Saxon’s Petersen Reflects Going Into Senior Year

By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.– Carley Petersen made a point that, as she finishes up her final Summer League schedule this June going into her senior year at South Salem that she’ll be at this point four years later.

The Varsity squad reached the Chiles Center her freshman year, Covid soon followed and here she was on the other side of it all getting ready for one last season in a Saxon uniform. Crazy Petersen describes how she worked her way up from JV2 to being a member of the Varsity squad this past season.

“Crazy…I think it’s crazy to be apart of me as a freshman and the seniors going to the Chiles Center and Covid. But being able to experience everything now and to be a leader on the team now, I’m really excited about that now,” Petersen said. “It’s crazy, but I’m super excited for it. I’m excited to lead some of the younger classmen and to set an example for them.”

The past three weeks, going into their final week of Summer League, gave Petersen a taste of how to be a leader as South Salem got a look of who may be around come this Winter for the upcoming 2022-2023 season. The Saxons went 18-6 and 12-2 in the Mountain Valley Conference in 2021-22, reaching the first round of the 6A State Playoffs before falling to Sherwood 52-31.

The short Summer season has helped Petersen find her leadership voice as she took to the next step and assumed one of the leadership roles on the court.

Petersen (center, pink shirt) looking on as the campers go through a drill Tuesday afternoon at South Salem High School (Picture By Jeremy McDonald)

“It helped me use my voice and being able to step up and tell some of the underclassmen some of the plays and to be a voice on the court for them,” described Petersen.

Petersen was one of a handful of players on-deck Tuesday morning going into the afternoon to help coach the 40 kids in attendance at the Lady Saxon Youth Basketball Camp in the second of the three-day camp. One of the many last for Petersen going into her senior year.

“It’s super exciting and I’m super glad that I can share and be a leader and watch them grow. Watch them and support them as they are out here giving it their best,” Petersen said.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald