Senior Profiles: Golf

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with men’s and women’s golf. Seniors Matthew Cohen, Jon Heppen, Zack Meyers and Amanda Heiberger closed out their careers at the Centennial Conference Championships in late April.

 

Matthew Cohen

What’s the strongest part of your game? The strongest part of my game is definitely my short game.

What’s something interesting about you most people may not know? Something interesting is that I love my alone time even though I am an incredibly outgoing and personable person.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? My most memorable ’Berg golf memory was the first tournament I played in.

What’s your best off-the-course memory from your time here? Every time I get to spend with my close friends, because they are my life here.

What are your future plans? My future plans are to live and work in Manhattan in the financial industry.

What kind of teammate is Jon Heppen? Jon Heppen is one of the greatest people I have ever met. Not many people care as much as he does about his friends.

 

Jon Heppen

Do you have a favorite pro golfer? My favorite pro golfer is Ben Crane.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? Most my memorable Muhlenberg golf memory is shooting a 73 as part of the record-setting round of 294 at Penn State Harrisburg.

What was it like studying at Queen Mary College in London during the fall of your junior year? Studying at Queen Mary College was great, especially because there was a driving range 20 minutes away from the school.

What are your future plans? My future plans are to work in the government back home in Washington, D.C.

What kind of person is Zack Meyers? Zack is a good guy. He’s a really dedicated captain.

 

Zack Meyers

Do you have any superstitions or traditions on the golf course? I don’t really have any superstitions, just habits. I always carry one tee, ball marker and divot tool in my right pocket.

Do you have a favorite club in your bag? All of them.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? My most memorable moment was breaking the school record for lowest team score in a round.

What are your future plans? My future plans are to turn pro, or go to grad school

What’s Matthew Cohen like off the course? Matt Cohen is always Matt Cohen.

 

Amanda Heiberger

What’s something most people may not know about you that they might find interesting? I know how to do a Rubik’s Cube.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? In the Ursinus tournament I was shooting uphill towards the green and overshot the hole. Luckily, there was a barn directly behind the green that my ball hit, and it bounced back onto the green. I then proceeded to sink a 40-foot putt. COMPLETE SKILL!

What’s your best off-the-course memory from your time here? The opening reception of my senior thesis exhibition was amazing. It was wonderful seeing all of my work come together.

What was it like studying abroad in Florence last spring? It was such an amazing experience. As an art major, it was awesome being surrounded by original Renaissance work. I loved being a part of the Italian culture and look forward to returning soon.

What are your future plans? I hope to work somewhere in the graphic design field, either at a design firm or for a magazine.

Senior Profiles: Softball

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with softball. Seniors Brittany Blohm and Shelby Smith celebrated Senior Day in style, sweeping Franklin & Marshall, 4-0 and 6-5.

Brittany Blohm

Do you have any hidden or unusual talents? I am pretty good at playing poker. When I was younger my family told me I should work as a card dealer.

How much of an accomplishment is it having 100 career hits and ranking fourth in school history in doubles? I feel very accomplished having 100 career hits and ranking fourth in doubles. I just go up there concentrating on having good at-bats and hitting the ball hard somewhere. That is all that I can control. I really enjoy hitting and helping my team out at the plate. I also know that I am not very fast, so making the career triples list was not going to happen.

Is there one play or at-bat that sticks out in your mind? A play that sticks out in my mind is when we got the last out of the game at the plate in the Centennial Conference playoffs last year. It was very exciting to make the play and know that we won the game. For an at-bat it would have to be when I hit a grand slam. That was the first one I had ever hit.

What do you feel are your strengths as a catcher? My strengths as a catcher are getting along well with umpires (or as my teammates and coaches would say, “flirting” with the umpires), blocking balls in the dirt and being able to call a good game for the pitchers.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? My best off-the-field memory from here is all the friends that I have made. They are some of my best friends. I also will miss our team pants talk. These pants are not easy to wear!

What are your future plans? I am currently applying to grad schools to get my teaching certification in elementary education. I hope to be a teacher soon!

What kind of person is Shelby Smith? Shelby is a very positive person. She knows how to keep everyone happy, and you rarely see her without a smile on her face. I have enjoyed playing with her the past four years. She is a leader and very versatile player. She is my tanning buddy, and I will miss her “GO Shelby” dance.

