As her senior season at Michigan winds down, and her college eligibility with it, Greta Kampschroeder has allowed herself to contemplate her basketball journey.
Heading into her final regular-season Big Ten game Sunday afternoon at Illinois, Kampschroeder has never been more grateful for her experiences — all of them, the good and the bad — and how they have helped her grow.
“The past four years have really shown me that I’m stronger than I think, I can do a lot more than I think,” Kampschroeder said. “Being a student-athlete itself, whether or not or essentially facing adversity or not, is just really hard doing what we do every day.”
And as the end of her time at Michigan draws nearer, hopefully coming deep in the NCAA Tournament, Kampschroeder recalls her basketball beginnings in middle school in Naperville and then Naperville North.
“I tell myself every day, do it for your younger self,” she said. “Because I do think about my journey and what got me here. I first started playing basketball just because I thought it was so fun and I just loved competing and there was really no pressure. And then you get to a high level and it feels a little more like a job. You have to remind yourself, you’re just a girl dribbling a ball on a wooden floor and it’s really not that big of a deal. …
“So yeah, I do reflect on my journey a lot. Just like the younger Greta and how she viewed the game at that time.”
The younger Greta probably would be awed by what the older Greta has accomplished and what she has overcome along the way.
How Greta left Naperville North as a McDonald’s All-American and one of the top recruits in the country, the school’s all-time No. 3 scorer and all-time leading rebounder. How she challenged herself by leaving home for Oregon State her freshman year, where she first experienced adversity. How she made “one of the best decisions I ever made” to transfer to Michigan and be closer to her family.
Ask Kampschroeder about Michigan, and she gushes about the whole student-athlete experience there. She couldn’t be happier, except maybe with a few more wins.
The 6-foot-1 Kampschroeder, listed as a guard, is averaging 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds despite the challenge of playing center, usually against players several inches taller and a few pounds more than her too.
“It’s like a full-on body workout for me every game,” she joked.
Despite starting three freshmen and an undersized center, the Wolverines are sixth in the Big Ten at 10-7, 19-9 overall. And Kampschroeder has loved it.
“It’s been the best season yet, for sure. It’s been fun. Obviously ups and downs, but that’s how basketball seasons go,” she said.
UCLA 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts (51) fights for position with Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
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And when this season is over, Kampschroeder plans to play overseas, preferably Europe, at least for a couple of years until her body tells her she’s had enough.
And when it’s time for her to retire from playing and find a real job, Kampschroeder would like it to be in sports. She’s a sport management with a concentration in data analytics.
“I can’t imagine not being a part of sports. Maybe it’s basketball, maybe it’s football, maybe it’s soccer. I really just enjoy all sports,” she said.
But this season isn’t over yet. After the Illinois game comes the Big Ten Tournament next week in Indianapolis, then the NCAA Tournament. ESPN.com predicts Michigan will get a No. 6 seed in Fort Worth.
And when the season does come to that abrupt end almost all teams experience, Kampschroeder will be grateful for the journey. All of it.
“I wouldn’t want my experience to have gone any other way because I’ve learned so much and I’ve developed great qualities from going through what I’ve gone through,” she said.
“And I’ve met so many amazing people who have helped me get through these past four years. It’s just a roller coaster. College sports is really a roller coaster. It is not easy. But it’s one of the most amazing experiences one can go through.”
Daily Herald Sports Editor Orrin Schwarz can be reached at oschwarz@dailyherald.com.
Michigan guard Greta Kampschroeder (11) goes up for a shot as Minnesota guard Amaya Battle (3) follows during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
AP
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