Family Stories

Every family has a special story to tell about their children or grandchildren.  Capturing it on the page not only encourages that child to focus on their God-given strengths but also creates a written legacy to share with generations to come.  A written legacy can also be created around remembrances of loved ones who have passed on. Everyone loves to read true-life stories that uplift and inspire, so why not share yours?  Such a story may even be picked up by your local newspaper.  Here’s one such example:

Ashalee Moralez is only 13 years old but she knows the value of hard work, determination and focus.  Her passion has been the game of basketball ever since her Dad introduced it to her at the age of two.

For the past six years she has played with her friends on a West Side Boosters Club team.  Named the “leader without a title” by her teammates, Ashalee has demonstrated a natural skill for inspiring others as the unofficial captain.

On the court Ashalee plays point guard and forward.  Off the court she’s usually thinking basketball.  Every morning before she goes to Humboldt Junior High, she gets up early to exercise.  She draws inspiration from her idol, Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets. 

“He’s just got a certain style that I like,” said Ashalee.  “He visualizes the whole court and calls out the plays like he’s moving pieces on a chessboard.  He acts like an on-court coach and leads by example with both clarity and command.”

Ashalee’s other inspirations are her great-grandmother Juanita and her grandmother Kim.  Juanita taught Ashalee that whatever she puts her mind to, she can do, and that no one can take away her accomplishments.  Juanita passed away a year ago at age 69, but left a joyful, can-do attitude in Ashalee as her legacy.

Her grandmother’s philosophy augments Juanita’s in that she believes you have to be focused to succeed.  She demonstrates her own commitment by attending all of Ashalee’s games.  Ashalee is also supported by her biggest fan, her mom Kim, and also draws strength from her Catholic lineage by wearing a medal of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Since it can’t be worn during play, before every game she kneels, kisses the medal and hands it to her grandmother for safekeeping.

A lean and lithesome 5’8”, Ashalee scored 20 points in her best game.  Her team, she said, always wins by double digits; once by 25 points.  

She has formed a tight bond with several of her teammates, including Danielle Hernandez, Gabriella Cerda, Aliya Rivera, Santana Castillo and Marquisha Wiley.  They’ve all known each other since kindergarten and say that traveling together is the best bonus of their community basketball adventure.  The sport has taken them all over the metro area, from Monticello to Minnetonka, from Anoka to Andover.

“Ashalee is definitely going places!  She makes good decisions on the court and always has a positive impact on others,” said Santino Franco, president of the West Side Boosters Club, as well as the team’s assistant coach.  His daughter Marissa is also on the team. 

The team’s coach Frank Hernandez agrees.  “Ashalee is a tremendous athlete.  When she’s focused, she’s the best out there.  She has gelled this group of girls in an unusual way.  From my perspective, they’re all winners because of their desire to succeed”.  

West Side Boosters sponsors like Anchor Bank, Boca Chica and Captain Ken’s help sustain club basketball, baseball and football teams for an array of ages.

The West Side Boosters play about 30 games each season and compete with 16 other community teams.  Ashalee’s team has won two first place and runner-up Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS) and Minnesota State Federation trophies in the past few years.  This year they took third place in the MSF Tournament in Becker, Minn.  They won their first two games, but then Ashalee sprained her ankle and had to sit out.  Her teammates played valiantly to finish the final game.

The following weekend they came in first by a 20-point margin at the MYAS State 2 Double A Tournament.  “It was bittersweet seeing them play their final game,” said Santino Franco.  “The girls started as champions six years ago and now leave as champions.  They were fun to watch and it’s sad to see them go.”

Since this is the last season the middle school girls will play together, it’s been a poignant winter.  Next year they will be scattered at various local schools.  Ashalee plans to attend Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights.  She won’t know until September if she’ll be on its basketball roster, but with her no-holds-barred positive attitude, it’s a safe bet that she will be shooting hoops there for the next four years. 

Ashalee then wants to play in college, where she envisions a pre-law major.  She said she’s already mastered the art of arguing, enjoys watching TV judge shows and likes to help others surmount life’s obstacles, so becoming a lawyer seems like a natural fit.

Her great-grandmother would be proud.