Dream comes true for freshman athlete

By Chelsi de Cuba | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photo contributed by John Jordan

Freshman guard for the Flagler Saints women’s basketball team Charlsea Owen aspires to be a player her team can count on. Owen is a St. Augustine native who grew up watching Flagler athletics. She started playing basketball at age five and graduated from Pedro Menendez High School in St. Augustine.

Owen was introduced to basketball when her neighbor asked her to rebound for her. She would always walk across the lawn and rebound, which helped her launch a basketball career. Her biggest inspiration to play basketball was her middle school coach.

“He taught me the fundamentals of the game and helped me to find the love I have for the games” Owen said.

Owen has always wanted to play for Flagler women’s basketball and it is one of the main reasons she chose to attend Flagler.

“I have grown up in St. Augustine, watching Flagler basketball and volleyball, and it just has been a dream of mine for a while,” she said.

One of Owen’s most memorable moments as a basketball player happened just a few weeks ago here at Flagler.

“It was the first time I had ever put on a Flagler uniform. It was just so cool because I grew up watching Flagler play, and I had seen some great players wear those jerseys. For me, to have that opportunity, to be able to put on that jersey was a pretty defining moment,” she said.

Owen describes her attitude as close to the same both on and off the court.

“I like to stay calm, even if I’m having a bad game, but I am working on the intensity,” she said.

Owen is a firm believer that team play is essential in every sport and it is a very important element to her.

Owen has three years left at Flagler College and hopes to declare a major by the end of this year.

She is not certain what her basketball future will hold for her, but like any athlete she has many hopes and dreams to play after her hopefully illustrious career ends at Flagler College as a Saint.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play basketball overseas. However, I have a lot of work to do. Right now, I am just going to enjoy playing for a great school like Flagler and do as much as I can to help my teammates succeed!” she said.