Posted: Apr 17, 2015
The Award of Valor is given to an individual for their ability to overcome obstacles and serve as an inspiration to others. The recipients used perseverance dedication and determination to overcome a life-altering event.
Also voted a member of the prestigious 2015 Allstate/Women's Basketball Coaches Association of America (WBCA) Goodworks team, Sobieraski is actively involved with Upstate New York Transplant Services (UNYTS). Born with a rare liver condition called Wilson's Disease, she nearly lost her life during her junior year before receiving a liver transplant in March of 2013.
She was not only determined to return to school and the basketball team, Sobieraski also made it a priority to utilize her experience to promote organ and tissue donation as well as the importance of donating blood throughout Western New York during her comeback.
Sobieraski has gone back to her high school alma mater in Lockport, N.Y., numerous times to speak about her experience and get teachers/staff/students involved with blood donation as well as organ donation. She helped coordinate a UNYTS-sponsored blood drive among Western New York high school football teams in conjunction with the Buffalo Bills, and was a guest speaker at a blood drive sponsored by the Buffalo Sabres where she talked about her experience and personally thanked all those that donated. (Her grandfather is the late Ted Darling, the long-time television voice of the Buffalo Sabres). She also worked with the Rochester, N.Y. UNYTS to be a part of their drives and events this year.
Sobieraski shot a PSA in conjunction with the Buffalo Sabres on the importance of organ donation and supporting the UNYTS.
A business administration major, she started taking classes again in the spring of 2014 and was cleared to begin working out and playing basketball last summer. Fully recovered from her operation, she rejoined the team in the fall for their run to the 2015 SUNYAC Championship and the NCAA Division III Tournament “Sweet 16.” Appearing in all 30 games, including five starts, Sobieraski finished the season averaging 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game for the Knights, which were ranked No. 19 in the final WBCA Division III Coach's Poll.
A full feature on Sobieraski's journey can be found at GeneseoKnights.com.
Sobieraski is only the second Geneseo student-athlete to ever win the award, and is the first female in department history. Former men's ice hockey player Dan Brown also won the award during his senior year in 2010.
Click here to view past SUNYAC Award of Valor recipients
