Carly Cook knows that whenever she sets a goal for herself, it is not just going to happen. She is going to have to work for it and earn it. 

She says that though the work is important, there are other things that are just as vital.

“Going to practice every day is one of the keys to being successful,” she said. “Being consistent is also an important part of getting better. You have to always work. Also, surround yourself with a great group of people, no matter who they are.”

Cook plays softball, basketball, and Soccer for Miami High School. The junior is also a member of the student council.

The teams that Cook is surrounded by are what keep her motivated to work hard so that they can reach their full potential.

“My biggest motivation is the competitiveness of my team and their drive to always want to make each other better,” she said. “Coming into this year is very different than others. Our team feels a lot more determined and we want to change the way Miami basketball is viewed.”

Sam Fairchild is the head coach of the Miami girl’s basketball team and says that Cook is a great teammate and basketball player.

“Carly is a competitor,” coach Fairchild said. “She is intense on the floor. She plays at a high rate of speed and does a good job leading our girls.”

There have been a number of people that have played some kind of a role in Carly’s life and helped shape her into the person that she is today. Cook has two people that have had the biggest influence on her. 

“My mom and coach Strack are two people that I look up to,” she said. “They show how to deal with difficult situations and that will help me as I go through life.”