Gabriella Toquothty is a junior multi-sport athlete for the Temple Tigers, and she said the 2021 basketball season is starting off well. 

“The Temple Lady Tigers are going strong this year,” Toquothty said. “We have been putting in a lot of hard work. We’ve started with a record of 2-0.” 

Toquothty has also been involved with the FFA program at Temple, but said she’s taken a step back from showing pigs and being a reporter for the chapter. She said instead she’s been focusing more on athletics, and in more ways than one. 

“I feel like sometimes it’s a lot of pressure to be a leader for the younger players,” she said. “But you have to show them that everything is good. You have to push through all the losses and most things don’t always go your way, but just keep a good, positive mindset. During practice I get frustrated sometimes, but I always find a way to get pumped up again. You always have to come back stronger than your last mistakes.” 

What helps her, Toquothty said, is having a game day ritual. 

“During game days I wake up for school, eat some breakfast, and I tell myself today is going to be a good day,” she said. “I then get some lunch to keep me energized. After school, we get prepared for the game by going over plays. After the game, win or lose, our coaches always tell us to keep our heads up, stay strong, and don’t look back on that game because we have more ahead of us. They also tell us you have to hate losing more than you love winning. Most sports are mental; you just get over the fear and keep going.” 

In her free time, Toquothty said she enjoys hunting, fishing, hanging out with her friends, and playing travel softball on the weekends. She said she hasn’t bagged a deer yet this season because she’s been busy with sports and school, but she’s hoping she can.