KATINA BANKS: Walk-on star

It takes a lot of will to be a walk-on in a Division I sport. To know everyone else has been scouted and selected beforehand. To know you must prove yourself beyond normal expectations. Senior Katina Banks did that, and then she did it again. Banks tried out for the basketball team her freshman year and ended up seeing time in 24 games. Then she tried out for the lacrosse team and became their new goalkeeper. Banks is one of only a few recent Penn athletes to have lettered in two varsity sports. "She put herself in a very tough position as a walk-on freshman," teammate Shelly Bowers said. "From day one, she has shown her commitment." The weight of back-to-back seasons was eventually too much. Playing lacrosse goalie was mentally tough. Banks ended her lacrosse career junior year, but her endurance through her freshman and sophomore years was a testament to her iron will. In the end, she chose to continue on with her more team-oriented position in basketball. "As my playing time in basketball increased, fatigue really started to be a factor," Banks said. "It was very difficult." Banks is now a starting guard for the Quakers, a position she has held since her sophomore year. That year was littered with milestones. She had 68 steals, led the team with 39 three-point baskets and averaged 9.2 ppg. Not only did she have a stellar year on the basketball court, but on the lacrosse field she was instrumental in defeating No. 1 Princeton. She finished her last season in the net with 24 saves. Banks developed her athletic talents at a young age in Denver, Colorado. She was a first team all-state selection in basketball at Kent Denver prep school and led her team to the district championship her final two years. At the same time, Banks was also named first-team all-state in lacrosse two years running. "She worked hard to become invaluable to the team," Soriero said. "But 'worked hard' doesn't even express that enough." Banks set Penn's single-game steal record with 11 against Lafayette her junior year. That was the second highest of any player in Division I women's basketball that year. She had six double-doubles on her way to becoming the team's third-leading scorer with 10.8 ppg. Banks stayed at Penn this past summer to work out and play summer league basketball to stay in shape for her last season. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Katina's commitment to Penn," Soriero said. "I think she has done that at some personal sacrifice." The senior has been a backbone for the slouching Quakers. Consistent play and leadership have been her most important contributions. "It's not easy," Banks said. "Sometimes it comes naturally because you've had so much experience. Other times, you have to make a conscious effort to make sure you are saying the right things to people to get them motivated. "It is not really pressure. It's knowing what I want to do, and wanting to do it well."