SE: K-State WBB Senior Peyton Williams Relives Excitement of Making Team USA for Pan American Games
May 24, 2019 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Peyton Williams had to think about it. Then, she asked herself out loud.
"Last tryout?" the K-State women's basketball senior pondered, trying to figure out the last time she had to wait, anxiously, to hear her name called to see if she made a team.
It quickly came to her.
"Probably at camp when I was a sophomore or junior in high school," she said. "That's the last time I had to try out for anything."
Sitting in front of reporters on Thursday afternoon, the First Team All-Big 12 power forward reflected on a different tryout, the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games Women's Basketball Team trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from May 16-20.
Like the one in high school, this one worked out well for her.
Out of the 35 participants, Williams was one of 12 selected to team. The Topeka native will return to Colorado Springs to train with the Team USA from July 23-August 5, before heading to Lima, Peru for the Pan America Games from August 6-10.
Unlike the one in high school, Williams never expected any of this.
The invitation itself came as a surprise. When the two-sport star received it, she doubted she would even be able to go, as she's slated to leave for K-State volleyball's nine-day Brazil tour next week. Fortunately, the dates lined up for her to go to the trials, at least.
"I was super excited to experience that," she said. "Obviously getting to go to the Olympic Training Center is something you don't get to do every day."
Williams did more than experience the trials, too. She impressed the USA Basketball Pan American Team Committee enough to earn a spot on a team filled with All-Americans and future WNBA Draft picks.
"One of 12, only second time in school history, this is a big accomplishment. This is an All-American-type team. This is a team with first-round draft picks. This is a very talented team," K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said. "It's kind of funny because throughout the week I was texting with her a little bit, and Peyton hardly ever says great stuff about the way she plays, but she said, 'I think I'm playing pretty well.'
"For her to say that, I felt like she was probably playing really well."
Still, Williams said she ended the trials with "mixed feelings."
She thought she played well and was a good teammate. She never doubted either of those. But the more she thought about the other players who tried out, especially the ones at her position, the same question came up: Would that be enough?
"I had no idea," Williams admitted.
Her doubt grew when the final roster was listed at the end of the trials. It was read off in alphabetical order, by last name.
"And I'm a W," Williams laughed.
Williams gave up on her chances as she kept hearing "tall people" named in this climatic moment, so she was taken back when her name was the last called.
"It was utter shock," she said. "It was awesome."
For Williams, the significance of it all did not really hit her until she put on her first Team USA jersey at the trials. Then, she walked into the gym and "USA" was everywhere. Now, she will wear those letters with pride for herself, her home state and her college.
"You had to clarify and say, 'No, I'm from Manhattan, Kansas, not the other Manhattan,'" Williams said of the trials, with a smile. "To represent Kansas State and the Midwest and Kansas is awesome. To bring attention to an area where people fly over, that's kind of fun."
This was also completely outside of her dream radar until she even got the invite.
"I didn't even think about it (growing up). That's the crazy part," Williams said. "You watched it on TV, but you were, like, 'That's really cool for those people. I'm real excited for them.' It was never, 'I want to be that.' It's more just, 'Wow, I am that now.'"
Peyton Williams had to think about it. Then, she asked herself out loud.
"Last tryout?" the K-State women's basketball senior pondered, trying to figure out the last time she had to wait, anxiously, to hear her name called to see if she made a team.
It quickly came to her.
"Probably at camp when I was a sophomore or junior in high school," she said. "That's the last time I had to try out for anything."
Sitting in front of reporters on Thursday afternoon, the First Team All-Big 12 power forward reflected on a different tryout, the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games Women's Basketball Team trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from May 16-20.
Like the one in high school, this one worked out well for her.
Out of the 35 participants, Williams was one of 12 selected to team. The Topeka native will return to Colorado Springs to train with the Team USA from July 23-August 5, before heading to Lima, Peru for the Pan America Games from August 6-10.
Unlike the one in high school, Williams never expected any of this.
The invitation itself came as a surprise. When the two-sport star received it, she doubted she would even be able to go, as she's slated to leave for K-State volleyball's nine-day Brazil tour next week. Fortunately, the dates lined up for her to go to the trials, at least.
"I was super excited to experience that," she said. "Obviously getting to go to the Olympic Training Center is something you don't get to do every day."
Williams did more than experience the trials, too. She impressed the USA Basketball Pan American Team Committee enough to earn a spot on a team filled with All-Americans and future WNBA Draft picks.
"One of 12, only second time in school history, this is a big accomplishment. This is an All-American-type team. This is a team with first-round draft picks. This is a very talented team," K-State head coach Jeff Mittie said. "It's kind of funny because throughout the week I was texting with her a little bit, and Peyton hardly ever says great stuff about the way she plays, but she said, 'I think I'm playing pretty well.'
"For her to say that, I felt like she was probably playing really well."
Still, Williams said she ended the trials with "mixed feelings."
She thought she played well and was a good teammate. She never doubted either of those. But the more she thought about the other players who tried out, especially the ones at her position, the same question came up: Would that be enough?
"I had no idea," Williams admitted.
Her doubt grew when the final roster was listed at the end of the trials. It was read off in alphabetical order, by last name.
"And I'm a W," Williams laughed.
Williams gave up on her chances as she kept hearing "tall people" named in this climatic moment, so she was taken back when her name was the last called.
"It was utter shock," she said. "It was awesome."
For Williams, the significance of it all did not really hit her until she put on her first Team USA jersey at the trials. Then, she walked into the gym and "USA" was everywhere. Now, she will wear those letters with pride for herself, her home state and her college.
"You had to clarify and say, 'No, I'm from Manhattan, Kansas, not the other Manhattan,'" Williams said of the trials, with a smile. "To represent Kansas State and the Midwest and Kansas is awesome. To bring attention to an area where people fly over, that's kind of fun."
This was also completely outside of her dream radar until she even got the invite.
"I didn't even think about it (growing up). That's the crazy part," Williams said. "You watched it on TV, but you were, like, 'That's really cool for those people. I'm real excited for them.' It was never, 'I want to be that.' It's more just, 'Wow, I am that now.'"
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