Finishing touches
By Mike Beas
As Emma Parsons grows older, the Cascade senior’s letter jacket becomes more decorated.
Parsons is on pace to graduate earning 11 varsity athletic letters, her school year starting with cross country, extending to the basketball court where she was the Cadets’ three-year starter at point guard and concluding with her participation in track and field.
The 5-foot-7-inch Parsons recently helped lead Cascade girls hoops to a 16-6 record, narrowly missing the program record for victories in one season (the 2016-17 squad went 17-6). Parsons averaged 7.8 points, three rebounds, 2.6 assists and two steals per outing.
During her Cadets career, the team posted a 44-48 mark.
This past fall, Parsons placed 34th at the Brownsburg cross country sectional in a time of 22:50.2. She plans to run the 400- and 800-meter events once track and field begins and sits in the top 20 of her class academically with a 4.2 grade-point average.
Parsons’ father Adam just wrapped up his first season as Cascade’s girls basketball coach after serving as an assistant the previous five years. The Cadets were among the state’s highest-scoring squads, averaging 64.4 points a contest.
“Emma has the unique ability of never wanting to lose. She wants the team to win, and she always puts the team ahead of her own accomplishments,” said coach Parsons, whose niece, 5-foot-8-inch sophomore wing Abby Parsons, was the team’s leading scorer. “She’s a very, very unselfish player. “I’m probably harder on (Emma) than any other kid, but one of the hardest things you can do is coach your own child. There’s a lot expected from that child, but it’s an amazing opportunity.”
Emma Parsons did a Q&A with ICON:
Q: What was it like playing for Cascade with your dad as the head coach?
A: I loved it. This has been my best year of basketball, by far. This season we were so close, the coaches and the players. There was a great energy every day, and that got us excited to practice.
Q: Being a senior, how do you feel your role changed this past season compared to your previous three years on varsity?
A: I had to be a lot more vocal and lead the team. I’ve always kind of had that. I would like to say I lead by example, but I am vocal, too. I think that mostly comes from being a point guard.
Q: Have you committed to a college yet, and what do you plan to major in once there?
A: I’m undecided on a college, but I think about going into physical therapy. Sports are a big part of my life and I think I’d like a career that would allow me to work with athletes.
Athlete of the Week
