MIKAELA’S MENDI EXPERIENCE

Mikaela’s Ruef has one of the best basketball brains is the business but her intelligence isn’t limited to the court. The Stanford University graduate is expressing that intellectuality, teaming up with club sponsor and local business ‘Mendi Group.’

“I got my Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mendi is a civil construction company so it’s a good place to get experience and it’s been really interesting so far I’m really enjoying it.”

Townsville’s vice-captain has attended several worksites around the region. She particularly enjoyed visiting the Quarry at Roseneath.

“Just getting familiar with the materials and things like that, so you see what it’s like in real life, and then you know what is when you see it on drafts, it isn’t just some drawing on plans.”

The big believes basketball and engineering share one thing in common despite being vastly different. And that’s working with others to achieve goals.

“I think really any job in the professional field you have to connect with people and work together, and yeah working with teams is what I’m good at playing basketball, so I think it carries over for sure.”

The 32-year-old is grateful she’s getting a taste of what’s to come albeit after a few more years shooting hoops.

“I’ve been doing it for a couple of months now, just going in one day a week at the moment. “Eventually I’d like to go full time in the industry when I retire but hopefully not anytime soon.”

And the JCU Fire will be holding onto to the WNBL stalwart for as long as possible. Ruef recently made her hundredth league appearance and the forward has been an exceptional role model on and off the floor, in her first season with Townsville.

See the JCU Townsville Fire back in action at the Fire Pit, Friday 20th Jan Vs Adelaide Lightning, Get your tickets here