Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
Blog
Mt Si: A Moving Meditation
My plan was to make a quick ascent of Mt Si, get in a good workout and enjoy the view. The perfect beginning for my birthday getaway. But as I made my way up the steep Mt. Si hillside, my mind was spinning. There was guilt for taking two days for myself and leaving my family. It was spirit week at my daughter’s school and I was missing doing her 80’s day make up, there was the fence to be fixed at the rental house, dogs to be fed, watered & walked, forms to be typed up for coaching, laundry, the list was endless. With each step, I remembered one more responsibility, one more reason I shouldn’t be there on the trail. But as I continued upward and the journey became more difficult (it’s a 4 mile hike up to a […]
Letting go
Being a mom is scary. My son has wanted to play football since he was 5 years old. His dad was an all-state quarter back who went on to play in college. My son has loved playing catch since before he could walk. (almost) Football is in his blood. Protecting my son is in mine.
When he was young I laid down the law. “No contact football until Middle School.” I became a flag football coach. My son and his friends learned the fundamentals of the game without getting pummeled.
Last year my son started middle school. What? Already? Somehow he never got signed up for football. I was happy to watch him learn ultimate frisbee.
This year my son’s friend started contact football, there was no excuse, other than fear. And there are good reasons for the fear, he got a mild concussion […]
Books, basketball & blessings
Books & basketball. For me there isn’t a better combination, at least I wouldn’t have thought so until I set out on a small book tour this summer. I read excerpts from my book, Back on the Court, at Washington locations from Leavenworth (A Book for All Seasons & the Library) across the state to Aunties Bookstore in Spokane where after my reading I watched a lot of basketball (It was Hoopfest weekend). I met some amazing people, including two people that helped save my life twenty years ago. Books, basketball & blessings. One definition of blessing is: the act of a person who bestows good. Because of the good of these people, and many others, I am here today and I can enjoy my books and basketball, and count my blessings.
Thank you Bruce and Jacquie.
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