Keeping the Faith: Swallows Charter Academy's Faith DeRudder believes in the process
Sometimes rebuilding a sports program takes a long time to complete. It can often take years for a team going through a rebuild to put forth a competitive team.
However, Swallows Charter Academy’s Faith DeRudder has supreme confidence that the Spartans basketball program will not only rebuild quickly, but be looked at as a force on the court for years to come.
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DeRudder is one of just three players on the girls basketball team that remembers what it was like just a few years ago when the Spartans did not have enough players to field a girls team. She and a few other girls ultimately ended up joining the boys basketball team for a year.
As a freshman, playing on the boys team was overwhelming at times, but DeRudder said it helped her to grow as a player.
“I started off (on the boys team) and it was a great experience because it taught me more fundamentals than I think girls basketball would have, because the boys definitely play a lot different than girls, a lot more technical,” she said.
DeRudder, who never played organized basketball prior to the sixth grade, has fallen in love with the sport more each year. Last year, the girls program returned to Swallows, so DeRudder naturally joined the squad.
The first year the program was back at SCA was not the easiest, not only for the players but for the team's coach.
Head coach Chris Trujillo was tasked to rebuild and bring the program back to prominence. Luckily for Trujillo, he had the likes of DeRudder on the team — someone who not only seeks to improve her own skills on the court but those of her teammates.
“I would hope the girls would see me as a leader,” DeRudder said. “I try to get to know my teammates more than I had last year in the years prior because I like getting to know them on a personal level. That way, I can help them on the court as well.”
DeRudder hopes that the effort that she’s put in with some of the players and the hard work she puts into her own game will serve as a guide for those who follow in her footsteps in the program.
“From last year to this year, I think a lot of our players have grown,” DeRudder said. “I'm excited about the future when we start winning some games.”
Basketball has always been an outlet for DeRudder. The junior forward also plays volleyball for the Spartans but says basketball is her favorite sport. The biggest reason for that is that she gets to let out a bit more aggression in basketball.
“I get stressed and it's a good stress outlet,” DeRudder said. “Whenever something happens with my family or just anything personal, it just helps drive it.”
Another way DeRudder looks to blow off some steam is through baking. It’s a hobby she’s enjoyed for quite some time and she likes to spend time in the kitchen with her mom, using baking as a way to slow down and process her day.
“I love baking,” DeRudder said. “That's one of my biggest hobbies. I like to draw, but that's not the hugest part of me. My mom and I always bake together, and my grandma. I'd just love to continue it forever.”
Whether it's on the court or in the kitchen, DeRudder is always looking to improve and will continue to work on putting the Spartans program back on the map.
“Our team, our scores may not reflect everything but we're probably one of the most hard-working teams out there,” DeRudder said. “We should not be overlooked. I feel like our scores just don't show it yet, but with a little bit of time we will get there.”
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Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter @chowebacca
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Swallows' DeRudder has 'Faith' Spartans can turn things around this year
