by Sheri Duff

Photo by vtsportsimage.com

Amanda Kinneston is on a break. And I don't mean February break. Kinneston, whose basketball season was cut short in a 40-37 quarterfinal loss to St. Johnsbury on Saturday, has a short break between sports seasons. Not that Kinneston has any regrets about the basketball loss sharing, "it was a really close game." Instead, she will focus on her next CVU sport of choice: lacrosse.

Kinneston remembers that ice hockey was the first organized sport she played, but she decided to give it up in the fifth grade. Her explanation, "my mother's family was a hockey family and my dad's family played basketball. Credit my dad for introducing me to the sport." Adding, "basically I realized that I enjoyed basketball more than hockey."

The oldest of three, this Shelburne native was born on Sept. 17, 1993. Her family includes parents, Amy and Jeff, siblings Emily and Nick, an eighth and fifth grader at the Shelburne Community School respectively, and Clancy, the family dog.

The current three-sport varsity athlete first played recreational basketball, then mini metro, and finally Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) while attending the Shelburne Community School. Her first AAU team was Vermont Lightening and more recently the Vermont Cats. Why the switch? Kinneston confesses, "I also play soccer for the Far Post Soccer Club and Vermont Cats was less of a time commitment. Plus I had an opportunity to play with basketball teammates Shae Hulburt and Kendal Kohlasch as well as Brittany Pfaff of Rice Memorial High School and others."

During the season Kinneston admits to one game day ritual - eating. "I realized that I needed to eat more to keep my energy level high. During the Junior Varsity basketball game I eat two bananas and two granola bars." By the time the varsity game starts she's ready to play.

In addition to basketball, Kinneston plays CVU varsity soccer in the fall and her spring sports schedule is particularly full: she plays Far Post soccer in addition to CVU varsity lacrosse, which leaves precious little time for anything else.

When she does have spare time, Kinneston enjoys playing the piano (she has played since childhood) and the acoustic guitar. She shares, "I just love playing music. It helps me calm down and is a great way to relieve stress."

A greatest achievement? Well that's easy. "I was recently chosen to attend the Vermont Athletic Youth Leadership Conference," Kinneston says. "I'm proud to have been chosen to represent CVU."

Aware that she is too short, by basketball standards, to play competitive college basketball, Kinneston is interested in playing soccer or lacrosse. In fact, Kinneston will visit Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. this week to begin the college selection process. As a junior, she has plenty of time to carefully consider all her options.

Make no mistake Kinneston leads a busy life. Just thinking about her daily activities is exhausting. No wonder she looks forward to the break.