Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/96432
her first year at the University of the Redlands. "I didn't have the heart for it," says Karen. "I saw how dedicated Chrissy had to be – getting up at 4, at practice by 6, six days a week – and I didn't want that." Karen is currently working toward a nursing degree. Nikki, who will be attending DePaul University in the fall, expects that the game also will be part of her future, although she is equally passionate about softball and volleyball, which she played varsity for four years as well. "I am too competitive not to be involved in a sport in college," she says. "In a way basketball also connects me to my sisters and keeps the memory of my father alive." Rufino Dizon passed away while Karen and Chrissy were in high school, but his lessons on the court still offer inspiration. Their parents chose Latin for the academic opportunities, but athletics, their relationships with the coaches and the players, and the life lessons they learned through team participation have been among the Dizon sisters' most rewarding high school experiences. "It taught me about structure, commitment and balancing my priorities," says Chrissy. In addition, the close relationships she was able to build with coaches like Jan Wilson and athletic director Tom Bower (who frequently attended her college games), have gone far to inform her own career. Asked about the highlights of their time playing for Latin, Chrissy talks about being part of the team that started the school's winning streak, Karen mentions her close friendships with her teammates, and Nikki takes pride in her all-time scoring record of 1,835, which beat not only Chrissy's former record but the boys scoring record as well. Although their approaches and thoughts about the game differ, all three sisters agree on two things: That the years of support they received on and off the court at Latin have played a big part in who they are today, and that, although they each love the game, they can never play against each other. "We don't play against each other," says Nikki, explaining that their competitiveness quickly gets in the way. "We just get into fights." While they have never finished a game against one another, their contributions over the years to Roman basketball have been immeasurable. n Nikki, Karen and Chrissy credit their coaches and teammates for success on the court, but readily admit that basketball seems to be in their blood. Latin School of Chicago 13