 

Shelby Smith

What’s something most people don’t know about you that they might find interesting? I have been coming to Muhlenberg softball camps since I was 9 years old. That means that I have been coming to this campus or the Muhlenberg field for the past 13 years. I always enjoyed camp as a young player and dreamt that one day I could be one of the Muhlenberg softball players who was teaching the younger girls and helping them refine their skills. I accomplished that dream and made it a reality. Muhlenberg has been part of my life for many years, and I believe that Muhlenberg truly is where I was meant to be.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg softball memory? My most memorable Muhlenberg softball memory has to be the conference championship weekend last year. It was not only one of the most memorable weekends because we won the conference championship, but the team also had so much fun being together and singing along to music (especially the Lion King) on the bus. There has never been a moment that I was happier to be part of such an amazing group of girls. I can honestly say that being part of this team the last four years has allowed me to be part of a special softball family here at Muhlenberg. All the girls I have met over the years have truly become my best friends and a very special part of my life. We cried, laughed, teased each other and confided in each other. Each of us is different in many ways, but we bring the best out of each other. We are truly a team that supports each other to the fullest. My most memorable Muhlenberg softball memory will be all the amazing people I have met by playing this sport throughout my years here.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? My semester in Washington D.C. is my best off-the-field memory and an experience that I will never forget. I have fallen in love with the city, and my internship provided me the opportunity to not only live in our nation’s capital, but to learn about it firsthand. The Washington Semester enhanced my college education greatly. We went to our internships during the day and had class in the evenings. One day a week we had field trips and explored many of our national monuments. I learned to live in an entirely different environment, and I really enjoyed it. I had the chance to do many things in Washington that I would not have done if I did not participate in the semester. I not only made many new friends during the experience, but I was able to grow personally. I gained a new perspective of our nation’s capital, and I look forward to returning there one day in the future. It was a life-changing experience that I will never forget.

What are your future plans? After I graduate from college I hope to find a position which will utilize the knowledge and skills I have gained during my four years at Muhlenberg. I think it is important that a person enjoys his or her career and feels fulfilled doing it, while still being open to any new avenues he or she can explore to further develop important skills.

What’s Brittany Blohm like off the field? There is truly not a better friend you could ask for than Brittany. Off the field, she is someone whom her friends and teammates can confide in, no matter what the circumstance. She has a passion for life and knows how to have a great time. She is a great listener and is able to inspire each one of us to do our very best. Brittany is a true leader and has a very determined spirit. We enjoy getting together listening to music and just talking. She has a great personality and a beautiful, caring heart. I know that she will be successful in whichever path she takes in life after Muhlenberg.

Senior Profiles: Baseball

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with baseball. Seniors Brian Beck, Nick Busillo and Mike Speroni were honored during a ceremony before the doubleheader against Washington. The next day, they helped the Mules come back to beat regionally ranked Johns Hopkins, thanks in part to Beck’s first career grand slam, in their final game.

 

Brian Beck

How have you been able to become such a good defensive player? Defense has always been important to me, so I try my best to be the best defensive player that I can be through hard work and practice. In games, I try to get to every ball that I can in order to help the team, and I always try to be aware of what is going on around me. Also, though I know I will make mistakes, I try to remember what I did wrong and apply that knowledge to the next play in order to help the team win.

How have you been able to balance your time between baseball and school work to be named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll the last two years? Being a student-athlete means having a very rigorous and demanding schedule, especially during the season, so I try my best to manage my time as best as I can. To succeed both on and off the field takes a lot of effort and persistence, but I try my best to make sure that I am doing my best in the classroom and then try to be the best athlete that I can be on the field.

What was it like interning with the Secret Service during the Washington Semester? It was a great opportunity and experience that I was fortunate enough to achieve. I learned a lot from my time there, and I have fostered a great respect for the men and women who protect our country through that agency.

What are your future plans? I plan on pursuing a career in law enforcement.

