Katie Estey puts her heart into basketball at Carroll
The basketball is back in Katie Estey’s hands, and she couldn’t be more grateful – for family, teammates and second chances.
A year ago, the point guard from Central Valley began a junior season at Carroll College that seemed full of promise – until, quite literally, her heart wasn’t in the game.
In November of 2014, Estey found herself gasping during wind sprints and was slow to recover from drills. She pushed through the fatigue and light-headedness, and went to bed that night without a second thought.
That night she could barely breathe. At 2 a.m., she went to urgent care in Helena, where tests revealed a high white blood cell count. Estey was sent to St. Peter’s hospital, where an EKG revealed the bad news: pericarditis, or the swelling and irritation of the thin membranes around the heart.
The inflammation meant that heart can’t pump normally. Worse, doctors couldn’t rule out the possibility of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can cause sudden death.
While she waited for answers, the season went on without her. With her family back in Spokane and her teammates on the road, Estey spent Thankgiving alone in Helena, pondering a future that might not include basketball.
“It was pretty difficult, not knowing,” Estey said.
After three weeks of waiting, Estey got good news from a heart specialist: she has a type of pericarditis that’s treatable. Her condition was aggravated by a stomach disease coupled with the demands of school and athletics.
“It was hard to watch her go through that,” Carroll coach Rachelle Sayers said. “It was scary, with all of the unknowns.”
Estey persevered. With medicine, a better diet and proper rest, she was back on the court in January before fate intervened again. Torn ligaments in her foot sidelined her for the Frontier Conference tournament, though she did return for the national tournament.
This fall, Estey returned better than ever. The Fighting Saints are 11-1 – one of the best starts in school history – and she’s a big reason why. Estey averages 9.8 points and 3.5 assists while running the offense.
Said Sayers, “Her leadership is the main reason that we’re 11-1 right now. She’s a great leader and she’s inspired her teammates to get better.”
Of course it was her teammates who helped Estey get better and regain her health. Last year, Sayers made sure that her players kept an eye on her Estey, who wasn’t the type to slow her intensity.
“She’s not the kind of kid who’s going to take herself out of a drill,” Sayers said.
With the new season under way, Estey has a healthy attitude about what matters most.
“I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such good athletes and friends,” she said.
Vandals face big road test
Off to one of the best starts in school history, Idaho faces its toughest game of the year this week.
The Vandals (7-1) are at Texas Tech on Wednesday, then play Saturday at seventh-ranked Oregon State.
The Vandals are 2-1 away from Moscow this season, playing three neutral site games in Cancun, Mexico.
Idaho’s 7-1 record is its best start since the 2003-04 team opened 12-1. Idaho continues to receive votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls. The last time the Vandals were ranked was in 1986.
Eagles fly south
Eastern Washington goes on the road for two games, taking on Cal State Fullerton on Sunday and Wichita State on Tuesday.
The Eagles (4-4) are coming off a 68-64 win over Utah Valley, as junior Ashli Payne recorded her first double-double of the year with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Fullerton currently is 2-7 and is coming off an 86-41 loss to Montana. Wichita State is 1-5.
Valley earns player of week
Montana junior forward Katie Valley (University High) is the Big Sky Conference player of the week after her 20-point effort against Cal State Fullerton last Sunday.
Valley is second in teh Big Sky in scoring (16.1 per game) and sixth in shooting percentage (.533).