NEW YORK, N.Y. - A three-year varsity letter earner in women's basketball, Dimitra Thomopoulos was a force for the Hawks. The Old Westbury, N.Y. native racked up 703 total points in her 77 games played, hitting the 200-point mark each season. She also corralled over a 100 boards a season too. Her senior year, she also was a member of the Hunter track & field team where she competed in the sprints as well as the relays. We were able to reconnect with the former Hunter forward recently and here is what she had to say.
What have you been up to post Hunter?
Currently a Dietitian-Intern with the National Institutes of Health while also looking to secure my Ph.D. at Drexel University in the Fall 2020"
What was your favorite memory in a Hawks uniform?
"Any memory with a "hustle play." beating a girl back on defense, trapping a girl in the corner, taking a charge, getting a steal, etc."
Agreed, the grittier the play, the more it sticks in the memory! Now, what was your favorite memory of your time at Hunter College?
"Graduation was by far my favorite Hunter College memory for a number of reasons. Firstly, Hunter College is held in high academic regard so graduating from here is a great accomplishment. In addition, our graduation was held in Madison Square Garden- every student-athletes dream. Graduation was my time to reflect on all of the other great memories I had with my friends and teammates while at Hunter as well as everything that I had accomplished; it was also my moment to look forward to what I was going to accomplish in the future. Finally, I am one of the first in my family to attend college and the first NCAA student-athlete. So, at that moment, I was able to show my parents that their sacrifices did not go unappreciated or unnoticed."
Who was the staff member or coach who influenced you the most and how did they achieve that influence?
"I have always been a very physical athlete (to say the least). Coach Garrett taught me how to play more thoughtfully and strategically to more effectively utilize my physicality on the court. He also taught me how to prepare for games so that I was more confident in my skill set. Without Coach Garrett fine-tuning what my previous coaches had already instilled in me, I wouldn't have gone on to play professionally in Greece upon graduation."
Has participation in sports at Hunter prepared you for your current life/career?
"Sports unequivocally teaches individuals life lessons. Especially as a student-athlete, I learned time management, communication, and interpersonal skills. I learned how to effectively work with a team to achieve a common goal, particularly in unsteady and/or high-pressure situations. I couldn't realize it at the time, but I learned everything I needed to through triumphs and adversities I experienced as a Hawk. It allowed me to evolve into who I am today and work with the research and medical teams that I do."
Any advice to the Hawks that are on their way to graduation?
"Everything you need to succeed, you already hold within you- so surround yourself with people who believe that. Do what makes you happy! Don't allow others to make you question your potential. Oh, and, get off instagram and read more books."
