CVU senior and tri-captain Elana Bayer-Pacht is one of the reasons the Lady Redhawks are 7-0 this season. Photo by vtsportsimages.com

Elana Bayer-Pacht is versatile. Champlain Valley Union head girls basketball coach Ute Otley shared these accolades about her senior tri-captain, "Elana is a fierce defensive player. She can literally guard anyone, guard or forward, and she's very versatile. When our team suffered multiple player injuries, Elana moved out of position (from guard to forward) to give our team the best chance to be successful." 

Born on Jan. 7, 1994 and raised in Hinesburg, Bayer-Pacht's family includes parents Andrea and John, older sister Emily, age 27, older brother Saul, age 22, and two dogs named Sasha and Lucky. Bayer-Pacht attended the Lake Champlain Waldorf School through eighth grade before enrolling at Champlain Valley Union (CVU). 

Bayer-Pacht reminisces about picking up a basketball for the first time. "Basketball is in my blood. I was born into it. My dad and brother played and I watched the sport since I was pretty young. I probably picked up a basketball at age four, although I didn't play organized basketball until I was seven," she commented. With a combination of skills gleaned from a variety of organizations such as recreational leagues, Catholic Youth Organization basketball, mini metro, middle school, and an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) traveling team, Bayer-Pacht credits her father for preparing her to be competitive in all phases of the game. "My dad was my coach at Waldorf and in mini metro and he has been playing with and teaching me since I started playing. He still shoots with me all the time and helps me improve constantly," Bayer-Pacht added.

 "Elana was chosen as a captain due to her dedication to the program, her toughness on the court, and her ability to serve as a role model to the younger players," said coach Otley. Bayer-Pacht cites her own strengths as captain. "I am pretty friendly and I help my teammates work through problems on and off the court. I also lead by example because I work hard," she commented. And coach Otley concurs. In fact she is at the ready with Bayer-Pacht's statistics. "Through six games Elana's stats are: 6.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. She is a major reason we are 6-0 [now 7-0]."

A three-year varsity basketball player, Bayer-Pacht's personal ritual is to eat healthy on game day. However, the team has its own pre-game habits. "As a team we wear our hair the same - with a small braid in the front. And before every game we have a team ritual. We stand in a circle while everyone bounces a basketball and claps their hands to get pumped up." Not one to knock a ritual that is obviously working, the team is undefeated through seven games this season with 14 games to go before playoffs. 

During our conversation, Bayer-Pacht recalls her greatest achievement to date. "Last year when I was a junior at CVU we played and beat top-seeded South Burlington in the semifinal game at Patrick Gym. It was the biggest basketball game of the year. Although we didn't earn a state championship it is one of my favorite high school memories."  

After graduation Bayer-Pacht plans to attend Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. "I was accepted at High Point University [in North Carolina] and Eckerd. I want to study psychology and play basketball in college. The Eckerd coach offered me a spot on the team. In the end, the decision was simple. I decided to go to Eckerd," Bayer-Pacht shared enthusiastically. "I'm so happy the stress is over." 

There's not much doubt that this stress free senior has already jumped through hoops to accomplish her goals and will parlay her talents and versatility into a winning combination at Eckerd.