May 1, 2001

Questions by Marenna Nyffeler
Commentary by Viveca L?f and others...
Answers by Marenna Nyffeler

NAME: Marenna Nyffeler
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Price, UTAH
HOROSCOPE SIGN: Taurus
MAJOR: Communications with a minor in marketing
WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING BASKETBALL?: 5th grade on a rec league that you had to wear matching sweatbands to tell you who you were guarding on the other team. I first started playing real basketball after sixth grade "Jr. Jazz" teams. We were good, we got to play at the Delta Center on the same court that the Jazz play on.
WHY OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PLAY?: Watching David West play at Roswell High (even though Goddard High was much better).
PREGAME RITUAL: Putting on my game socks and my red ribbon.
BEST UNLV MEMORY: REALIZING my basketball career was over.
WORST UNLV MOMENT: REALIZING it was all over.
BEST BASKETBALL MEMORY: Winning the state championship my senior year in high school with three of my best friends on the court with me.
WHY UNLV?: Kristen Pool, Kristen Pool, Kristen Pool. Okay, not really, but c'mon. It is LAS VEGAS, and it was close to home, and one of my teammates from juco had signed here with me.

NYFFELER FAVORITES...

• COLOR: Blue and WHITE.
• FAVORITE NBA PLAYER: I like college hoops better than the NBA (Amen!)
• MOVIE: "The Man in the MOON", for obvious reasons, and "MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING," because that is the story of my life.
• ACTRESS: JULIA! JULIA! JULIA!
• ACTOR: FREDDIE!
• CD: PAUL'S GREATEST HITS COLLECTION, Volumes 1-6.
• HOBBY: Water sports and anything OUTSIDE (like CAMPING).
• PLACE TO GO: LAKE POWELL & HAPPY VALLEY!
• RESTAURANT: Los Hermanos and Cheesecake Factory
• FOOD: Mexican and strawberry shortcake
• HOLIDAY: Everyday is a HOLIDAY. My birthday and GRADUATION.

WHY # 54: I won a state championship in 00. I was 34 in JUCO. Nine is the ultimate awesome number, but I couldn't have it or my other fave 34 (UVSC), so I took the next best thing.
OTHER SPORTS YOU EXCELLED IN at CARBON HIGH SCHOOL: Volleyball and track
WHERE YOU CAN BE FOUND: Not saying because then all of you will go there too. (Check the Thomas & Mack Center or Wilson Stadium).
NICKNAME: MAR, MER, FROG II, JOE II, MOOFASA II, DEUCE, NEFF (and, thanks to TIM E. THEA, "THE NERF") MARENNA MAY, MARENNA LOU.
ULTIMATE GOAL IN LIFE: To be respected and treated like a queen. And, of course, to eventually have a family of my own and be sealed to them for time and all eternity.
DREAM JOB: WHAT IS A JOB? I hope to have a job that I have my own PERSONAL ASSISTANTS (Watch out, David!)
PET PEEVE: When people say stuff just to say it and don't really mean it. And, starting a task and not finishing it.
WHAT IS SOMETHING HARDLY ANYONE WOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU?: That I am going to the 'NSYNC concert in JULY with my sister.
WHAT YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED BY: I just want to be remembered.

TEAM NOTES ON NYFFELER

Off the court: You can frequently find Marenna hanging around the athletic department either at the Lied or the T&M. Not anywhere in particular, either. The Lady Rebel team room, the sports marketing office, Paul's office, ET's office, the women's basketball office, the training room and the weight room. With the season over, you can catch her at the baseball stadium a lot, too. When she's not on campus, she can be seen giving somebody a ride home in her Jeep Wrangler, that might possibly be the sweetest vehicle in town. While in this particular Jeep she's likely to dare her passenger to say something on her "speaker system" to be heard by surrounding cars. Lately, BIG MEN have been known to come by her house unannounced, knocking the door down...There is also a faint memory of some guys jumping on her bed after a party last year. At that same party she refused to take a SHOT of ORANGEJUICE!! (Way to TRUST your teammates, Mar!!) She's one of the shyest people on the team, or tries to put it off that way. She has NOSY QUESTIONS about everything for everybody, and this would be the reason she knows all the SCOOP on her teammates. Also, she was the greatest roommate last year, until she kicked out her own teammate last spring. That's aiiiight, though, NO HARD FEELINGS!! She does know how to keep a secret, so if you need to confide, go have a chat with her. You can learn more about Mormons than you would think is humanly possible. Ask her for some SWEDISH VOCAB. She knows it but claims to be too shy to use it. And if somebody is looking for a wife who knows how to tie a tie go looking for her, she ties a KILLER KNOT!! (She is well practiced!!) She might not come across as the clubbin' type, but she has been spotted at the RUM JUNGLE and THE DRINK getting her GROOVE on. Also, a certain trainer added her input: she can vividly remember Mar in the whirlpool, goose bumps and shins... Rumor has it Mar wore the goose bumps very well. (Thanx, Grace). BOYFRIEND????? You know what I'm talking about!

