Rasmussen Named to Allstate WBCA Good Works Team

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Junior Michaela Rasmussen has been named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association 2017 Allstate Good Works Team, it was announced on Tuesday. Rasmussen is the first Rocket to be named to the prestigious squad.

The WBCA Good Works Team is in its fifth year, honoring college basketball student-athletes that have dedicated themselves to bettering the lives of others through giving back to their communities.

A native of Chaska, MN, Rasmussen is one of five Division I women's basketball players chosen along with five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and NAIA. The team is composed of 10 players from a total of 97 nominees this year.

The members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team will be recognized during the 2017 WBCA Convention and at the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four® in Dallas, and will also participate in a local community project in Dallas community.

When thinking of the consummate student-athlete, we often think of those who are a triple threat - elite performers in the classroom, on the field or court, and in the community. UT needs to look no further than Rasmussen when searching for a great example of what it truly means to be a model student-athlete.

A third-year Rocket, Rasmussen has posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in biology with a minor in chemistry and Spanish and has aspirations to become a doctor. She is currently interested in neurology, but has interests in other areas as well.

On the court, Rasmussen has started 22 of 73 games over the past two-plus seasons wearing the Midnight Blue & Gold. She is averaging 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per contest as a member of the Midnight Blue & Gold.

Even with those impressive statistics in the classroom and on the court, it is in the community where Rasmussen shines the most. She volunteers regularly for the Sunshine Therapeutic Riding Program, which offers therapeutic horseback riding for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities.

Rasmussen's passion for helping those with special needs or disabilities hits close to home. Her older brother Nathan has an underdeveloped corpus callosum and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at an early age. He suffers from poor muscle function and can say very few words. Rasmussen began accompanying him to his therapeutic horseback riding sessions four years ago and saw the joy riding horses brought him. She continued to go with Nathan to his sessions, and two years later decided to organize a Special Olympics Unified Basketball Tournament at her high school, Holy Family Catholic. Her goal was to provide another tournament for the teams in the conference, and enlisted the help of her high school teammates. After the tournament was finished, her teammates said they were inspired and that the way the teams competed and cheered each other on at the same time was extremely impactful.

Since arriving in Toledo, Rasmussen has been extremely active in the community volunteering for many organizations. Not only does she participate in UT's team organized community service events, but she also participates in as many other events as possible. Along with the Sunshine Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program, Rasmussen has volunteered for Toledo Sister Cities International Festival as a Spanish translator, companion walker for the Sunshine Walk, 5k Run & Roll, and handed out water at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Toledo.

She has also coached basketball to middle school age children at the Padua Center and Our Lady of Perpetual Health Camp, as well as volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, ALS Walk, Make-a-Wish, and the Glass City Marathon.

To say that Rasmussen is a model student-athlete is an understatement. She is the triple-threat that all coaches hope to find for her ability to impact others in the classroom, on the court, and in the community.

Rasmussen and the Rockets return to the court on Wednesday, Feb. 8 when they travel to Mid-American Conference West Division rival Western Michigan. The opening tip against the Broncos is slated for 7:00 p.m. in University Arena and will be streamed on ESPN3.

NCAA Division I
Name   Cl.   Pos.   School   Hometown
Ivy Atkism   Jr.   C   Clemson University   Monroe, GA
Angie Davison   Sr.   G   University of Northern Iowa   Maple Grove, MN
Britta Hall   So.   G   Utah Valley University   Tualatin, OR
Michaela Rasmussen   Jr.   F   University of Toledo   Chaska, MN
Sandra Udobi   Gr.   F   St. John's University   Delta State, Nigeria

NCAA Divisions II, III & the NAIA
Name   Cl.   Pos.   School   Hometown
Holly Denfeld   Sr.   F   Milwaukee School of Engineering   Edgar, WI
Haley Joly   Jr.   F   St. Edward's University   Fremont, CA
Katie Ringdahl   So.   F   Ave Maria University   Gainesville, FL
Grace Smith   Sr.    G   Kalamazoo College   Portage, MI
Raquel Torres   Sr.   G   Metropolitan State University of Denver   Vallejo, CA

Players Mentioned

Michaela Rasmussen

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