With the class of 2025’s senior year now underway, college is just around the corner for many students in the district. As around 60% of Oak Park High School students participate in sports throughout the year, some students will begin receiving sports offers, allowing them to continue their sports careers at the collegiate level.
Earlier this month, Oak Park Independent School student Helena Koubek announced her commitment to play Division I women’s basketball at the University of California, Santa Barbara next fall. While Koubek decided to take her senior year off from playing on the OPHS girls basketball team to focus on her mental health, she plans to practice with Moorpark College’s team and play pick-up games to maintain her skills.
Although Koubek began playing basketball at age six, her love for the sport flourished during her freshman year of high school.
“I didn’t always want to pursue basketball in college,” Koubek said. “I decided I wanted to play at the collegiate level when I started taking basketball seriously as a freshman. Then I made a goal for myself to play Division I, and started doing everything I could to work toward that goal.”
Regardless of the achievements basketball has yielded Helena, she recognizes the important lessons that came along the way.
“It has taught me the power of working together,” Koubek said. “It has shown me the feeling of genuine joy toward others’ successes. It has shown me true friendship.”
UCSB has remained her dream school since sophomore year and she is looking forward to challenging herself and seeing how much she can improve – and of course, enjoying the beach.
“Create a goal for yourself, even if it seems intangible,” Koubek said. “Work hard, trust in the process and believe in yourself. Give yourself grace and know that everything happens for a reason. Play your sport for the love of it, and have that be the center of your focus.”
