June 19, 2009
SEASIDE, Calif. – Some athletes hang up their shoes and leave the world of college athletics after their final game. Others feel drawn to stay and make a difference for future athletes. Women’s basketball player
Aly Tsuchiyama is one of the former. She is taking her first step as the new CSUMB Athletic Department’s intern this summer.
Tsuchiyama’s first project will be working on the Junior Otter program by coming up with a logo and setting up activities to do throughout the year. She will also help form the game day promotion schedule for all home events for the 2009-10 season.
After playing two years at Rio Hondo Junior College, Tsuchiyama red-shirted her first season at CSUMB. In her final year, she started in all 26 games for the Otters, averaging 30.9 minutes and 4.6 rebounds a game.
The Monterey Park native recently sat down to discuss her experiences at CSUMB and her future goals.
What is your favorite CSUMB memory?
I have had many great memories at CSUMB but I would say one if my favorite moments is when we beat Chico State on out home floor in our first conference game of the season. We were picked to finish last in the conference preseason poll (voted by the coaches) and they were picked to finish first. With this victory, it felt like we showed everyone that we were a new and improving Monterey Bay and on its way to being a great program. We were the first team to change the face of the program.
What do you hope to get out of your internship?
I hope to gain knowledge of what the athletic marketing department does at universities. I also want to get great experience of working in this department to see if this is really the field I want to go in to for my future career. I would love to be able to work in athletics since it has always been a part of my life.
What would you like to do in the future?
I want to go back to school and get my masters degree. I have not decided what field I would like to get my degree in yet. After that, I want to find a good career in the sports industry.
What is your ultimate dream job?
I would have to say my dream job would be to work in a marketing department with a professional basketball team in the NBA like the Lakers.