Two walk-ons brighten W. Hoops team

Freshmen Sunshine Archambault and Rania Margon successfully walked on the Quakers team early this winter. No one expected much from the Penn women's basketball team this year. And the team didn't expect much from its two walk-on players. But the Quakers, who began as a struggling, inexperienced squad with only three returning players, now boast a 10-9 record, including 5 conference wins and a tie for second place. It's clear they did something right. Not every player shows up in their game statistics, especially the individuals whose efforts at practice consummate in team improvements. For the Quakers, these efforts are the defensive strivings of Sunshine Archambault and Rania Margonis. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for them," coach Julie Soriero said. "They weren't recruited and they made the decision that they wanted to play." A noticeable improvement took place in the Quakers' passing and ball handling as the season progressed. As starting guard and team captain Colleen Kelly explained, much of that improvement came from facing tough defense each day in practice -- defense applied by Archambault and Margonis. "They're really effective on defense," Kelly said. "When they guard me it helps me to work on cutting to get open on the wings. They're both so intense and it helps us all improve." Archambault and Margonis were not recruited to play basketball at Penn, but each was a high school stand-out who earned four varsity letters, captained her team and received multiple honors. Margonis, of Ridgefield Memorial High School in New Jersey, was valedictorian of her class. Archambault grew up on a Native American reservation in South Dakota where she attended Red Cloud High School. After receiving their acceptances to Penn, the two players decided they wanted to participate in collegiate athletics so they contacted Soriero about walking-on to the team. Upon learning of their interest, Soriero gave Margonis and Archambault a basic summer conditioning program. She encouraged them to meet up with the Quakers for fall pre-season for an evaluation period. "The coach explained to me that I could work out with the team for about a month and then she'd tell me whether I made it or not," Margonis said. That month with the returners and the new recruits involved interval workouts in the morning, swimming, weigh lifting and general conditioning. Margonis and Archambault participated in everything with the Quakers but for them pre-season was crucial. There were no guarantees they would wear a Penn uniform when the season arrived. "You need for your walk-ons to keep pace with the rest of the team," Soriero explained. "I looked for athletic ability and they both had a solid amount. I felt they had the potential to help us." Both players were certainly fast. Their high school track and cross country achievements could vouch for that. Archambault finished 23rd in the cross country state championships and Margonis also ran competitively. "They're both so quick," Kelly said. "They're always out ahead on sprints." Foot speed is not the only similarity of the two Quakers. Their long, curly pony tails have led many to mistake them for the same person or twin sisters. "When I first got here," Margonis recalled, "I'd walk around and people would scream 'Sunshine' at me. I was like, 'Who is this person?' And then I walked into practice and it turned out she was the other walk-on!" Both players said at first it was difficult to give so much time and be uncertain as to their status on the team. Fortunately, they had each other for support. It was the start of a strong friendship between the two. "We always picked each other up in the beginning," said Archambault. "We could have done it all and been cut," Margonis said, "but I figured I had absolutely nothing to lose so I decided to go for it." For Archambault, trying out for the team offered a chance to do something very unique. "Basketball is really big where I come from," she said, "but not a lot of people come off the reservation and play. I made it one of my goals to try out for the team." All of the Quakers can be grateful for their decisions to try out. According to Soriero, each exemplifies hard work and dedication every day in practice. Agreeing with Kelly, she praised their defensive abilities as instrumental in developing perimeter play. "We keep getting better and better," Archambault said, "and it's great to be a part of that. I just do whatever I can." While Soriero is confident that both have the capabilities to eventually gain playing time, with the influx of talented freshmen this year, it will be a challenge. Still each realizes she can contribute and improve from practicing and being part of the Quakers team.