CCAA Hometown Heroes is a look at current and former CCAA student-athletes and staff who are now on the front lines in the worldwide fight against COVID-19.  Individuals from CCAA member institutions have answered the call to help battle the pandemic, whether it be in the field of healthcare, as a first responder, through volunteer efforts or a variety of other essential services being performed throughout communities around the state and globe. 

Monay Lee, once the all-time scoring leader for Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s basketball, has played through and persevered over adversity. In fact, her basket to set the then-Toros’ scoring record was non-traditional, to say the least. After suffering a devastating knee injury on Senior Night in 2016, tied at the top of the all-time list, Lee was unsure if she would reach the top - much less step on the court again. 

With some CCAA teamwork and sportsmanship and the coordination and empathy of conference foes at Chico State, Lee opened the road game with an uncontested basket for the school record. That record was later broken in the same season by teammate Breanne Garcia.

“That moment was not how I imagined it happening but it was still an amazing feeling,” Lee recalls of the record-breaking bucket. “Primarily, I was amazed with the people that came together to make it happen. I will never forget that moment. It is an excellent example of great sportsmanship and what it’s all about.

“I was a senior when I got injured. To this day, coming back from that injury has been one of hardest things I’ve ever had to endure. It was a push in every way. Simply put, I came back from it with a will and desire to recover and be stronger then ever and get to where I’m at today.”

And where she is today is serving as an Orange County Fire Academy firefighter, assisting the people of Orange County whenever and wherever she is called and counted on to help.  

“Specifically, my team and I are helping patients suffering or potentially suffering from the virus by giving them the best pre-hospital care we can,” Lee explains. “This oftentimes is not a pleasant situation for anyone involved, but whether it is physically helping a patient out or talking/comforting a family member through their tough situation, we are helping in any way we can.

“Life has changed in so many ways, as it has for everyone, I imagine! The call volume has surprisingly gone down but the severity of the calls we continue to run have gone up. The way the calls are run and station life has changed as well. Our normal PPE on medical calls has gone from just gloves to masks, goggles, gowns and gloves. Within the station which is our home for 48 hours or more at a time, we have to change into clean clothes from head to toe after all calls. The amount of fires has stayed consistent during this pandemic.”

Basketball - and the teamwork and perseverance she learned on the hardwood in Carson - influenced her decision-making as she entered the firefighting profession. Those skills and the drive and determination she acquired as a Toro still influence her today.

“I decided I wanted to become a firefighter late in my college career,” Lee reflects. “I knew I always wanted to be a part of a team environment and something bigger than myself, similar to basketball … It's my purpose. We are here to love, serve and help one another and in times like these where you can truly make a difference, I feel so blessed to be in the position I am in.

"Collegiate athletics taught me the importance of teamwork. We can get through this if we work together and execute the game plan TOGETHER as a team!"

The CCAA salutes Monay and her firefighting comrades, and all of our CCAA Hometown Heroes!