Local residents’ granddaughter to play for Team USA in Brazil

Drury basketball player Sara Mendel, daughter of Danny and Shannon Mendel of Ava and granddaughter of Sandy Heriford and Robert Klineline of Gainesville, has been selected to play for the U.S. National Team when it competes this summer in Brazil. 

The national team, comprised of NCAA-II players, will feature three current members of the Drury Lady Panthers: Mendel, guard Rhi Gibbons and guard Kaylee King. Drury head coach Kaci Bailey was selected to serve as head coach for the national team. In addition, Drury assistant coach Destiny Smith will also serve on the coaching staff.

The rest of the Team USA roster includes Sam Basson (Henderson St.), Patricia Chikamba (Indianapolis), Ryan Franklin (Missouri Southern/Tampa), Norah Gum (Missouri S&T), Olivia Lee (Union), Ivey Schmidt (Western Colorado). In addition to Smith, Bailey’s coaching staff is comprised of Henderson State assistant Jill Thomas and Missouri Western head coach Brooks McKowen.

Sara said she is looking forward to the trip. “I’m really excited and honored for the opportunity to represent Drury and the USA in Brazil this summer,” Sara said. “Lifetime memories will definitely be made!”

Organized by USA Sports Tours and Events, Sara and the rest of the team will leave the United States on July 21 and compete in four games before returning on July 29. The team will play two games in São Paulo, Brazil, the second-largest city in the western hemisphere, and two games in Rio de Janeiro. They will be taking on first and second-division professional teams in addition to under-22 club teams.

The U.S. squad will arrive in Campinas and visit Jundiai before arriving and playing in São Paulo.

Sara, who is heading into her junior year at Drury, is a 6’2” starting forward for the Lady Panthers and averaged 8.2 points and 8.1 rebounds as a sophomore.

While she was at Ava High School, Sara was the state’s co-player of the year in class 4 and averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1.8 steals for the Lady Bears during her senior year. She was named the player of the year in the South Central Association and in district 11 for two consecutive years. Sara scored 1,485 points and had 911 rebounds in her high school career and was named an all-state performer for three straight seasons. 

She led the Bears to three straight district titles under former Ava Coach Nathan Houk (who is now Gainesville High School’s Lady Bulldogs head coach) and racked up more than 21 wins in her three seasons on the varsity squad.  

Sara is spending part of her summer in the Gainesville High School gym assisting Coach Houk with off-season basketball practice with the Lady Bulldogs high school team.

She is majoring in integrated business with a minor in communications.

Her parents said they are proud of all Sara’s accomplishments on the basketball court. “But we’re most proud that she’s an even better student and person,” they added.