After four seasons and 117 games, the end of senior attacker Bonnie Miles’s career at ASU is near. Miles has made a name for herself throughout her four years as a member of the ASU water polo team. She has the third-most assists in school history, ranks ninth all-time in career goals and sixth all-time in career points. She has the 10th-most career steals in school history as well.
Success has been a recurring theme for Miles during her Sun Devil years. Last season, she earned ACWPC All-Academic Team recognition as well as being named to the All-MPSF Academic Team for the second straight season.
The No. 9 Sun Devils (16-12) wrap up the 2010 season next weekend when they travel to Los Angeles for the MPSF Championships from April 30 to May 2.
The State Press caught up with the departing senior as she reflects on her Sun Devil career and married life as she prepares herself for her final games as a Sun Devil in the upcoming MPSF tournament.
State Press: Looking back on your time at ASU, what sticks out to you most about your career? Bonnie Miles: The moments with the team. When you have a laugh, even when swim sets suck or aren’t pleasant, and looking at your teammate and knowing they are putting in just as much as you are. SP: You are one of the few student-athletes that is married. How has that balance between the team and married life been?
BM: I have a very supportive husband. A lot of husbands in general wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice that time with their wives. David lets me pursue my goals. He makes me go to practice.
SP: Your name is all across the leaderboard of school history statistics. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
BM: Assists. Everyone likes being able to score the goal and get the credit, but one of my favorite things is getting the read. I feel good when I give someone the opportunity to shine. It makes me feel like a teammate.
SP: Down the road maybe five or 10 years from now, what do you want your teammates to remember you for, as an athlete and a person? BM: That I cared and that I always gave everything I had.
SP: How would you describe your senior season so far?
BM: The fall never goes by fast; it’s all the conditioning. I had a different perspective knowing it was my last preseason. It was a quick season. We had so many away games. I enjoyed it. I have a great team [and] we have great chemistry.
SP: When the fourth quarter ends, and you get out of the pool in your final game and have that last team meeting, do you think it will be an emotional time for you? BM: It will be emotional. Since I signed my papers at ASU, there hasn’t been a day where I have not thought about it. It has been a big part of my life, a big part of my heart. It is a big chunk of life to not have anymore, to not have the pressure and the rewards. SP: With your time at ASU drawing to an end, what comes next for you?
BM: I start grad school in the summer. I’m getting my Masters in math education. After a year I will be certified to teach and have a Master’s, then hopefully moving to medical school for my husband, and I will support him teaching high school math.
SP: What is your outlook heading into the MPSF Tournament next week?
BM: We had ups and downs this season. I feel toward the end, we carried some baggage with our losses. So we decided to have a two-week season. We’ve just got to win three games to get to the [NCAA Tournament]. No team is unbeatable.
SP: Over the course of your four years here, with all the good times with your teammates, I’m sure there are a many funny memories and stories that you remember.
BM: My sophomore year, we were countering, and [ASU coach Todd Clapper] was yelling at me to do something. I thought he said something else, and I stopped. I basically talked back a little. He made me get out and do push-ups. He feels bad cursing at me because I’m Mormon. He picked up a water bottle and he couldn’t curse at me, so he squirted me in the face.
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
