Kiersten Rurka’s senior basketball season has not gone how she expected.

Prior to what was to be her senior season at Mount Carmel, a program that struggled to compete in the IAAM A Conference but was set to return a competitive core of rising seniors, was rumored to be disbanding the girls basketball team. Players, fearing the possibility they’d be left without a senior season, bounced. One by one, nearly the entire roster transferred to other private or nearby public schools.

“Once one person left, it was like a domino effect,” Rurka said.

Mount Carmel ended up putting together a roster with just weeks to go before the season, but they’re 0-13 this season and are overmatched. Meanwhile, Rurka ended up at C. Milton Wright, the public school near her Harford County home that reached a regional semifinal in 2024-25.

Seven games in, another disaster appeared. Rurka’s meniscus gave way, not one tear or snap, she said, rather an accumulation of wear and tear that finally forced her to take time off. She’s out the rest of this season but anticipates returning to the court this summer to prepare for her freshman season at Central Methodist University in Missouri.

Just as she was settling into her new team and getting accustomed to being a leader, the injury now has her leading in different ways – from the bench and with her voice rather than her play.

Rurka recently discussed her past year with The Aegis, including what went into her transfer and what she’s excited about at the next level.

What’s next with your meniscus injury?

So right now, we’re not 100 % sure what it is. I’ve been to, like, three different doctors. They say that it’s a tear in the anterior horn of my left meniscus, so it’s kind of like in the padding in the front part of my meniscus, not the back. So I’d have to have like a specialized surgery that they don’t normally do. I have to go to a professional next week. They said that it wasn’t a specific moment. It was an over-time injury just from playing a lot and over usage basically. I’ll definitely need surgery, just depends on the type of surgery. It could be a couple months. It could be only a few weeks. But fingers crossed right now, we’re looking at being back preseason in the summer to start playing again.

How was your season going before you had to shut it down?

It was up-and-down. I think for me personally, I was playing really well and kind of adjusting to playing Harford County ball. I think I did a really good job of learning my teammates and getting used to it, and I think I made a great bond with a lot of my teammates. They kind of looked to me for advice and I think the way that I was able to adjust to the setting and adjust to playing with those girls went really well. I think it was rough at first, but we slowly started to feel a little bit more confident. I think overall, it was a learning experience for me, too, and having to pick up my leadership and kind of put more on my shoulders than I was used to before.

What are the biggest differences you’ve noticed between public and private school basketball?

Adjusting to the atmosphere – I think private school it’s a lot more, I would say, serious and commitment to it, because you’re having to play to keep your scholarship. Some of the difference was playing with girls that do it more for fun and do it because they enjoy the sport, when for private it’s more ‘I’m trying to get recruited.

What are you most excited for about playing in college?

It’s always been a dream of mine to play high-level college basketball like every little girl who loves basketball. I’m excited to just go to college, like that’s a blessing not everyone gets to do. And on top of that, I get to play a sport I love and get a scholarship for it. So I think I’m just overall excited. I love my coaches. I love the girls that I met when I went out there. Overall just going out there and becoming an adult and playing the sport I love is probably what I’m most excited about. And I’m kind of excited to get away from the DMV area. I’ve been here for so long. I love it very much, but I want something new.

What made you choose Central Methodist?

The coach that I reached out to, he previously was working at St. Mary’s College in Maryland. He’s actually from Missouri and he had been recruiting me for St. Mary’s and when I decommitted from my first school I was committed to, I was like ‘let me reach out to this coach again’ and before I knew it, I was on a phone call with them, and they offered me. They honestly had the best offer for me. I felt it. I went out there on a visit and I committed right on the spot. I think they have great competition. I overall love the coaches and the atmosphere, so I just it was hard to say no.

Looking back, how would you describe this past year, on and off the court?

Definitely crazy. Like, at my previous school, I had my whole senior year planned out. I was school president. I was in good with everyone. I had everything planned out. I would say it’s been a growth experience mentally and physically. I’ve had to take on a stronger load basketball-wise that I’m used to, and also I think mentally just being able to adjust to a new setting so last minute I think has really challenged. Learning to be a better leader has also been a great process for me, and I think overall it’s been a learning experience and I really appreciate it. I think that it’s going to set me up for college because it’s taught me a level of understanding and coming to terms of my situation and making the best of it, even though it might not necessarily be what I had planned for myself.

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