What’s Nick Busillo like off the field? Nick is not only a good teammate, but he is a great person. He always has a positive attitude both on and off the field, and seems to be having fun no matter what it is that he is doing. Although we don’t spend a lot of time together off the field, I have enjoyed my time with him as my teammate, and I wish him the best in the future.

 

Nick Busillo

Where did the nickname Goose come from? It was from my first practice as a freshman. One of the seniors said I looked like someone who could cook French cuisine, and since it was during the time of Hurricane Gustav, they called me Gustav. Then it got shortened to Goose. Never in a million years did I think that the name would stick.

Do you have any hidden or unusual talents? I am a phenomenal dancer. I specialize in the classic moves. Joe Vila and Rob Shannon can confirm that.

You’re one of the biggest guys on the team, yet you have seven steals. Where’d you get your lightning-fast wheels? Well, there are so many people to thank for that. But mainly it’s basically because no one pays attention to me, so I can get a good lead, get a good jump and then take the bag. I could probably have about 10 more, but I see the sadness in John Muha’s face every time I get a steal. Since he only has a few, I want to keep it close so he doesn’t get upset.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg baseball memory? Hitting the walkoff home run against Swarthmore last year. That is probably the most memorable in my entire baseball career.

What are your future plans? Well, I will probably sail around the world on the boat that my dad, now being informed of it, will invest in. And then when I am done doing that, I’ll use that as my major selling point to get some cool job.

What kind of person is Mike Speroni? Where do I even start with Speroni? Speroni is one of a kind. He stuck it out with Brian and I, and he gets my utmost respect for that. He’s a real tough kid; he is up there in appearances in a season and a career. That just shows that he can come in at any time and make an impact. He stepped up as a leader this year, and when we needed, he would ask for a lot of swag sauce. No one is really sure what that means, but that is OK because it makes him happy. I wish Mike nothing but the best after school, and I will miss having him as my teammate.

 

Mike Speroni

Do you have any superstitions you do before you go on the mound? Laugh at the guys in the bullpen. Seriously though, there have always been some characters down there, and it’s one of the things I do to try and stay relaxed before I step onto the mound. Obviously I need to be focused, but when I’m on the mound any pre-pitch thoughts are gone, and I’m in the moment. With pitching having the tendency to turn into a mental war between you and the batter, it’s important to stay calm. If you let your emotions get to you, they can take priority over maintaining the mechanical consistency needed for success. Baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical, and anyone who’s been around the game knows that’s a fact.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg baseball memory? I’m going to have to pat myself on the back on this one. Probably my most memorable game was when I started against Haverford sophomore year and struck out the first six or seven guys I faced, minus the walk I sprinkled in the middle of it for a little flavor. My splitter was on that day, and everything just came together. Also just as memorable was working out of the fifth inning against Johns Hopkins my freshman year, then grabbing the win against them and shaking my dad’s hand after the game. That was pretty cool.

What was it like studying abroad at La Trobe University in Australia? Expensive. The minimum wage was about $15 an hour, and their dollar was about even with ours. Everything cost about twice as much. Although that was initially tough to deal with, I learned a lot not only about budgeting, but life in general living in Melbourne for five months. I got to play ball over there and really enjoyed fixing the non-existent swing I had going into it. I made what I hope to be lifelong friends with two sweethearts from Nebraska who I spent a week in Fiji with for our Spring Break, one of the most memorable vacations I’ve ever been on. Fiji was cheap too, which was nice.

What are your future plans? I’m currently working on an internship for the summer, and will be coming back in the fall because I ain’t no nerd. So to all the underclassmen reading this, don’t cry yet, I’ll be around to bother you some more in just a few months. Love you Mom.

What kind of teammate is Brian Beck? Brian is a great teammate and someone I’m proud to call a friend. He lets his actions do the talking, is extremely motivated, and always does the right thing. Also, he is probably the best foul ball recoverer and dugout janitor I have ever met. I don’t know what’s going to happen next year without him around, but you can probably bet on the umpire complaining he never has enough balls and our dugout will look like a landfill consisting of Slim Jim and Rice Krispies wrappers and empty Gatorade bottles. I’ve really enjoyed playing with him, Goose and our coaches, and I wish them all the best of luck next year.

