By Timothy Bold
The Scene staff
When she graduates this month, engineering student Erica Waelterman will have a rare opportunity to take a break.
In her two years at Meramec and Forest Park, she endured a hectic schedule that included playing both basketball and softball while carrying a full credit load. In her spare time, she earned extra income in side jobs, one of which included mowing grass.
Waelterman, 20, has been playing sports since kindergarten. One of her memories is watching her grandfather coach her uncles and a cousin at St. Francis Borgia High School in Washington, Mo.
She was inspired to be an engineer because of her father, Todd Waelterman, who is director of St. Louis city streets.
Watching sports on television added to her motivation. “I never really had one person I looked up to,” she said about professional athletes. “The older I got, the more competitive I became.”
Waelterman played both sports at Webster Groves High School, concentrating more on basketball, and she wanted to continue playing. “It was dream for me to play college sports,” she said.
At STLCC, she captained the basketball team both seasons.
Coach Shelly Ethridge said, “‘Walt’ would set the tone for practices by her work ethic. She lifted our practices by the intensity and speed. She will be greatly missed.”
On the softball team, she played catcher and center field. Coach Kristi Swiderskie praised Waelterman, saying, “She comes in no matter what we need, no matter what capacity, she’s there.
Incredibly intelligent and incredibly coachable.”
Waelterman plans to continue her basketball career in the fall at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
Following is a question-and-answer interview with Waelterman.
The Scene: Why did you choose St. Louis Community College?
EW: I was able to get two free years here from the A+ program, plus the great basketball and softball programs.
The Scene: How many hours a week did you juggle between school, athletics and work?
EW: Sometimes it could be up to 60 hours a week, depending on practice, games, school work and side jobs.
The Scene: What is your most memorable moment playing for STLCC?
EW: In the nationals (her freshman year), I scored 22 points, defeating Essex County in the fifth-place game. (Ethridge said at the time, “She just had one of those nights where she could not miss.”)
The Scene: What has been your biggest disappointment?
EW: Losing to North Central Missouri College in the Region 16 Championship game (this season). It was frustrating and very disappointing because we beat them twice (during the regular season).
The Scene: Which sport do you like the most?
EW: Basketball because I took it more serious, more action and better success. Softball was more something fun to do.