Every time Cathrine Kraayeveld steps inside McArthur Court she feels at home. Even before she walks onto the hardwood, she is eager for another day of fun.
“I love Mac Court,” Kraayeveld said. “There’s nothing else like it. I enjoy playing here, and I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to play here.”
The fifth-year senior forward
also enjoys playing in Eugene, which she appreciates for its college-town charm.
“Everybody pays attention and the community is very supportive,” she said. “They really care about how we’re doing on and off the court. It’s nice to have people ask how you’re doing and show they care.”
Kraayeveld has been asked about her health countless times during the past few years. Nine games into her junior season, she contracted a staph infection in her right knee and was forced to miss 13 games before coming back to play the last five.
Then in the 2003-04 season, after Kraayeveld had already missed more than enough playing time the season before, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during practice. The Pacific-10
Conference granted her a medical redshirt, and she was forced to sit on the bench after playing only
five games.
“Injuries happen all the time in sports, and it’s unfortunate that it has to happen to anybody,” Kraayeveld said. “It sucks to sit on the sidelines for just one game.”
Kraayeveld said she was never disappointed that her injury occurred during what seemed to be the peak of her career.
“I was just thinking, ‘Let’s move on and get this over with,’ and go from there and improve. I was just staying positive and doing what I could day by day.
“You take it as it comes, and
you must have a good attitude about it because if I had a bad attitude it was just going to make it ten times worse and bring my teammates down.”
Even after seeing her team finish one game under .500 with a 14-15 record and dealing with all the rehabilitation, she pulled at least one positive out of the situation.
“I think everything happens for a reason and I’m glad to be here for this fifth year. I’m glad I’ve been able to have this extra year and play with this group,” she said.
Kraayeveld has been involved with this team longer than any
other player on its roster or coach on its bench, including head coach Bev Smith. Kraayeveld earned
her undergraduate degree in family and human services in 2004,
but she isn’t planning on using
it immediately.
“In the near future I probably won’t do anything with it because I want to continue playing basketball,” she said.
The Kirkland, Wash., native said she is hoping to play overseas, in the WNBA or possibly both since the seasons’ schedules do not conflict. She said an agent has already contacted her but she has pushed it over to coach Smith, whom Kraayeveld has regularly gone to for advice.
“I don’t want to have to worry about it because I can’t do anything about it right now,” Kraayeveld said. “I’m worrying about the season right now and then, in a couple months, I’ll start figuring out what I have to do.”
Kraayeveld, a Christian, believes everything will fall in place and has faith in her religion.
“I take it pretty seriously, and I try to live that in my everyday life,” she said. “I try to show my values and what I believe through my actions instead of what I say.”
On the floor and in the huddle, Kraayeveld admits she is not a
vocal leader.
“I try to encourage people and get people going but I feel like I’m more of a leader by example,” she said.
Kraayeveld explained that her spiritual views give her a calm demeanor on the court.
“There are so many times when you can get so frustrated in any sport, but I try not to let things bother me that much because it’s going to affect my play,” she said. “I try to just have a positive attitude about things when I’m on the court and just understand that it’ll work out the way it’s supposed to work out. I can only control what I do on the court but I can’t control the outcome.”
No matter what anyone believes, Kraayeveld comes across as a natural leader with a basketball in her hands and a hoop in front of her.

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