Senior Profiles: Women’s Lacrosse

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with women’s lacrosse. Seniors Kelsey Elmer, Maggie Hare, Sarah Hetrick, Angela Napoletano, Becky Ritter and Jessica Shegoski were honored during a ceremony before the season finale against Ursinus.

 

Kelsey Elmer

You rank in the top 20 in on the program’s career assists list; what’s your key to finding open teammates? My role is easy, I just need to make sure my feet are moving and that I get off a good pass. It’s my teammates that make the good cuts and get themselves open so I can get the ball in their sticks, especially this year. I feel that we’ve been able to really get a large majority of our goal off assists, which just adds to the greater feeling of team cohesion. It’s been really fun to be able to make those connections.

What’s the most memorable moment from your lacrosse career? I think my most memorable moment from my lacrosse career would have to be this year against F&M. We came out so unbelievably strong and everything was clicking so perfectly. We forced them to take a timeout, which was an awesome feeling knowing that they needed to regroup and figure out a new game plan to shut us down. This year, the team has had some of the best cohesion I’ve been a part of, and the first half of that game absolutely exemplified that. It makes it so much fun, too, when you’re just finding each other. It was a great feeling and showed that we can hang with the best.

What’s your most memorable off-the-field moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? My most memorable off-the-field moments were probably my time spent in Spain. Although it wasn’t specifically at Muhlenberg, school gave me the opportunity to spend a semester there. I had an incredible time with priceless experiences. And I have to say that any time off-the-field with everyone on the team is never dull and always full of ridiculousness and fun, which make us that much closer!

What are your future plans? I am planning on earning some money this summer at home, and then I am looking to move to Denver toward the end of the summer or the beginning of fall. I’ve been looking into working in some different hospitals in Denver, either in clinical research or as a medical aid in a particular department. I’m also considering working at a spine and head trauma rehab center, which would allow me to really delve further into neuroscience. My final option is to just be a ski bum for a little while out there until I get my bearings. I wouldn’t mind that.

What kind of person is Sarah Hetrick? Sarah is someone who has been working hard for the past four years and is always trying to make herself and her teammates better. She has a lot of versatility in that she can utilize her height in defense while bringing her speed and stick skills to the attack. It has been fun being able to play with her the past four years and watch her develop into a really strong player and good teammate.

 

Maggie Hare

What’s something about you people might be surprised to learn? I came to Muhlenberg without any concrete idea of what I wanted to major or minor in, and I actually hated my first communications course and first Spanish course that I took here. Despite that, I ended up majoring in media and communication and minoring in Spanish.

What was it like visiting Spain? Visiting Spain this past summer was one of the most rewarding and exciting opportunities I’ve had as a student at Muhlenberg. I was equally excited and terrified going off and living in Spain with a group of people from different Lehigh Valley colleges that I’d never met before. I am so happy and lucky that I had the opportunity to go, because the experience really opened my eyes to how different life is in Spain compared to what I’m used to at Muhlenberg or back home in New Jersey. The cultural experience is what will stick with me the most. Once I got past the initial culture shock of life in Sevilla, I really enjoyed learning about the different traditions and customs of the people living there. I think one of the most important rewards I got from going to Spain was that I was really pushed far out of my comfort zone. It really gives you a new perspective on how you think about different cultures and how you see and understand yourself.

What’s your most memorable off-the-field moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? In terms of off-the-field lacrosse activities, one memorable moment that stuck with me was when we all went to do volunteer work in Allentown. One of the groups that we worked with was the Sixth Street Shelter. We went there and did some gardening work and anything else we could do to help. We also learned about the shelter and its efforts to help get families back on their feet and eventually able to provide for themselves. The experience was great because my teammates and I had fun working together and working with some of the individuals at the shelter. I think it is important for our team to give back to the community, and it was a very rewarding experience.

What’s it been like getting to play four more years with your high school teammate Jessica Shegoski? I have actually been playing sports with Jess since we were in elementary school. That being said, playing eight years of lacrosse with her on top of that has been great! I’ve been really lucky to have such an amazing teammate and friend continue through high school and college with me. As an athlete and as an individual, Jess has known me and played with me longer than anyone else at Muhlenberg. Because of that, she has been a major source of encouragement for me on and off the field. I can’t imagine playing lacrosse without Jess. Jess has always been a good friend and has all of those qualities you’d want your teammate to have. She is relentless, encouraging, aggressive, a team player and has incredible sportsmanship (just to name a few). That being said, it’s hard to play any sport with her and not have those qualities rub off on you. Jess is a true role model, and I can’t imagine my lacrosse experience here at Muhlenberg without her.

