March 7, 2003

     NEW BRITAIN -- The lure of big-city culture and academic excellence have convinced New Britain High girls basketball star Stephanie Ryba to select Division III New York University as her college of choice. "I was really interested in the school," said Ryba. "Apparently the coaches saw me at (AAU) nationals and in Washington, D.C. They talked to my coaches for awhile and asked me if I’d be interested in a D3 program. I said I was keeping all my options open."
     In NYU Ryba hasn’t chosen just any D3 school. The Purple Violets under coach Janice Quinn have won a national title, gone to two Final Fours, four Elite Eights and one Sweet 16. The 1997 national championship is the only one of its kind for a New York City team - men or women - in 50 years.
     "We’ve had a fair amount of success over the last 10 years and the reason is we get kids like Stephanie who have Division I opportunities but opt for something different - city environment, diversity and a pretty good schedule," Quinn said.
     The University Athletic Association indeed offers trips to some of the nation’s finest cities. The league includes Brandeis (Boston), Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh), Case Western Reserve (Cleveland), Emory (Atlanta), Washington University of St. Louis, the University of Chicago and the University of Rochester.
     The UAA’s mission statement separates it from other D3 circuits - "that it is highly desirable and possible for a group of committed institutions to conduct a broad-based program of intercollegiate athletics for men and women; to compete with like academic institutions spread over geographically expansive areas; and to seek excellence in athletics while maintaining a perspective which holds the student-athlete and the academic mission of the institution as the center of focus."
     Ryba researched the school, its environment and the coaching staff thoroughly before making her choice. "I couldn’t find a better academic program anywhere else and the basketball program (may as well be) D1," she said. "It has potential D1 players who decided that this was better academically."
     The attraction was mutual. "We’ve been watching her since she was a junior," said Quinn, who was invited to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after winning the D3 crown. "We’ve been crossing our fingers for the last eight months that we would get her to sign. We were pretty desperate for a big guard who can hit the three and get up and down court. That’s what this recruiting class was missing."
     Not anymore.
     Ryba was a proficient wing player as a sophomore and junior, but at 6-1 she displayed the ability to post up. This season, with New Britain lacking an experienced center, she was asked to play with her back to the hoop and she adapted quickly. With 6-1 freshman Chevowne Pettway developing rapidly during her absence, a healthy Ryba could make the difference as the Hurricanes go after their second state title in six years.
     Ryba has scored 782 points at New Britain in 75 games spanning four seasons for an average of 10.4 points per game. She maintains a 14.3 average heading into the tournament this year. Last year in a season curtailed by a bout with mononucleosis, she checked in at 13.4. As a sophomore, she played in all 25 games and averaged 12.6 ppg. She played sparingly as a freshman.
     "The main proponents for picking a college are academic and athletic," she said. "You can’t just look at athletics because you’re going to miss out. There’s always life after basketball and at NYU there will be so many open doors."
     Ryba intends to major in sports management. "They’ve told me they have internships available for the Knicks, Yankees and Mets," she said. "I’ve talked to some of the girls who are in the program and they love it."