Whilst they were spreading goodwill and battling the Indian National Championship team on their tour of Southern India, the Ringwood Lady Hawks also quietly added a key piece to their Big V team for season 2018.

Wisconsin born Cassidy Mihalko is a 5’10 Guard who played her College Basketball at California Baptist and enjoyed a record setting career with the Lancers. Mihalko’s trophy cabinet is a large one with such awards as the School’s all-time leading scorer, Pac-West Player of the Year, Pac-West Female Player of the Year, Pac-West Female Athlete/Scholar of the Year and West Region Player of the Year. She was also All-Conference and All-American. Her 2,231 career points is the most ever scored in the Pac-West Conference, an amazing record that will take some beating.

Lady Hawks Coach Tim Mottin found Mihalko whilst trolling through pages and pages of possibilities and after a phone call was impressed enough to invite the Wisconsin born star on the trip to India. When the Lady Hawks landed in India, Mihalko was there waiting at the airport.

“It was great meeting the girls in India but it I could barely understand the accent and new lingo.” Mihalko said.

“But I got used to it and the team was so welcoming and friendly and a little goofy too. We had a great time.”

During the 5 game tour, Mihalko showed exactly what she can do, leading the team in scoring whilst trying to learn the offensive structures on the fly. The Indian fans loved her ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter and her 31 point explosion in Game 5 of the series and triggered a huge amount of local media coverage.

As for Australia, Mihalko freely admits that she doesn’t know too much but about the Ringwood area but cannot wait to explore all it has to offer.

“I know there are bugs, really big bugs but let’s ignore that.” She said

“I did also hear it’s beautiful, the weather is warm and I will get to see a Kangaroo.”

Mihalko won’t have to wait long to find out as she is booked to arrive in Australia on the 14th January, and will be travelling with the Hawks other import players Jacob Gibson and Scottie Stone. She will join her teammates for the start of pre-season training which will kick off the following week. The Big V season starts on March 17.