 

Sarah Hetrick

As a midfielder, you’re asked to do a little bit of everything on the field; do you prefer playing offense or defense? It depends on the day! Coming from playing low attack in high school, I feared the idea of playing defense. But I have developed a love of it over the past few years. There’s nothing like causing a turnover and getting the ball back for your team. The only downside is all of the running!

Do you have any hidden talents outside of lacrosse? I don’t know if I would call it a talent, let alone hidden (anyone who knows me knows I love food!), but I’d like to think I’m a pretty good cook.

What’s the best part about playing lacrosse? The best part about playing lacrosse is that I belong to a team. I like to think of our team as my college family, and I can talk to them about anything, anytime. We are each other’s support system.

What’s the most memorable moment from your lacrosse career? My most memorable moment was our win over Dickinson freshman year. Going into the game, our freshmen class was well aware of the past results with Dickinson, so when that great win came it was as if we had all won the lottery. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves!

What’s your most memorable off-the-field moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? My most memorable off-the-field accomplishment would have to be making the Dean’s List for the last three semesters … I finally learned time management!

What made you decide to major in business administration? I have always dreamed of owning my own restaurant, so majoring in business administration seemed like the right path to get there. While I don’t plan on owning a restaurant any time soon, my major has given me plenty of other opportunities.

What are your future plans? I am happy to say that I have a job lined up for after I graduate! I’ll be doing a combination of sales and operations for a food ingredient brokerage (yes, food!), and I’ll be traveling up and down the East Coast.

What kind of teammate is Kelsey Elmer? Kelsey is a fun and easy-going person. As captain, she loves our team and does a great job keeping us focused. On the field, Kelsey is a key attacker with a rapid-fire shot.

 

Angela Napoletano

What’s your role as a team captain? This year it has been a lot about keeping the team positive — no matter whether we are losing by five or winning by two. The team’s mental attitude makes a big difference, so keeping everyone encouraged has been important.

How big of an accomplishment has it been reaching the 100-point mark in your career? I was really happy to have been able to reach that mark throughout my four years here. I wasn’t able to finish the season last year, so to be able to finish my final season with 100 points is something I won’t ever forget.

What’s the most memorable moment from your lacrosse career?  I said this in the beginning of the season, but as of now it still stands as my most memorable moment — beating McDaniel by one in overtime freshman year. I don’t think I could ever forget it.

What’s your most memorable off-the-field moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? There have been too many memorable off-the-field moments, but something I will never forget is going to Disney World for Spring Break with the team my sophomore year. Alex Franck, Alex Bellini, Kelsey Elmer and I were in a special pirate room far away from everyone else. But going into the parks and going on all of the rides with everyone was so much fun, and I wish we could do it again!

What are your future plans? I will be going to graduate school in the fall to receive my master’s degree in childhood education. And from there I plan on becoming a teacher at the elementary level.

What’s Becky Ritter like off the field?  Off the field, Becky is just as feisty as she is on it! She’s a great friend, and she will use her competitive drive to do well wherever life takes her after we graduate.

 

Becky Ritter

How rewarding has it been becoming a full-time starter in your final season? It’s been extremely rewarding becoming a starter this year. I have worked really hard the past three seasons to improve my skills, and all of my hard work has gotten me to where I am today.

What’s your favorite part about playing lacrosse? There are two reasons why I love playing Muhlenberg lacrosse. One reason is that I am extremely competitive, and playing an intercollegiate sport has given me the opportunity to really be competitive. I think my favorite part about playing lacrosse here, though, is playing with everyone on this team. I get an opportunity to play with my best friends every day.

What’s the key to making a big defensive stop? The key to making a big defensive stop is having confidence and playing scrappy. You need to have confidence in yourself.

