EFFINGHAM — The moment a basketball player takes off their sneakers for the last time is always a heartbreaking moment.
For Carsyn Fearday, when it was all said and done this past season at Maryville University, she left the court feeling more grateful than anything.
The former Effingham standout said the game left her with a plethora of knowledge from her coaches that she will take with her for the rest of her life.
“They’ve taught me life lessons: how to win in every aspect of life and how to be a great human being,” Fearday said. “I was blessed with great coaches throughout my career who have taught me that life’s a lot more than just playing a basketball game. I know that that’s going to help me down the road in every aspect of my life, whether that’s my family or my future job.”
Fearday learned under current EHS head coach Jeff Schafer for four years and then under Lake Land College coach Dave Johnson for one before transferring to Maryville, where she has spent the past four years.
Over that time, Fearday has been one of the focal points of every team. Each coach trusting her to lead on both sides of the court.
This past season at Maryville was a particularly memorable one for her, though.
Not only was it the last, but arguably the best.
Fearday averaged 14.9 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting (31.3 percent from 3-point range).
In Fearday’s last regular season home game, she set the school record with 40 points.
And her team defeated Drury University for the first time in 18 tries.
“We played Drury earlier in the year and they guarded me differently,” Fearday said. “They sat back in the paint and were letting me shoot it, so I knew going into the (second game), that’s how they were going to guard me, so all week in practice, I was telling the scout team, ‘Don’t guard me out on the 3-point line.’ I started the game; I shot a three and missed it and then my next five shots, I made.
“That’s a game you can only dream about. I had all my family there, so it meant the world to me to do that in front of them; that was special.”
Though scoring was fun, winning was better.
That’s how Fearday has operated the entirety of her career.
“I just like to win,” Fearday said. “Whatever I can do to help my team win, I’m going to do that. I’ve been blessed to be put in great positions to do that with great teammates and coaches who understand my game.
“When they trust you to do your thing, everything follows.”
Fearday believes she has a lot to give back, though her playing days are done.
She will finish her master’s at Maryville in October and hopes to coach down the road.
“I do want to coach eventually down the road and give back to this community in any way that I can, especially with sports,” Fearday said.
Fearday did mention that it isn’t just basketball she could coach, either, but softball, too.
“I can definitely see myself coaching one of those,” Fearday said.
Fearday’s younger sister, Kyndal, is on the EHS softball team and will begin her sophomore year in August.
When the time does come for Carsyn to get into coaching, she hopes to make just as significant an impact as her coaches did to her.
“When a coach wants the best for you, you want the best for them back,” Carsyn said. “You want to be as successful as you can, not only for your team but also for that coach.”