MOST LIKELY TO BE SEEN ON THE COURT: "On the court? Ya, right!" (her words). When she's on the court, she will occasionally breakout with some game, as anyone who watched Corporate Challenge or occasional pickup games in the T&M discovered. She did lead the cheers from the bench this year, often being the ONLY one! For a front court player, she has an incredible shot from the outside, if only she would have gotten to use it. Mar is the most positive player on the team, always trying to pick people up (even if she knocked them down).

OTHER HIDDEN TALENTS: She has a knack for bringing out the best qualities in those around her. She can throw a football pretty well (only a nerf). She makes some killer cornflakes and peanut butter cookies!! She can stay up way too late the night before practice and not show any signs of it the next morning. Actually, it doesn't even matter if she has practice the next day or not!

MOST NOTABLE QUOTE: "C'mon, you guys, mean what you say!!!", "What's going on tonight??", "Keep it REAL."

MISS MOST ABOUT UNLV and BASKETBALL: I will miss most the team dinners, per diem, stipends, free gear, the TEAM, especially all people that I have met and grown to love, and all the good laughs. She doesn't know it yet, but she will miss the CULT! and their notebook sessions. The great trips to Utah, getting a chance to hang with her peeps for free....OR?

MISS LEAST: Game STATS. The 6 and 7 a.m. workouts, the leash that the coaches have around us 24-7, and the disappointment at the end of games that I didn't get an opportunity to play, especially the games that we won by 40.

LEAVE TO THE FRESHMAN and RETURNERS: I want to leave all the cheering and positive attitude to whoever gets the GREAT humbling opportunity to fill. SEE ADVICE BELOW.

THANK YOUS: WOW... Okay, I want to thank a lot of people for a lot of things, so I am going to make a list (it's kind of long, but well worth it): Colette, Ali, Elizabeth, Jill, and Channa, thanks for convincing me to come play hoops with you. (And for being the best of friends in high school and everything, especially understanding why I missed all of your wedding because of hoops. I am forever sorry for that!)

Coach Bruce Bean for not cutting me in the 8th grade. Don Gressmen for giving me a chance to be a leader. Coach Nixon and Tanise for believing in me and teaching me about LIFE and who I AM. Dusty & Mike for being my number one fans. FROG, again thanks for traveling all that way to come to my games. Q-- thanks for dogging out on me. Rachel, Nate and JEN, you guys were and are still my inspirations. I love you guys. Mark thanks for keeping me busy and out of trouble.

UNLV Coaches for giving me an opportunity to be part of something GREAT. Coach Cole for getting on me, and for our long talks about life on road trips. Coach Shultz for always being positive and plain out goofy sometimes. Jan for looking out for my future, and Coach P for keeping track of my life skills.

ANNETTE, you are a great a role model who I look up to. CTR! Thanks for being a good influence. Brad for sacrificing your time just for little ol' me. BRADLEY BOY, you are big time. Thanks, ERIC, for giving me a hard time ALL the time. Matt M. thanks for keeping it real and for not asking about BBALL everyday. GRACE, thanks for the laughter, Larry for looking after my teammates, Ann for letting me pretend to be broken and pretending to fix my heart.

KEVIN, where do I begin? Thanks for making road trips entertaining. For playing football in parking lots, going on grocery store runs in the middle of the night, and just listening. I am glad that we could both be from ROSWELL and our parents could work at the same place! What a small world! ALSO, thanks for giving me the opportunity as well as the everyone else who reads these (thanks to those who were weekly readers and sent in emails) to get to know another side of my teammates.

Paul, thanks for throwing a party every time I come to visit. WB, Megan and Mark thanks for always being HAPPY TO SEE ME. The marketing crew and athletic department for putting up with me for so LONG. I know I have been there a while, and I am leaving, I promise. Ben for ASKING. (oh, and thanks for the TAILGATING EXPERIENCE --thanks a lot!) Tim E. Thea for the nickname that stuck. ET, thanks for telling me to stick it out and graduate.

MYRTLE, what can I say, buddy, but I made it another year, but definitely not without you. "THE FROJOS" thanks for getting me into the GAME. Randal, you are big time, as well as TREVOR for getting me in the game. And the practice team: BRIAN, ALEX, BILLY (and Drew from last year) for letting me play with you guys. Those were the best practices.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANKS TO MY parents, DEAN AND MADELAINE, for supporting me through everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. Thanks to Nicole and Lizanell for letting them support me. MOOFASA, you are unbelievable! Thanks for listening to me WHINE, and for all the meals, and support. You made my move to SIN CITY BEARABLE. Thanks to ALL OF MY other FAMILY that think I am so cool. (Tony and Josh, you know you do!) AND JOE!!! You are my QUAN of all times and forever, I hope. CHILE is treating you right. I miss ya tons.

