Southeast Lady Raider signs basketball scholarship to Young Harris

Published 12:01 am Saturday, February 2, 2019

By

By Emmalee Molay

emmaleemolay@dailycitizen.news

Emmalee Molay/Daily Citizen-NewsSoutheast Whitfield High School's McKenna Lentych, front and center, signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Young Harris College Friday at the school. Pictured with Lentych are, front row, from left, mother Suzanne Lentych, father and Southeast Athletic Director Mark Lentych; back row, Southeast assistant coach Krystle Keith, Southeast girls basketball coach Mike Durham and Southeast assistant coach Amanda Ramfjord.

The rain came pouring down, but McKenna Lentych was determined.

“Come inside!” Lentych’s father, Mark, shouted as the young girl practiced shooting free throws in the driveway.

“I’m not coming in until I make 30,” she shouted back.

Lentych remembers those days, the ones that led her to a basketball scholarship to Young Harris College. As the Southeast Whitfield High School senior listened to her father tell just a few of her stories to a room full of family, coaches and teammates Friday, she couldn’t help but be thankful.

“I’m just so thankful for this whole thing, it’s honestly a dream come true,” Lentych said that afternoon after signing her National Letter of Intent.

Email newsletter signup

A standout leader for the Lady Raiders, especially in the past two seasons, Lentych solidified the next step of her athletic career to the Division II program in Young Harris, a nearly two-hour drive northeast of Dalton. As athletics director at Southeast, Mark Lentych has been by his daughter’s side for not just her high school career, but her whole life.

“I remember that day he was talking about,” Lentych said. “I must have been 7 or 8. There was water dripping all down my face.

“Of course there are going to be times when you aren’t sure if it’ll work out, times when you’re not sure all the work is worth it. But, I would tell that little girl to keep working hard because God honors hard work. I’m so blessed and thankful for this opportunity.”

Lentych said she fell in love with everything about Young Harris, and that she plans to study marketing in hopes of owning a business.

“I love the campus and I love everything about it,” she said. “The coaches and everyone were so welcoming.”

Lentych still has some time left with the Lady Raiders as they gear up to host next week’s Region 6-4A Tournament. Southeast plays Gilmer at 6 p.m. Monday in the first round.

Until it’s over, Mark Lentych is doing his best to soak in the memories.

“It’s been such a joy to watch her grow up,” he said.

You Might Like