Court-Side Reunion Mizusawa and Schlatter Back on Same Team - Sort of... By: Jason Damaschino Corrie Mizusawa photos courtesy St. Mary's College

It happened only once during their basketball careers.  As six graders at Stanley Intermediate School in Lafayette, both Corrie Mizusawa and Chris Schlatter played on the same lunchtime (mostly male) intramural team.  “I don’t know if Corrie remembers this, but back in sixth grade her and I were teammates and we absolutely dominated the league.  We were so good that the league supervisor had to split us up,” remembers Schlatter.  Some seven years later, their extraordinary basketball skills and successful high school careers find themselves reacquainted with each other again at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.

This sixth grade tale makes sense once you come to understand how their skill levels compliment each other so well on the floor.  As the point guard, Mizusawa, who prepped at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, is the ultimate playmaker.  She can beat her opponent off the dribble at anytime while displaying tremendous court balance.  “Basically,” explains first-year Gael head coach Michelle Jacoby, “Corrie is so gifted as a basketball player.  She does a great job creating opportunities for her teammates.  She is our coach on the floor.  In fact, it is unusual to see freshmen start (she has started 8 of her first 9 games) at the collegiate level, especially at point guard.  I have put a lot of responsibilities on Corrie and she has responded beautifully.”

As a senior at Acalanes, Mizusawa was regarded as one of the top guards on the west coast averaging an impressive 18 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals per game.  As a four-year starter, she led the Lady Dons to a remarkable 104-12 record highlighted by winning the 1999 California State Championship.  After former St. Mary’s women’s head coach Kelly Graves departed for Gonzaga University, Mizusawa was the first recruit for Coach Jacoby.  “Corrie has been everything I imagined her to be at this stage of her career.  She’s a fierce competitor and a winner.”

While Miuzusawa is creating, Schlatter, who starred at De La Salle High School in Concord, is scoring.  He has been averaging 15 points a game as a starter the last three contests for the Gaels including a career high 19 points versus Dominican College.  He is the prototypical new age small forward.  He is very active on the floor and understands how to get open by reading his teammate’s screens effectively.  Once he gets open, Schlatter displays unique accuracy from beyond the three-point arc.  “Chris has the total package in terms of his skill level at the small forward position,” explains men’s head coach Dave Bollwinkel.  “If he continues to improve defensively, Chris will do special things here at Saint Mary’s before his career is over.” 

Not surprising, Chris also enjoyed success at De La Salle high school.  During his senior season, Schlatter helped put the Spartans basketball program on the state map by winning the California State Championship last March while averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds a game.  His success on and off the court was recognized when Saint Mary’s offered him an athletic scholarship.  “Going to Saint Mary’s was an easy decision,” explains the 6’6 Schlatter.  “The small student body, the tradition of academic excellence, and the style of play here is ideal for my talents.  I am very happy here despite our rough start.”

A rough start is exactly what Schlatter and his teammates are experiencing in 2000 losing 7 out of their first 8 games including a 101-41 defeat to #5 ranked University of Arizona and a 105-61 drubbing to Big 12 power Colorado University.  “This year has been a real learning experience,” says Schlatter.  “We are beginning to understand how to play as a team and it is encouraging.”  Since his first collegiate start against Dominincan, Schlatter has helped guide the young Gaels to a 2-1 mark including a home victory over U.C. Santa Barbara on December 22 when Schlatter tallied 15 points making 4 three point field goals.  “The biggest thing I have noticed about the jump from high school to college is the caliber of players.  In college, every player is strong and quick.  Any given night, we can beat anyone.  It is just a matter of making shots when we are open.  Versus Colorado, we had the open shots, is was disappointing.”

While Schlatter is experiencing his share of loses early on in his career, Mizusawa is enjoying her share of winning during her inaugural season.  The Lady Gaels started the season by beating nationally ranked Stanford University while breaking out to an impressive 6-0 start.  After disappointing road loses to the University of Washington and Oregon State, Mizusawa led her Gaels to a 69-53 road rout at Fresno State on December 21 scoring 8 points, dishing out 10 assists, and racking up 5 steals.  “Our loses in the northwest do not symbolize the talent and character of this team.  As bad as we played up there, we still had our chances to win,” explains the 5’8 starting freshman point guard.  “We are looking forward to returning to the N.C.A.A. tournament (1999 appearance).”

For both of these local standouts, their road from sixth grade domination to the Moraga campus has been paved by hard work, hardship, triumph, and dedication.  Through it all, they are looking forward to promising careers.  “I really think that if we can stay healthy this year and learn from our experiences, we can achieve consistent success and build this program,” declares Schlatter.  Mizusawa, on the other hand, has different team goals.  “We have enough talent and experience to make a statement this year and win league.  We are not looking forward to the future.  We are expected to win immediately.”

You get the feeling they both will.