On May 29, 2024, Quakertown senior Truly Heft was recognized for committing to compete in basketball as well as track & field at Gwynedd Mercy University.
Truly Heft – Gwynedd Mercy University (Basketball, Track & Field)
Major: Business & Marketing
Reasons for choosing Gwynedd Mercy: “Gwynedd Mercy has great coaches, and everyone was extremely welcoming and friendly.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball as well as track and field at the collegiate level? “I never planned on going to college until this year when I was recruited.
Coach Jill Martin says: “Truly Heft was a four-year member of the girls’ basketball program of which I’ve had the pleasure of coaching her for the past two years. Over these two years, Truly has seen great success as well as great adversity. During our opening tip-off tournament her junior year, Truly tore her ACL. For most athletes, this is where their journey in sports ends, but not for Truly. We witnessed her determination, strength and effort in her rehabilitation to come back stronger than before her injury and with even more intensity for her senior year. She was the embodiment of the phrase – ‘Grow through what you go through.’ Her senior year, Truly was named team captain, and we relied on her for execution not only on the court but also for her leadership and guidance off the court. Truly is the type of teammate everyone wants to have – someone who will celebrate all successes - big and small - with you while also willing to stand with you in the trenches when times are tough. Her energy, resilience and desire to achieve the highest level she can will take her very far in life with the first stop being Gwynedd Mercy University to compete in both basketball and track, which is a very rare feat amongst college athletes. Truly, we wish you all the luck in the world, and we’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines wherever you end up.”
Coach Jason Anderson says: “Truly’s story is one of resilience and perseverance. We all hope our athletes will overcome adversity and succeed, and that’s
what she did. Ninth grade year, Truly made an immediate impact on our team. She can do it all. She can run, she can jump, she can throw. Our throwers are some of our best athletes. She earned all-league status in the javelin in her first year in ninth grade. It was an incredible achievement, solidly putting her in the record books for our team. In 10th grade, the expectations were really high. If you finish in May throwing 80s, then obviously when you start in March, you’re going to throw 90s, but that didn’t happen, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. That frustration only compounded when the ACL injury happened. We weren’t even there, but we were crying when we found out later. All that left for the springtime of her junior year was two surgeries, but she came to everything for basketball, and she did the same for track. Every practice, every meet, which is hard to do. Throwing is very muddy and very dirty. It’s not great for standing and watching but she was there, and we really appreciate the support she showed. The throwers are very dedicated, and she embodied that.
“In 12th grade, that’s when things get better. She’s back, and she’s even stronger. She throws 99 feet in the javelin, she wins all-league again her senior year. Her effort actually solidified our league champ runner-up status. She was a senior captain, and she helped us finish 5-1 in the (league) season. Truly was challenged physically and emotionally, and she finished stronger, which is a great testament to her character. Gwynedd Mercy is getting a leader and fighter, whose teammates and coaches cherish her. Good lucky, Truly.”
About Truly:
Favorite food: Raspberries
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite music: Country
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