Caitlin Hunstock

By Shawna Carpentier
UWRF Sports Information

With her mother, father, brother and twin sister to pass their "family influence" on her, junior Caitlin Hunstock wasn't as much inspired as destined to be a basketball player.

Hunstock started playing basketball as a fourth grader watching her older brother Andrew play, and hearing about her mother Cheryl's days of playing college ball for West Chester University in Pennsylvania.  

As a student of Minneapolis South High School, Hunstock received four letters as a three-year starter. The former Tiger was named to the All-City team her sophomore, junior and senior years and was selected as captain her junior and senior years.   As a senior, Hunstock was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Player.  

Upon graduating from high school in 2004, Hunstock followed her mother's footsteps and attended West Chester University her freshman year. "I learned a lot about basketball and myself," says Hunstock about her experience as a Golden Ram.

Although her experience as a member of the West Chester University women's basketball team was positive, Hunstock decided to transfer to River Falls to be closer to home. Hunstock was reunited with her twin sister Meghan, who played her first year of collegiate basketball at North Park University in Chicago, Ill., as they became members of the Falcon women's basketball team during the 2005-2006 season.   

Hunstock says her decision to become a Falcon was influenced by the comfortable and positive nature of the team's coaches. The team's reputation did not hinder her decision either. "I knew the team was pretty good," admits Hunstock.

"I love shooting, passing, the whole aspect of the game," says Hunstock who emphasizes that basketball requires dedication. "It's time consuming and it takes a lot of commitment," expresses Hunstock.

According to Hunstock, staying focused and knowing what you want out of the sport are two mentalities that should be implemented in a young athlete.

Versatility describes Hunstock's role on the team. Although she mainly plays forward, Hunstock often fills in on the perimeter as a guard for the Falcons as needed.  

During the 2005-2006 season, Head Coach Cindy Hovet recognized Hunstock's vast improvement.   This season Hovet relies on Hunstock to perform in various positions to assist in the Falcons success as a competitive team.

As a veteran competitor, Hunstock prepares herself every time she plays with a phone call to her dad, Bill, who always wishes her luck. With support from her family Hunstock says, "I love competing."

Her love for competition helps Hunstock as she believes that defense is the hardest part of the game. "It takes the most work, time and effort," she says.

With a goal to graduate the spring of 2008 with at least a 3.5 grade point average, Hunstock doesn't always know how she manages her role as a student athlete. With her basketball calendars helping to keep her organized and her conscious effort to know what she has going on, she manages to get her work done.

It is her work that Hunstock is passionate about, or at least it is her advancement towards a degree in sociology and minor in criminal justice that Hunstock hopes will someday provide her with an opportunity to work with the FBI.

Inspiring her interest in crime was Hunstock's experience growing up in Minneapolis. "Growing up in the city and seeing people and friends do things I would never think of doing [made me] want to understand why," Hunstock expresses of her desire to help control crime. "I [just] want to understand why, I don't want to pass judgment off on people," she says.

Working for the FBI in a big city as Chicago or Philadelphia would be "my biggest accomplishment," says Hunstock. Hunstock would like to emphasis her work on history in law enforcement.  

Until then, Hunstock would like to see a change in the promotion and support of Falcon women's basketball. "Women's sports aren't as popular as men's; if people come to our games and see we are talented, it will help our team and women's sports," comments Hunstock.