University of North Carolina Athletics
Larkins Elected Tri-Captain Of U19 Team
July 1, 2005 | Women's Basketball
July 1, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Erlana Larkins, a rising sophomore on the North Carolina women's basketball team, has been selected a tri-captain of the 2005 USA Under 19 World Championship Team, which will compete in Tunisia later this month. The trio was picked by a vote of the squad's 12 players, and the other tri-captains are Maryland's Crystal Langhorne and Stanford's Candice Wiggins.
"This means a lot to know that your peers feel you are capable of leading a team full of college girls," Larkins said. "I'm honored. You not only have to bring leadership and enthusiasm to practice every day, but be supportive when people aren't feeling so well."
The squad finished its training session in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Friday and will continue work at American University in Washington, D.C., July 3-6. From July 7-11, the team will train in Budapest, Hungary, where it will play a pair of exhibition games against Hungary's U19 team. The U.S. squad arrives in Tunis, Tunisia, on July 12 for the FIBA Women's U19 World Championship July 15-24.
"The players selected the captains and they selected three very capable individuals," said Gail Goestenkors, head coach of the Under 19 team and also the coach at Duke. "All of them have great college experiences. Candice at the guard position is a very vocal leader. She is high energy and she has a great understanding of the game.Erlana is a very vocal leader, she raises the level of intensity in our practices with her effort. Crystal leads by example and is one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. She also has great poise and all the players feel very comfortable with her. So they each give us a little something different and together I believe they will provide us with tremendous leadership."
Members of the 2005 USA U19 World Championship Team in addition to Larkins, Langhorne and Wiggins are: Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin), Nicky Anosike (Tennessee), Erika Arriaran (Norco High School/Texas ),Essence Carson (Rutgers ),Marissa Coleman (St. Johns College High School/Maryland), Courtney Paris (Piedmont High School /Oklahoma), Abby Waner (ThunderRidge High School/Duke),Christina Wirth (Seton Catholic High School /Vanderbilt) and Sharnee' Zoll (Virginia ).
