Barbara Araoz (Neuquen, Argentina/Maria Auxiliadota) of the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team has committed to Missouri Valley College to play for the Vikings next season. Araoz recently graduated from MCC after finishing her two-year career as a Tiger.
A model citizen on campus, Araoz was an integral part to the Tigers' basketball program for the past two seasons. An All-Region XI pick as a freshman, Araoz helped the Tigers improve by seven wins during the 2016-17 season.
Missouri Valley, a NAIA institution, are members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Vikings, under the direction of Timothy Dixon, finished the 2016-17 season with a 14-18 overall record.
"I chose Missouri Valley because it was a very affordable option," Araoz stated. "It has a very competitive team and nice academic opportunities. What I look for to play at the next level is to be able to compete and to learn new things using the experience that the two years at MCC gave me."
Araoz was elected to the Phi Theta Kappa 2017 All-Iowa Academic Team as a sophomore, one of just two MCC students to earn the honor. A three-time Academic All-Region XI First-Team recipient, Araoz received the NJCAA Pinnacle Award as a freshman after achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA.
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"What I will miss most about MCC is the people and the very warm environment I was always in," Araoz added. "MCC gave me a starting point to my career. It helped me build character and experience and prepared me to enter the four-year level with more skills and expertise."
Araoz noted a multitude of faculty and staff throughout MCC that helped her continue on to Missouri Valley. "I'd like to thank coach (Steve) Garber for introducing me to MCC, the athletic staff, Julia Aguilar, George Johnson, and the teachers that motivated me to follow psychology."
Garber noted Araoz's positive demeanor as a focal point to her success."The growth of Barbara over the two years she played at MCC was a positively upward swing that enabled her to deserve another two years of basketball experience at Missouri Valley," stated MCC head coach Steve Garber. "MVC will be getting a straight-A student that is coachable and hard working with leadership and maturity. Her people skills will be missed here at MCC but will be admired at her next stop in Missouri."
Araoz intends to continue on in the psychology field at Missouri Valley.
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