What’s the most memorable moment from your lacrosse career? My most memorable moment was beating McDaniel in overtime my sophomore year.

What’s your most memorable off-the-field moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? I have a lot of favorite moments here at Muhlenberg, but I think one of my favorite memories was going to Disney World with the team my sophomore year.

What are your future plans? As of right now I don’t have any definite plans, but I am hoping to find something that I really love to do.

What kind of teammate is Angela Napoletano? Angela is a great teammate. She is so competitive and pushes everyone else to be competitive too. It’s clear that she loves the sport and the team. It’s been a privilege to play with her for an entire four years.

 

Jessica Shegoski

What’s your funniest Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? My funniest Muhlenberg memory is the opening ceremonies of the women’s lacrosse Olympics my sophomore and senior years. The entire team is split into different nations, and we all dress up in the style of our adopted homeland during the opening ceremonies.

Do you have any pregame superstitions or traditions? I make it a point to get to the locker room super early, and I always have to make sure that my hair has some sort of braid in it. This year, the perfect game day hair style has been two French braids into a ponytail braid topped off with the perfect red polka dot ribbon tied in a bow. I also always have my headphones in my ears with my iPod on and music blaring. One of the last songs that I must listen to before getting on the field is “I Can’t Dance” by Genesis.

What’s the most memorable moment from your lacrosse career? The most memorable moment was beating Dickinson my freshman year at Scotty Wood Stadium.

What’s your most memorable off-the-field moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? My most memorable off-the-field accomplishment at Muhlenberg was being on the resident advisor staff for three years, and serving as the head resident liaison on campus this year.

What are your future plans? My future plans are not concrete past July of this summer. In June I will be playing on the Israeli Women’s National Lacrosse Team in the European Championships. Then I will be traveling to Israel with the team to coach camps and clinics in order to spread the sport of lacrosse and hopefully help other girls fall in love with the sport I am passionate about. I am also continuously searching for employment for next year (I had a job interview on April 18, wish me luck).

What’s your teammate since high school, Maggie Hare, like off the field? Maggie and I have known each other since elementary school. I cannot remember a sports season (either soccer or lacrosse) that I have not played with her. I have so many good memories with her both on and off the field, from long car rides to states like Maryland for soccer tournaments to rushing to Rita’s on the first day of spring after high school and college lacrosse practices. I am so glad I got to continue my college career with Maggie.

 

Senior Profiles: Men’s Lacrosse

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with men’s lacrosse. Seniors Alex Ardolino, Corey Aferiat, Charlie Pianko, Nick Rispoli, Jonathan Fritog, Jay Salasko and Andrew Disdier were honored during a ceremony before the season finale against Haverford.

Alex Ardolino

How big of an accomplishment is it for you that you rank in the top 10 in school history in points and goals? It is a nice category to be a part of. There are many good players in that category, and some of them are my friends.

What are your strengths as a player? I feel that my speed and my ability to use my off hand are the strongest parts of my game.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? Scoring the overtime goal to beat Haverford my sophomore year.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? The trip to Vancouver this summer; we had a great time.

What are your future plans? I will be working as a financial advisor in New York City.

What’s Corey Aferiat like off the field? There is so much you can say about Corey. He is one of the funniest people I know. His one-liners and voice impressions are great. His claim to fame is his classic joke, “So a horse walks into a bar, and the bartender says why the long face?” Corey is a great guy to hang out with and one of the smartest people I know. We have had some fun times. He is always joking around and making people laugh, and I am sure he will continue to do that at Yale next year.

 

Corey Aferiat

What’s it like being one of the few guys on the team from south of the Mason-Dixon Line? It is nice to have a little geographic diversity on the team, and hopefully I add a little pseudo-southern character. However, it is really difficult being the only one on the team who can’t handle the cold weather practices. I have been outcasted for my wardrobe on numerous occasions, most notably for wearing my sweat suit to practice, even when it is in the 50s. I tell people it’s because I like to be comfortable, but they don’t seem to care. They just don’t understand the harsh transition from nice, warm Virginia weather to the freezing, arctic conditions we deal with here in the Lehigh Valley.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? My most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory was beating Gettysburg on our home field last year. To have everyone on the team show up like they did, leave it all out there and come out with a huge win was incredibly special.

