Villa Maria Academy’s Marah McHugh is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The 5-foot-11 junior forward played a key role in the Hurricanes winning the PIAA District 1 5A girls basketball championship, as she was the team’s leading scorer during the drive to the title. What made it even more remarkable is that she was sidelined for several weeks after suffering an injury in December. In the Hurricanes’ PIAA 5A state opener, she was the team’s leading scorer, tallying 15 points.
Q: What is your favorite memory of your team’s run to the District 1 5A championship?
A: Hitting the game-winning buzzer beater against Marple Newtown. The energy in that gym from the fans and my team made that day definitely the most exciting and thrilling game of the tournament, besides the championship final of course.
Q: Can you tell us a little about the injury you suffered in December, what challenges it presented, and how you met those challenges?
A: The injury was very difficult for me because during pre-season I was working very hard every day to get in shape for the season. During a game I ruptured two ligaments and fractured my ankle and had to work my way up from the bottom. I had spent the previous AAU and summer season playing basketball as much as I could, and it was tough for all of it to go away and having to walk with crutches. Many of the challenges I faced was figuring out if I would be able to ever play again and if I could make my way back to where I was. I met these challenges by being with me team. The Villa Maria basketball team is really an honor to be on. Being sidelined for seven weeks really affected me but watching everyone have the heart for the game from the sideline really helped me because even though I could not even walk. Watching people who loved the sport as much as I did play really helped me overcome my challenges.
Q: What aspect of your game do you feel you improved the most this season? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: The aspect of my game that I feel has been most improved this season is my defense and rebounding. I am currently working on finishing layups and being able to shoot around the perimeter.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive basketball. Who have been your most important basketball mentors; and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: My start in competitive basketball began in 5th grade, when I joined my first AAU team. My coach was Will Evans and he taught me everything I know how to do today. I played for an AAU team, Lighting, and fell in love with the sport. That team pushed me to play in competitive tournaments and gave me the constructive criticism I need to be a successful basketball player. My most important basketball mentors have definitely been Will Evans, my AAU basketball coach for my current team Lancaster Wave, Keith Brazzo, and my dad. These three people have pushed me for many years to work hard to achieve what I want. They all believe I have the potential to do great things and they want to see me be the best basketball player I can be. With their support and determination to make me a better player, I feel that everything I have learned from them is the reason why I am the player I am today.
Q: Who is your favorite basketball player, and why?
A: Paige Bueckers is definitely my favorite basketball player. I love the way she plays and she is definitely a great team player. She is resilient to come back from her injury and to perform at such a high level.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 13 for Villa Maria basketball. Why did you pick that number – does it have any special meaning to you?
A: Number 13 is my second favorite number. Since my first choice was taken freshmen year, I decided to go with 13 and never looked back.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation on the day of a game.
A: I love my pre-game preparation on game day. Every game day, I jump rope and drink a Pepsi. Every teammate that knows me knows I have a Pepsi in my hand at some point before the games. These two things are just something I do as a routine for every game day.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Villa Maria? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: I love my physics class. I want to be an engineer or do something in the physics field, and this class at Villa just makes me love it more and more.
Fun facts – Marah McHugh
Favorite book: Absolutely truly.
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls.
Favorite movie: Christmas Vacation.
Favorite athlete: Paige Bueckers.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Ghost by Justin Bieber.
Favorite team: Sixers.
Favorite place to visit: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Favorite pre-game meal: Pepsi and soup.
Person I most admire, and why: “My parents, because they are my role models.”
Family members: parents Craig and Marie, sisters Faith and Grace.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
