Freshman basketball player Ella Nottmeyer fuels Archers team with passion and determination
NOTE TO READERS: This story originally appeared in The Montage’s December 2025 issue.
BY: LINDSEY UNNERSTALL
Sports Editor
Freshman Ella Nottmeyer turned an obsession with basketball into an adolescent career with a journey rooted in passion, teamwork and dedication. After graduating from St. Charles High School, Nottmeyer began playing basketball for the STLCC Archers this past fall. She has been playing basketball since the fifth grade and has been determined to carry out her athletic career ever since.
“What motivated me to play was back in March 2017 when my family and I attended a local high school district basketball game,” Nottmeyer said. “I remember being starstruck with the game and the atmosphere. After the girls’ game, I even went up to one of the players and asked for their autograph.”
Nottmeyer has countless supporters in her community among her family, friends and teammates. The small size of the team and the intimacy of being a community college results in a strong, tight-knit bond between the eight athletes.
“My favorite aspect of the game is the competitiveness and the relationships you build along the way,” said Nottmeyer, freshman guard.
Nottmeyer’s teammate and fellow guard Sophie Westbrook sees her passion and energy both on and off the court.
“Ella is a great teammate, we can always count on her. Whenever someone falls she is there to help them back up, or whenever someone does something good she is there to high five,” Westbrook said. Westbrook has also been playing basketball most of her life and values the support of the team just as much as Nottmeyer does. The Fort Zumwalt East alumnus believes that being on a small team means that the girls have to stick together on and off of the court.
“Our bond is very close, we can all joke around and we all have each other’s backs,” Westbrook said, recalling memorable moments of bus rides to and from the collegiate games.
Aside from the sport, Nottmeyer’s carefree and energetic character is shown through the friendships she shares with her teammates, according to Westbrook.
“Ella is a very hard working person, but off the court she is a great friend and likes to joke around and laugh. She is also a great hype woman,” Westbrook said.
Nottmeyer said she feels lucky and extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue playing basketball at STLCC.
“In the future, I hope to apply the lessons I’ve learned through basketball to my everyday life. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from playing basketball is to ‘keep chopping wood’,” Nottmeyer said, quoting American basketball coach Brad Underwood.
It’s clear to teammates of Nottmeyer like Westbrook that she embodies this determination and resilience through every practice and game.
“Ella is very dedicated and she always works hard. She never gives up,” Westbrook said. “I’ve learned a lot from Ella, and she inspires me to keep working hard as well.”
Martin shared her thoughts as well.
“In Spain when I went to college, I had relationships with people. Here I can’t tell if it’s because I’m from Spain but I feel like I can’t speak with anyone– I feel like here people just go to class and leave and I don’t see people together,” Martin said.
