UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University Athletics resumes its 'Student-Athlete Spotlight' feature, which focuses on different Cardinal student-athletes and what it means for them to be a part of the SVSU Athletics family.

The latest installment of the 'Student-Athlete Spotlight' series highlights Sam Zirzow, a senior on the SVSU women's basketball team and native of Goodrich, Michigan who just completed her career in an SVSU uniform in the spring.  

Zirzow had one of her patented solid seasons as a forward for the Cardinals, rounding-out her career with a senior season in which she finished with a career-best scoring average of 12.3 ppg and grabbed 5.5 rpg, all while playing in a team-high 32.1 minutes per-game.  A mainstay in the SVSU starting lineup, Zirzow played in 106 career games, starting in 103 of those contests.    

She reached a milestone during the 2014-15 season as well, crossing the 1,000-point mark for her career as part of a stretch in a game at Grand Valley State University in which she rattled-off six consecutive points on her own.  Sam is just the 17th player to earn the distinction as a member of the 1,000-point club in the storied history of SVSU Women's Basketball.  

Zirzow was a main driving force in the women's basketball program making repeat trips to the GLIAC Tournament in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.  Her stellar free-throw shooting during the 2013-14 season (85.6%) helped the team break the school record for free throw percentage in a season with a 77.1% mark, a figure that ranked them #11 in the nation. 

Sam has had an equally impressive performance in the classroom, as she will graduate on May 8th with a bachelor's degree in Social Work with a cumulative GPA of 3.551.  She will then jump right into her master's work, as she will begin the Michigan State Advance Standing Program, which is stationed here on the campus of SVSU.

SVSU Head Women's Basketball Coach Jamie Pewinski had a few words on Sam and what she has meant to the program...

"Sam has been one of the hardest workers that we have had in this program over the past four years.  She was able to log a lot of minutes over her career and was someone that we could always count on to keep improving her game.  Because of this, she was able to not only earn many individual accolades, but has helped us get this program turned in the right direction!  I am very grateful to have coached such a stabilizing force at a time when so many changes were being made in this program and am so proud of Sam for graduating in four years."

We caught up with Sam recently and she shed some light on her experience here as a student-athlete at Saginaw Valley State University...

What about Saginaw Valley State University intrigued you and made you decide to study here?

The one aspect of Saginaw Valley that I loved was how much potential the school had in general.  I’ve been on and off the campus since around middle school for basketball camps and tournaments, and every time I re-entered the campus there was another improvement.  The campus is beautiful and in a great area with multiple stores and restaurants right down the road.  Along with that, the athletic department seemed so open and friendly.  They seemed to cater to the athletes' needs and make sure their athletes were taken care of.  There was not one negative aspect about Saginaw Valley that I could find, so there was no way I could walk away from this school.

What are the best aspects of being a student-athlete here at SVSU?

Where to start??  There are so many different aspects about being a student-athlete at Saginaw Valley that I appreciate.  First off, although I am graduating from Saginaw Valley in May, I know that I will always have a family here.  Student-athletes are so important to the athletic department and that is something I love!  I know if I were to ever to need something, I would be able to turn to the athletic department at SVSU.  Along with that, most of my best friends are student-athletes here as SVSU.  The athletes at SVSU have a very close bond, no matter what team you are affiliated with.

How has being a student-athlete at the collegiate level prepared you for your career after Saginaw Valley State University?

Being a student-athlete at the collegiate level has prepared me in many ways as I begin to pursue my future endeavors.  At a young age I had to learn how to manage a full class load, hours of practice and lifting, traveling, study tables and community involvement.  Being a student-athlete has helped me mature faster than some and this is something that I can now look back on and appreciate.  There are many skills such as time management, organization and leadership that I have acquired that many employers look for when hiring.  I have also learned my own personal strengths and weaknesses, which is extremely useful to know when entering the future.

What are some of your fondest memories you will have as it pertains to your athletic career?

I will never be able to forget the times that I have been able to spend with my teammates. Not only were we together for practices, games and traveling but we were always together off the court.  There was not a day that would pass without some burst of excitement within our group.  As for basketball, I will always remember the amazing trips that we were privileged to take as a team.  Not many teams are able to say that they have traveled to Texas, Georgia and Alaska; and on top of that pay nothing in expense.  Many of my memories here at SVSU pertain to my teammates or basketball and I am so grateful to have been able to take this route for my collegiate career.

What does it mean to be part of the Cardinal Athletic Family?

Being able to be part of the Cardinal Athletic Family means that I know I will always have a special family here at SVSU.  No matter how long I am away from SVSU I know that I will always be able to come back and have support from the department.  I have much to thank this department for and I am very proud to be able to call myself a Cardinal and a Saginaw Valley State University alumna.