SPORTS
REMINISCING ON AU'S MEN'S SOCCER PROGRAM
By Halee Heironimus
On May 27, 2013, an athletes’ worst nightmare came to life when it was announced that Ashland University Men’s Soccer team was cut from the athletic program. According to President Fred Finks, the University would save $382,558 by cutting the men’s soccer program and eventually gain $330,000. However, after 20 student athletes transferred, the University would be losing approximately the same about they would “save” due to tuition fees. With the decision made in the summer, student athletes had to decide between sticking around and accepting the scholarships AU promised to uphold, or transfer. Transferring would mean finding a spot on the rosters of other schools that had been filled and seeking scholarships that were seemingly non-existent. Only five members of the soccer program decided to stay and finish their degrees at Ashland. As an underdog sport at AU, men’s soccer has won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2002 and won regular season and tournament crowns in 2010.
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SETBACKS MAKE YOU STRONGER
By Katie Siefert
Throughout her entire career, Erin Crownover had never been “the injured girl.”
That changed in June 2013 after she tore her ACL following her commitment to play for Ashland University’s basketball team.As a result, Crownover spent the entire 2013-14 season on the bench, watching the young Eagles finish the season with an 18-9 record.
Crownover, 18, committed to AU in August of her senior year after learning about coach Sue Ramsey’s successful program and philosophy. Although not a complete death sentence, in the world of college sports, tearing an ACL can lead to major setbacks. For Crownover, though, it was simply part of the plan God had for her. Crownover was disappointed knowing that she would have a chance to potentially start as a freshman and wondered if this setback would affect her two or three years down the road.
“I guess there was a point where I was like, will I ever be playing?” Crownover said.
But the thought of quitting never crossed her mind.Crownover realized she did not have time to worry about these obstacles, so she used the support of her team and turned her fear into motivation to come back even stronger. Crownover’s optimism overcame her obstacle as she used her setback as an advantage.Crownover saw benefits that could come out of the situation. As a result of spending the majority of the season on the sidelines, her eyes were opened to the coaching side of the game.
“I can see how the coaches do coach, and just how a program is run,” said Crownover. “This just opened my eyes.”
Crownover is majoring in education and minoring in coaching, in part because of her experience this season. “I think that is just what I want to do too, like coach Ramsey does and be that much involved and have that effect on other girls,” Crownover said. She said she was treated not only as an athlete, but also as a person who is growing both spiritually and individually. Ramsey does so much more for her team outside of the gym, which is one of the reasons Crownover fell in love with AU.
“She cares about me as a person and a basketball player,” said Crownover. If she had been able to play all season, Crownover may have never been able to see all of the other aspects of the game and have decided to become a coach. Everything happens for a reason. Despite everything Crownover has dealt with these past six months, she has never let this setback take over her love for the game.
“What’s a blessing is that I still have four more years to play here,” said Crownover. This is just the beginning of her collegiate career at AU and it seems to be worth waiting for.
BASKETBALL ASSISTS MILLER IN FUTURE
By Halee Heironimus
Sports are more than just a game to athlete, but rather an influential component to their future. For senior Alyssa Miller, basketball taught her leadership skills that helped her excel on the court and in her college career. Miller started playing basketball at a young age and continued her career through college.The welcoming feeling of the small, Ashland community won over her heart.“
Everyone was so excited to learn about you and they actually wanted to know you as a person and get to know you as an individual before an athlete. I knew coming in that I could chase my dreams with a career and also be an athlete.”Freshman year of college is such a change in lifestyle, especially being an athlete and having to balance time between sports and academics. Miller had two seniors that she looked up to her freshman year that helped her survive and get through the day.This year, being the only senior, Miller wanted to be as good of a role model to the freshmen as the seniors were to her.
“I knew the impact the seniors had on me my freshman year and I wanted to be that type of leader for our freshmen this year, and Jamie (Sobzcak) as well, since we had so many new kids coming in.”
As a part of the 2013 National Championship team, Miller also learned a lot from those seniors, especially Kari (Daugherty) Pickens.“I really learned from Kari how to be a hard worker all of the time. She made us better every day and that’s another lesson I took.”
Miller said she needed to bring all of those things together that she learned the past three years and show that to the freshmen. She feels she was raised in a program that brings up good leaders and the coaches try to find ways to develop the girls as a better person outside of the court as well.
“I think that having a leadership role as an athlete at Ashland has helped with my communication skills, teamwork ability, and adversity.”
For the past three years, Miller developed strong relationships with her coaches, professors, and the employees that recruit Ashland students. They helped her with confidence by always praising her and trying to help and lead her in the right direction, along with helping her understand her strengths and getting feedback. Miller used her strengths and leadership skills to land a job at one of America’s leading sports clothing and accessories companies, Under Armour. After basketball and graduation, Miller will be a Merchandising Coordinator at Under Armour. Her duties focus more on the analytical side of sales; for instance trend analysis, forecasting, how much of the product is selling and how much is to be allocated. Miller also hopes to work with t-shirt graphics.
“I’m so excited. The amount of change that happens to you in one year is unbelievable.” Miller cannot thank her teammates, coaching staff, professors, friends, and family enough for their support.
TOMMY JOHN SURGERY TAKES TOLL ON AU PITCHER
By Kevin Stoicovy
Ashland University Junior Jake Baldwin is a pitcher on the school's baseball team. Unfortunately, Baldwin had to undergo surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament--otherwise known as Tommy John surgery. Ashland University TV-20 reporter Kevin Stoicovy has the story.