High School Hammer

Type 1: Cate Reese is a dual-sport star even with diabetes

Thomas Bingham
Type 1: Cate Reese is a dual-sport star even with diabetes
Dual Action: Cate Reese excels on both the volleyball and basketball courts. Vype

Originally appeared on Vype.com.

Cate Reese has long been a two- sport athlete, so she knows how to juggle multiple tasks.

It started in junior high when she added volleyball to her resume. The other sport was basketball, which she’s been playing since the age of seven. Her diverse set of skills were very attractive to college programs across the nation, but she ultimately decided on Arizona basketball before her senior year.

“You have to stay focused,” Reese said. “Keep your priorities straight on what you need to do with practice and homework and sleep.”

Her discipline is not only important for athletic success, but her personal health as well. That’s come into light since she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2016.

“You have to stay on top of it,” Reese said. “You always have to check your blood sugar and make sure you’re good before and during a game.”

She doesn’t let the condition slow her down and sets an example for her peers and fans that also live with it.

“It’s kind of helped me become the leader that I am,” she added. “It’s also motivation for other kids out there, who are younger than me with an obstacle like this. They can still do what they want to do.”

That’s one of the reasons why her high school coaches are thankful she chose both sports.

“Cate continually strives to push herself to be better than she was the day before,” Cy Woods assistant principal and former basketball coach Virginia Flores said. “Ask any coach and they’ll tell you Cate has a motor. She goes and goes and goes, and is relentless in her pursuit of greatness.”

That personal push not only helped the basketball team win the state title in 2015, but also extended volleyball’s playoff run to eight appearances in its first 10 years.

“She is a big force for us,” Cy Woods volleyball coach Ashley Ahlfinger said. “She has grown so much as a volleyball player, even though it is not her main sport.”

Her 6-foot-2 height is helpful for both sports, and she has chosen the more physical path to college ball.

“I’m confident in the choice that I made,” she said. “And I’m happy that I chose Arizona.”

She chose the Wildcats over Texas Tech, SMU, TCU, Washington, Colorado, Rice, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma because she believes she can help the team immediately.

This article appeared in the October Issue of VYPE Magazine. Pick up your copy today! 

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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