And to all those that I missed, sorry. GRACIAS to all my compadres

KFORCE and V: Thanks for interviewing me. You really didn't need to.

MY TEAMMATES THIS YEAR: You guys are all FAMILY... Coach Miller can sing it again for you all... "WE ARE FAMILY ... I've got all my sisters with ME..."

PADRA: It was fun doing play-by-play on the bench with you. Some of those games went by so fast. Thanks for being my sock buddy. Go WILD next year and have fun doing it. And I agree with Brooke: "PADRA, EAT SOMETHING!"

PETRA: ONE of the nicest, most sincere people I know. Be a leader next year and let them follow you. BE LOUD! You taught Brad and I some krazy DANCE moves (I still can't believe you told all those boys no just so you could dance with us). You also taught Matt and I some kool things at the HOOVER DAM. YOU are a great person and an awesome FRIEND. Try to stay healthy. I will miss our little group on road trips.

CONSTANCE: You never could get me to SWEAR, but you're KOOL. With a K. Take your team to another level next year, and continue to make your lay ups.

DISHAWN: Thanks for saying my name right, EVERYTIME, and bringing me snacks to practice. I expect big things from you next year. Be nice to your sister next year. Remember you were a freshman once.

TALISHA: My ANTHRO BUDDY, you have been through a lot, and I think you will continue to go far. Forget about the coaches and JUST PLAY your game. Thanks for all the deep conversation about SOCIAL work.. You have a great future ahead of you. Don't ever give up on your dreams, and stay in touch.

KINESHA: Thanks for letting me BOUNCE with you, and for laughing at my jokes.

ERIN: How can I forget the famous threes? Thanks for telling me to SHOOT the ball. and for our walk on the beach in the BAHAMAS.

JULIA: JUGE! Girl, you are fast! I can't wait to watch you IN GAME TIME! You bring a whole new aspect to the court, and I had fun getting the chance to play with you.

TIANA: Okay, thanks for stealing my number first off. Nah, I am just joking, but hey I will always remember you from my freshman year playing against you in JUCO. Man, have times changed, huh? Good luck in the future, especially with all your BOYS, Playa'.

COURTNEY: What an inspiration. I will never forget you helping me through those tough times. You are the only girl I know that can come off the bench cold and drain a three from NBA range. HAVE fun and surprise them all.

LINDA: You took me under your wing and showed me the ropes to survive at UNLV (KRISTEN POOL taught you well.) Thanks for being a pal, taking me to my first real UNLV PARTY, and letting me be in your shadow for two years. I hope the drama with you-know-who works out for the best. YOU are the cutest. WHEN you are famous, don't forget about me. Remember all the bruises, the BLOCKED SHOTS, and all the times I took you to the HOLE. Humbling, huh? KEEP smiling, and have AN AWESOME SENIOR SEASON. BE a leader yet again and take them to another level.

BROOKE: Thanks for being a good sport. We had some fun, and I will never forget my first semester here riding in the car with you. Puma stone anyone? You have some krazy times. Follow your dreams to HOLLYWOOD. I really think you can make it.

DAYNA: Road trips. Thanks for saving me a seat on the plane and saving me from you-know-who. We had some KRAZY times, huh? Good football games in the hallways of hotels, card games, trips to downtown CHICAGO, and to the BEACH. Keep in touch. We need to go to TAHOE.

VIVECA: Well, you got stuck being my roommate and had to put up with me for a WHOLE YEAR. And you SURVIVED! How did you do that? Will you tell the HOT men out there that they too will SURVIVE. We had some good times. Wait, we had some GREAT TIMES! Especially all the times we got to watch the sun come up. You are the true Miss VIP. Thanks for keeping me guessing. ALWAYS. And YOU know that I know what you KNOW, so we are STRAIGHT. RIGHT? KEEP it REAL, and let's go to FLORIDA.

Okay, I am almost done.

ADVICE TO YOU ALL: Don't wish your time away, cause it goes by way to fast. And I leave you all with one of my favorite quotes and one of my favorite scriptures to remember THE KRAZY MORMON GIRL BY:

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is giving up what you want MOST for what you want at the moment." I know a few of you know that by heart now.

Ether 12:27 (BOOK OF MORMON for those who don't know): "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weaknesses, that they may be humble, and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

MORONI 10:7-8: "Wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God, for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever." 8. "...deny not the gifts of God, for they are many, and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered, but it is the same God who worketh all in all,....."

Marenna