Saluting our moms: NFA's Sarah Ericson and mom Kate Ericson

May 9—Sarah Ericson is a scrapper. She averaged a team-high seven rebounds this winter for the Norwich Free Academy girls' basketball team despite being a lithe 5-foot-6 guard.

Ericson's competitiveness caused her to be hard on herself whenever she lost at a young age. Her mother, Kate Ericson, would encourage her to have fun and have a positive outlook, especially since sports don't last forever.

"Especially this year with everything that happened (during the pandemic)," Sarah said. "Just really taking advantage of this past year and not wasting it. She was the one to convince me to play tennis (for NFA this spring). She was right. I'm having a lot of fun with it and enjoying this extra time that I wouldn't have gotten.

"I'd probably just be sitting around with my friends. Now we can compete together. I have her to thank for that."

Ericson also encouraged her senior basketball teammates Anajah Ingram, Jenissa Varela and Cassidy White to join her on the tennis courts.

"In my defense, I never thought any of them would say yes to it," she said. "They signed on pretty quickly."

Kate Ericson was an outstanding athlete at NFA. The 1992 graduate earned 10 varsity letters in soccer, basketball and softball. She was a two-time all-state selection in softball and started all but one game over four seasons at Boston College. She is a Norwich Sports Hall of Fame inductee and the associate executive director for LEARN Regional Educational Service Center.

"I'm very close to my mom," Sarah Ericson said. "I think we have the same exact kind of mind. I think we have the same sense of humor. We're always laughing with each other. I just have the best relationship with her. She's always supported me in everything.

"I'm just so lucky to have her as my mom."