Former Revere star is tri-captain on Akron U women’s basketball team

by Sheldon Ocker

Caitlin Vari is one of only two members of the University of Akron women’s basketball team from Summit County, which, more than anything, demonstrates how difficult it is to win an athletic scholarship to a Division I program.

Vari grew up in Richfield and graduated from Revere High School, where she was named first team All-Suburban League three times and selected for Division II All-Ohio honorable mention twice.

Unfortunately for Vari, the awards stopped after her junior year, because she sustained a serious ACL injury and missed her senior season. However, that did not stop Akron U recruiting coordinator Melissa Jackson from seeking her out.

“Caitlin is a dream to coach,” said Jackson, who, after 10 years as an Akron assistant, was named head coach last June. “She brings energy to practice every day and to every game. And she’s an unbelievable student. Last semester, Caitlin had a 4.0, and overall, she has something like a 3.8 average.”

Now a junior, Vari was named a tri-captain for the current season. She has started all 18 games and averages 7.6 points and 6.3 rebounds, playing about 27 minutes per game.

“I’ve challenged her this year to be a little more vocal,” Jackson said.

“I’ve definitely improved a lot from my freshman and sophomore years,” Vari said. “I think I’m more consistent now, and that helps the team.”

Jackson would like to see Vari stay on the floor longer, but she tends to get into foul trouble.

“Caitlin fouled out two games in a row, and it really affected our team,” Jackson said. “I would like to see her play 30-35 minutes [per game]. She’s one of the best defensive post players in our league.”

At 6-foot-1, Vari is the Zips’ center. Her style of play is true to that role. She has yet to take a 3-point shot this season, and she prides herself on commanding the boards.

“I’ve always had a center’s mentality,” she said. “I think my favorite thing is getting offensive rebounds, because they give the team a spark and a second chance to score.”

Jackson also thinks Vari can become more of a scorer.

“She’s a really good passer, and she has good [shooting] range from 15-18 feet,” the coach said. “I’m not saying she should start shooting all the time, but I think she can take a couple more shots a game.”

Growing up, basketball was such a pervasive activity in the Vari household, Caitlin probably heard the sound of a bouncing basketball in her sleep from her siblings playing in the driveway.

The oldest of the Vari children, Ashley, played basketball at Revere, as did Stephen and Casey. Vari’s youngest sister, Jess, is a senior on this year’s Revere girls team and wants to play in college, according to Caitlin.

Vari’s father, Daniel, played basketball at Denison University, but after transferring to Akron, he no longer played.

Vari said her parents didn’t nudge her toward basketball. “They didn’t force it,” she said, “but I went to all their [siblings’] games.”

As the season winds down, Akron has a 12-6 overall record and is 3-4 in the Mid-American Conference.

“I definitely want to win a MAC championship,” Vari said.