said. “And that’s re ally the journey of it.” But obstacles followed Gwyn to UNC A. During her freshman year, Gwyn missed the first six games of the season after a teammate elbowed her in the mouth during a regular practice. She played for 10 games and started nine of them, but then tore her ACL in her left knee in a game against Winthrop. After recovering from two major injuries, Gwyn tore her ACL in her right knee She points to the scar show ing how fresh the injury stil looks. The sophomore in college who has already sufferer three major injuries is alsc in a four year relationshif with another woman, anc does not really care whethei or not anyone has a problerr with it. “Injury is a more difficul obstacle to get over thai people accepting my sexu ality,” Gwyn said. “Havin two repaired knees in les than a year really gets to me mentally and physically ane just has a toll on me emo tionally that’s harder for me to get over.” Gwyn’s casual demeanoi about her sexuality ma> seem odd, especially whet the average person migh think coming out, not onl) to parents and friends, bu an entire team^ may a huge emotional toll on take person. But Gwyn’s sexuality has no iniluence on her game Being gay did not influence whether or not she averagec 8.5 points and 3.5 rebound per game, and overall, wil: likely not effect whether oi not Gwyn decides to con tinue a future in basketbal beyond college or take up i career working for a homi cide department, similar tc CSI or SVU. If being gay does not faze WNBA No. 1 draft pick Brittney Griner, then why should it faze Gywn? In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Griner casually mentioned her sex uality when the interviewer questioned her about how much someone in the lime light should pay attention to negative comments on social media or message boards. see GWYN on page 11
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