Katelyn Zarotney enjoyed volleyball, but her favorite sport was basketball.  She excelled in this roundball sport, in which she ranks first in Berlin history in career field goals (488), rebounds (829) and blocks (113) and second in scored points (1,267).

Zarotney, a 2010 graduate, was a four-year starter at forward and center.  She was All-New Britain Herald winner four times, coaches award recipient three times, All-Courant Fab 15 two times and a New Haven Register All-State player.  “She competed like no other and did it with style and class,” Berlin coach Sheila King said.  “She is the gold standard of athlete that the program to this day uses as an example and role model…”

Zarotney excelled in the lane and led Berlin to two Northwest Conference championships and one Central Connecticut Conference title. She was all-conference four times.  The 2008-09 team advanced to the Class M finale, which it lost 55-53 to Bacon Academy, and to a semifinal Class L appearance in 2010.

“I’m most proud of being on that title-game team,” Zarotney said.  “I can still see and hear the ‘Red Sea’ (Berlin red-clad students) at Mohegan Sun Arena.”

Zarotney, who played softball as a freshman, used her basketball athleticism and instincts to fuel her distinction on a different court.  She was all-conference in volleyball, received the coaches award twice and was All-State second team her junior season.  The 2007 team advanced to the M quarterfinals.

She later played three basketball seasons and in 79 games (23 as a starter) at Siena College, where she twice led the team in season field goal percentage.  She shot 7-7 against Manhattan and scored a career-high 14, which she previously had done against UMASS.

She received the Joe Hogan award for Desire, Attitude and Dedication in 2012-13 and the Vicki Aromando Academic Excellence Award in ’13-14.

Bone graft shoulder surgery ended her career after her junior season.  The perseverance that helped the emotional and physical demands of numerous shoulder surgeries and rehabilitations was an academic and career cornerstone.  After graduating in 3 ½ years with a business management degree, she completed an accelerated degree for nursing at Southern Connecticut State University.  

Today she is a registered nurse in the Boston Children’s Hospital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.