It was the second to last game before the end of the basketball season and Veritas Academy was pushing for victory. Senior Luisa Toro, who had been on the team since her freshman year, was hoping to put another undefeated season on her resume to follow an undefeated junior year.

Two of the team’s starters were out on college tours leaving the rest of the guards to step up and lead the team. At half-time, Veritas was down by 30 points, but Toro wasn’t giving up. On a team where everyone is considered a captain, Toro stepped in.

“I hustled like I had never before. And I remember the next day I had muscle spasms, like I was stiff. But it was totally worth it,” said Toro.

Pulling out quite the comeback, Veritas Academy went on to beat Bryant High School by one point. Another undefeated season in the record books.

“Luisa, almost single-handedly, took the game back and won it. She wasn’t gonna give in. She wasn’t going to let that happen. She played her heart out and took the role of a leader till the final second,” said Carla Nasso, the Veritas Academy basketball coach.

High school wasn’t the beginning of Toro’s basketball career. She started playing basketball in elementary school and then joined a team in middle school. In her own words, she “wasn’t very good at first” but she had the necessary motivation and drive to improve. Her goal was not only to become better, but to make sure she was a strong player the rest of the team could rely on. It was that team nature of the sport that really drew her in.

“It’s all about working with other people and understanding other people. As a team you have to figure out what’s the problem, how do we get through this problem, and what needs to be done that isn’t being done,” said Toro.

Toro uses her thorough understanding of teamwork in both her academics and in her extracurricular activities. As a member of her school’s “Green Team,” a horticultural club, Toro has had the opportunity to present at two conferences; the “Dream Out Loud Conference” and the “2019 Teaching Social Activism Conference.” Here she asked teachers and students to consider how they can make their communities more sustainable. She enjoys the chance to put people in mock situations where they have to discover a way to solve a problem. The “Green Team” is also in charge of two gardens and all their produce is donated to those in need.

“I have a little sister and I want to set an example for her. Being involved in the community isn’t just to be involved; it’s to pull out the best of it. Like you want to improve the community that helped you grow up. It’s about making sure that what you’re doing in life, even if it’s the smallest thing has a purpose,” said Toro.

Toro is also involved in multiple Advanced Placement classes and the National Honor Society. She credits her success to being her own leader and not just following the crowd. She is more interested in being an example for others than blending in. Toro credits supportive teachers with having helped her get to this point of acceptance and “brought her out of her shell” as they pushed Toro to get involved in things that were bigger than herself.

Toro is currently a poolee for the marines, a not yet enlisted member, and hopes to become a full recruit next year. With the discipline basketball has taught her, she knows she can push on to accomplish whatever tasks lay before her.

“It’s all about discipline, definitely discipline. And just being able to push through knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Whether you win or lose a game, there’s always something to work on,” said Toro.