The Legend Behind the Goggles

 By Lauren Moran

Ever since the age of 6 Kayla Raymond has been a standout and as her final season of basketball approaches, she is ready to go out on a high note.

With 782 career points,16 Northeast-10 Conference Awards, NE-10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and being named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division 2 All-America squad, this is nothing but the norm for Raymond.

While at Oliver Ames High School in Easton Raymond was a four-year letter winner in basketball and received the Boston Globe All-Scholastic honor award.

“I remember, her freshman year of high school watching her at the Stonehill Basketball Camps, saying that she is something very special,” Trisha Brown, head coach of the Stonehill Women’s Basketball team, said.

“It’s so close to home so it was easy for my family to come to watch me play and I was also drawn to the culture of the team,” Raymond said.

During her sophomore year, Raymond was averaging 19.7 points on 46.3% shooting before the season was abruptly canceled due to COVID-19. Brown said Raymond “was playing the best basketball she has ever played” in the 2020 season.

“It was beautiful to watch such athletic and graceful player.”

Due to her dominating the court in that season, the saying “fear the goggles” was coined by the student body at Stonehill after Raymond wore Rec Specs every game. The saying became so popular that during the 2020 season, t-shirts were made with her face on it over the saying “fear the goggles.”

Eventually the Stonehill Women’s Basketball Team to win the Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

“Ever since I was little, I always dreamed of winning a championship and we did just that. That meant everything to me,” Raymond said.

Through it all Raymond remains a team player.

“Being alongside Kayla throughout our basketball careers here has been an opportunity I wouldn’t change for the world,” teammate Bella Santoro said, “To be teammates with her through the good and bad times has definitely made us grow in this program together.”

“She is just so humble. She has been so committed to the program and her teammates. She has always been so unselfish, which is everything that a coach wants,” Coach Brown said.

Most importantly basketball has taught her how to manage her time. As a student-athlete she practices every day, lifts weights several times a week, and plays in games. Between it all she has class simultaneously working towards a degree.

“This sport has taught me many things in life but the biggest thing I will take away is the relationships I made with my teammates. They mean everything to me, and I am eternally grateful for them,” Raymond said.

“Planning out my schedule ahead of time can go a long way especially being a student-athlete with a busy schedule,” Raymond said.

Raymond’s said she has been playing basketball ever since she was 6 years old. “My mom made me play sports because of how much energy I had as a kid. From there I really took a liking to basketball and knew I wanted to make it my focus,” Raymond said.

She played all throughout elementary and middle school. Eventually she moved on to playing on an AAU and to the varsity level.

“I knew I wanted to play at the college level for years. Once I started playing in high school and schools started to get an interest in me then I realized my dream could become a reality,” Raymond said.

The sport means everything to her and has affected her life in many ways from traveling across the country playing in AAU tournaments in high school, leading her to Stonehill, and also introducing her to some of the most important people in her life.

Due to COVID-19 her junior season was taken away from her but this year as a senior she plans to end her career on a high note.

“I’m looking forward to finally being able to compete for a championship again,” Raymond said. “It’s been such a long time due to the pandemic and I can’t wait to play in a game.”

Raymond said she is looking forward to the upcoming season as their first game is approaching at the end of November.

“Through the struggles, basketball has taught me many life lessons and skills along the way and given me amazing experiences that I’m so grateful for and wouldn’t trade for anything,” she said.

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