October 13,1980 Atlantic Christian College Number 8 Wilson, N.C.-Being first comes natural to Cathy Wall. She was the first female basketball player from Atlantic Christian to score 1,700 points in her career, finishing with a four-year total of 1,727 points. She was the first basketball player of either sex from Atlanti Christian, and in fact the first AC athlete from any sport to have his or her number retired. She led Atlantic Christian to the Carolinas Conference basket ball tournament title in the winter of 1980, the first basket ball title of any kind for Atlantic Christian in 25 years. Wall was the MVP in that tournament, which marked the first time High Point ever been denied the conference championship in the ClAC in basketball, women's tennis, or women’s volleyball. Now Wall, Class of ’80, has become the first AC player, male or female, to sign a professional contract. A 5-7, 135 pound guard, Wall has been signed by the Tampa Bay Sun of the Women’s Basketball League and she’ll report in early Novem ber. Wall is spending the month of October in Wilson, mostly work ing into what she says is the top physical condition of her life. She’s staying with a long-time friend and coach of four years at AC* Carole McKeel. Aside from her obvious physical attributes such as speed, quickness and a fine shooting touch. Wall also has a long list of positive intangibles to her credit. She is a team player, she is a winner, and she has a tremendous attitude. A 1976 graduate of Richmond County High School in Rocking ham, Wall is actually from Ellerbe where her mother, Mrs. Odelia Wall, still resides. The Cathy Wall story is one which has been told and retold in the Wilson area and more specifically the Atlantic Christ ian community, for it is a story of success and personal triumph which seldom occurs. Wall was encouraged to at tend Atlantic Christian by then men’s assistant basketball coach Bryan Chalk, a Rocking ham native and former East- West All-Star player. “If it hadn’t been for coach Chalk I don’t think 1 would have CotLe^c. played basketball after high school.” said Wall. "I love it here and I'm glad to have this extra month to stay in Wilson and be around the school. I'll be leaving a lot behind when I go.” Wall, with 117 assists and 248 steals over the final two years of her college career, was signed by Tampy only two days after a tryout camp this fall. She was told that she would be notified in two weeks if she had made the team. That was on a Tuesday. Wall returned home on a Wednesday and was called on Thursday with the good news. “When he called I was shocked, but also thrilled,” says Wall. "I tried out with the Dallas Diamonds (Dallas has already signed Nancy Leiber- man of Old Dominion, Two-time women’s Player of the Year) and the coach told me he thought 1 had potential. “He gave me the names of two coaches, one in Omaha and one in Tampa. I called Tampy since it was closer and went down for two days of tryouts at the Air Force base down there. I really like the city, from what I hear tis a sports town, and I’m looking forward to going down there. "I feel like my chanccs are good, but there’s something way back in amy mind telling me not to get too up. I’m going in with a positive attitude and no matter what happens 1 feel like this will be a good experience for me. It already has been, and I’ve already met a lot of people I wouldn't have met otherwise.” Women's basketball, on the professional level, is fighting a battle of its own. and Wall is aware of that fact. But she says there is no way for her to keep a positive attitude and do her best if she wastes time worrying about the league as a whole. “I can’t worry about that, I've just got to play my best and if the league doesn’t make it then I will still have gotten a lot out of it." Wall plans to attend graduate school and get her Master's degree in Health and Physical Education, which was her major in college. After grad school she'll either be playing pro ball, working in recreation, teaching, coaching, or some combination of the latter three. “I would really like to coach on a college level, but I would also like to work with the younger kids. I think I would like teaching and coaching on the college level better, but all of that will come later. I'm not really sure what I will be doing. Someone said after the season they would help us find jobs in the Tampa area if we wanted to stay, so I'm really not sure.” McKeel says she is encour aged about Wall's professional chances for a number of rea sons. "She’s really turning it out right now. she’s working out hard and playing better than she has ever played. I wish I had her for one more year, we’d take the world on. I think the fact that they called her so soon after the tryout camp is a good indication. They didn’t take long to decide they wanted her.” SCHOLARSHIP mvmi} The Scholarship Bank up dates records daily to assure that students are receiving only the most current and valid information. Cost of the service is $35, with a smaller “econ omy” package of 15 aid sources being available for $25. Each student is guaranteed at least $100 in aid or his or her service fee is refunded. Students or parents desiring further information should con tact The Scholarship Bank, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 750, Los Angeles, CA. 90067, and enclose a business-size stamped self-addressed envel ope, or call toll-free d800-327- 9191 ext.397. It was announced today that high school and college students are receiving an average of $17,000 each in possible finan cial aid sources from The Schol- T£41