08:27 PM EDT on Thursday, August 25, 2005

Frank the moderator: Do you have what it takes to compete in high school sports in Rhode Island? As a parent, do you wonder what it takes to balance athletics and academics? Do you want the real answers? Join projo.com THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7 to ask your own questions of Johnston basketball standout, Chelsea Marandola, who is now on her way to joining the PC Lady Friars, and Providence Journal sportswriter Carolyn Thornton.
Submit your questions now.

Carolyn Thornton: Hello out there, everyone. This is Carolyn Thornton, and I am sitting here at the Providence Journal with Chelsea Marandola. Feel free to start sending in your questions.

Carolyn Thornton: Chelsea, I'll start things off by asking you what it's been like these past few months as you prepare for your first semester at Providence College.
Chelsea Marandola: Preparing for my first semester at PC wasn't really that difficult because I took summer classes so that when I got to school in September it wouldn't be a huge adjustment.

Carolyn Thornton: Is it common for basketball players to take summer classes? How many courses did you take and which ones?
Chelsea Marandola: Yes, it is common for the basketball players, actually a lot of athletes, to take courses in the summer. Freshmen have to take two courses and upperclassmen have to take one. It will help to take off some pressure when the season starts in the fall. I took two courses, environmental science and a freshman writing seminar.

Frank the moderator: Chelsea -- Why did you decide to go to Providence College? What factors lead to the choice of PC?
Chelsea Marandola: I decided to go to PC because I have always watched them play and always wanted to go since I was small. The factors that led to my decision were I liked the team and the environment of a smaller school, I wanted to be able to play in front of my family, and I have always wanted to play for PC.

statman: What's the best advice you could give to an incoming high school freshman that wants to play Basketball.na
Chelsea Marandola: The best advice that I would give to a freshmen that wants to play basketball would be to always work hard and be prepared to juggle schoolwork and basketball, because playing basketball in high school takes a large commitment and a lot of time and dedication.

tom : Looking back on your high school playing days, what advice would you give to a freshman who hopes to play college basketball some day. How much commitment will it take?
Chelsea Marandola: I would say that during your high scool years you have to work very hard and play as much as you can and keep practicing. Playing college basketball will take a lot of commitment because your devoting all your time to the sport and school work. Also, it would really help to get on an AAU or summer league team. AAU offers better competition and gives you a chance to work on your game. Playing in AAU tournaments is where a lot of players get noticed by college coaches, so it offers a lot of good opportunities.

statman: Can you tell how important time management is, when playing high school sports
Chelsea Marandola: Time management is huge when your playing high school sports because there are a lot of different activities you can get involoved with in school besides sports. If you want to be involved with your class, sports and get good grades you have to manage your time accordingly.

Frank the moderator: Chelsea -- talk a little about the program at PC. What have the coaches been telling you about training and practicing, (and finding enough time for your studies).
Chelsea Marandola: The coaches at PC have been talking a lot about time management, how having balance in your life is very important and how important school work is. They say that training and practices will take up a lot of time but as a student athlete we have to be able to have a good balance of schoolwork and of playing basketball, because without good grades you can't play basketball.

gonzo94: You share the same birthday and wear the same uniform number as Sue Bird. Is she one of your favorite players?
Chelsea Marandola: how do you know that my bday is the same as Sue Bird? I do enjoy watching Sue Bird play, I think she is a great point guard and a great team player, she is definitely one of my favorite players.

gonzo94: Saw your bday on the Lady Friar Profiles
Chelsea Marandola: Oh, thats cool, I didn't even know I had the same birthday as her.

Frank the moderator: What other ball players do you admire? And do you hope to play pro someday?
Chelsea Marandola: I admire Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Micheal Jordan. I do hope that one day I would be able to play pro.

hapyfingers: Hi Chelsea, Do you remember the days of your CYO New England championship?
Chelsea Marandola: I do remember the days of my CYO New England championship. Playing for Ernie was a lot of fun and we had a great team.

tom : What was your biggest challenge as a high school athlete and how did you get through it?
Chelsea Marandola: My biggest challenge as a high school athlete was going to certain schools where I would be playing and parents would degrade me and tell their kids to hurt me. I got through it by just keeping my head in the game and just focusing on playing basketball. I would thrive on people yelling at me.

statman: how did you handle the pressure of playing sports, and school work?
Chelsea Marandola: I think I handled the pressure of playing sports and school work very well. I had to study a lot but most of my classes came easy for me so it made playing sports easier, because I wasn't stressed out over school work all the time.

Carolyn Thornton: How did the courses you took this summer at PC compare to the classes you had in high school?
Chelsea Marandola : The classes I took at PC this summer consisted of a lot more note taking and lectures then my classes in high school. I had to take more notes by listening rather than having them all written down for me on the chalkboard.

Carolyn Thornton: Have you had much of a chance to get to know your new teammates yet? How much have you all been able to work out together?
Chelsea Marandola: I spent 6 weeks this summer with most of my new teammates, so we got to hang out a lot and get to know each other. It was different for me because I have been on the same team with the same girls since 4th grade, so getting to play with new players and getting to know new players was really fun. We got to scrimmage 5 on 5 at least two times a week, and we would also go running at night together.

Carolyn Thornton: What has the coaching staff told you so far about what your role might be in your first season at PC?
Chelsea Marandola: The coaching staff has basically told me that my role for my first season at PC will be being the point guard and carrying the ball up the floor and creating opportunites for everyone. I will possibly be playing the 1 or 2 guard.

Carolyn Thornton: What aspects of your game have you been working on as you prepare to compete at the next level?
Chelsea Marandola : I have been working on everything, I have been doing individual workouts that include dribbling, passing, shooting and footwork drills.

Carolyn Thornton: Unfortunately, the Lady Friars haven't had a lot of success in recent years. Does that you concern you at all?
Chelsea Marandola: It doesn't really concern me much that they haven't had much success in the past. I'm hoping that I will be a big part of their rebuliding process this year and hopefully we will be able to have much more success in the future.

gonzo94: What 3 teams will join Providence at the Final Four in Boston?
Chelsea Marandola: It is really too early to tell who will be in the final four but my guess would be teams like UConn and Tennessee.

statman: I heard Yuliya Serebryanskaya (center) has left pc, have they gotten a replacement
Chelsea Marandola: I'm not really sure if they have found a replacement for her yet, I just found out the other day that she has decided not to return.

justmagic24: hello chelsea
Chelsea Marandola: hi alysa

justmagic24: how are you
Chelsea Marandola: I'm great, thanks for coming and talk to me! you should ask a question.

Carolyn Thornton: So far has the college experience been what you expected?
Chelsea Marandola: Yes it has been what I expected. It is definitely a lot of work but it is also fun at the same time and a great experience so far.

Carolyn Thornton: Well, our time is just about up. Chelsea, thanks for joining us tonight and sharing some of your experiences. Best of luck with your first year at PC!
Chelsea Marandola: Thank you and thanks for having me.

Frank the moderator: Thanks to Chelsea and Carolyn for stopping by. Look for Carolyn's high school reports in the coming weeks, and see Chelsea's page on the PC Women's Basketball page.