Kristi Kingma
School: University of Washington
Hometown: Mill Creek, Wash.
Year: RS Senior
Position: Guard/Forward
Notes:
-2009 Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 Freshman Team
-2010 Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 Defensive Team
-2011 All-Pac-10 Team
Chaplain Quote:
“I’ve known Kristi since she was a little girl attending our ‘Run To Win’ sports camps, and she’s always had a strong faith in God that was nurtured by her family. She is an incredible athlete with an insatiable competitive spirit, and she has worked hard to develop the gifts and abilities that God has blessed her with so that she can shine brightly for Him."
– Karen Rohrbach
University of Washington
Women’s Basketball Chaplain
"'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Coming off her third consecutive season of All-Pac-10 honors, Washington’s Kristi Kingma was set to have a stellar senior season in 2011 when a knee injury in exhibition action ended her year before it began. Now, with a new appreciation for the game, Kingma sees her redshirt season as a blessing from her Lord—one she plans to enjoy from start to finish, embracing every struggle and triumph along the way.
FCA: How have you grown as a person and in your faith while at Washington?
KK: As a freshman, I was just excited to play basketball at the school where I always dreamed of playing. Being a basketball player was more important to me than who I was as a daughter of Jesus. But as I’ve gotten older and matured, it’s become the op-posite. Who I am in Jesus and my relationship with Him is so much more important to me than anything I could accomplish in basketball.
FCA: What’s the toughest battle you’ve had to overcome during your college career?
KK: Definitely the hardest part was prior to last season when I tore my ACL. It’s really easy to get down on yourself when you’re fighting a battle that's both mentally and physically challenging. Through that time I learned to intentionally speak positive thoughts to myself and strategically place myself around encouraging and uplifting people.
FCA: How did missing a year due to injury change your attitude toward the game?
KK: When you're growing up, you play basketball because you love it. But in college it’s a grind—practices are tough, and you're in school and away from home. But missing last year, sitting back and realizing that ultimately, the reason I’m playing is because I love it, was really refreshing. There were days last year where I would’ve given anything to be on the court, and I try to remember that this year, that fresh perspective of why I’m playing and for Whom I’m playing.
FCA: What does your faith mean to you in light of your individual awards and accomplish-ments?
KK: Those are huge accomplishments, and I'm really humbled by the fact that I’ve been able to receive those awards. But I never want to be at a point where basketball or success and recognition mean more to me than Jesus. Ultimately my relationship with Him, what He's teaching me, and how I'm learning to serve Him takes precedence over all those things.
I want to use the platform and abilities He's given me to be a light for Him, honoring Him and helping people see who God really is. Over the years I’ve learned that I can do that by serving my teammates and showing them Jesus’ love and respecting and hon-oring my coaches in the best way I know how. It’s not about me. I'm not going to save anyone; that's the work of Jesus.
FCA: What do FCA and ministries like it mean to college athletes?
KK: I am so thankful for FCA and people who are willing to invest in athletes’ lives. College athletes have a unique platform to share Jesus with people. For the four or five years they're in school, people really admire them and look up to every word they say. FCA and groups like it have a heart to reach those athletes, pour into them, and provide them with ways to share their faith within their community and outside of it as well.
Originally Published: January 2013
Photos courtesy of UW Athletics