What made you decide to major in political science and minor in public health? I had planned on majoring in political science when I got to college, but I didn’t know what area I was most interested in. It wasn’t until sophomore year when I figured out I would be best suited in American government and public policy. With regards to public health, I didn’t really have much of an idea about what public health was until I took a course in it as a sophomore. My mom had suggested I take the course, so I figured why not. I really enjoyed the class, and as they say, the rest is history.

What are your future plans? Next year I will be studying health policy and administration at Yale University. After two years of graduate school, I hope to find a job within the realm of hospital administration.

What kind of teammate is Alex Ardolino? Alex is an awesome guy to have out on the field and in the locker room. I admire him the most for his love of the game. It is clear that regardless of what is going on (winning streaks, losing streaks, bad practices, good practices) that he continues to love being a part of the game. When you watch him in practices and games, you can tell he experiences genuine satisfaction from just being around the sport. That kind of love and commitment for the game rubs off on his teammates, and it has certainly rubbed off on me. Despite the fact he has made me look inexcusably slow during sprints in practice for four years straight, I am definitely honored to have been his teammate.

 

Charlie Pianko

What’s something most people don’t know about you that they might find interesting? An interesting fact that most people don’t know is that my dad and Doug Rheiner’s dad were fraternity brothers at Gettysburg.

How have you improved as a player since coming to Muhlenberg? I would say I have improved every part of my game since coming to Muhlenberg. I think it is impossible not to when you go to practice every day with the amount of talent we have on this team. It forces you to get better.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? My most memorable memory has to be beating Gettysburg last year. To beat a team that Muhlenberg had never beaten before was something special.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? I think there is a high possibility I would get in serious trouble if I didn’t say when I met my girlfriend, so I’ll go with that.

What’s it like playing against your brother who plays for Dickinson? It is a fun time for my entire family except for the fact that my parents do not know who to root for. I just wish we were able to beat them one of the three years we played against each other, because I am sure I will be hearing about it for the rest of my life.

What are your future plans? I plan on getting a job in accounting and seeing where it goes from there. I would also like to coach youth lacrosse or Pop Warner football in the future.

What kind of person is Nick Rispoli? Nick is a great person. I have lived with him the last two years, and although he can be quiet at times, he is always funny and entertaining to be around.

 

Nick Rispoli

What are the keys to being a good faceoff man? How have you been so successful? Step to the right!! Facing off is just like any other position; it’s all about practice and becoming comfortable with what you’re doing. I’ve been lucky enough to have some great coaches along the way that really knew what they were talking about that have helped out. It’s also nice when you have other great faceoff men around you to push you every day in practice. Having great wing play has also been a tremendous help over the years. To be completely honest, I don’t know how I’ve been so successful. I pretty much just go out there and don’t think. I hum a little tune to myself and just try to have fun.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? My favorite lacrosse memory has to be back in the high school state championship game my senior year, running down the field with Andrew Disdier on me and scoring a left-handed goal on him. But beating Gettysburg for the first time last season was my most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory, by far. The atmosphere was outrageous.

We’ve heard you play a mean guitar; are you the next Eric Clapton? Oh, I can play a mean guitar; it’s really not fair. I’m more of a Bruce Springsteen fan myself; we’re actually in the middle of planning our summer tour dates now.

What made you decide to major in business administration? Well, I meant to sign up for theater, but I guess I filled out the wrong form that day. But seriously, I’ve always been interested in business, particularly marketing and advertising. After taking some business courses freshman year, I knew that was the field I was most interested in, so I decided to pursue it.

What are your future plans? Aside from going on tour with my guitar with Bruce, I plan to move to California and hang out all day in the sun since I spent the past four years in the rainy Lehigh Valley. In all seriousness, I’m not exactly sure what I plan on doing and am still investigating and exploring my options. I’m all ears if anyone has any offers.

What kind of teammate is Jonathan Fritog? Jonathan who? No, it’s been great being able to continue to play with Jonathan for another four years. I’ve known him for most of my life. He’s excellent at communication on and off the field and is willing to spend extra time with the players to help them improve and learn. He’s always trying to become better, but definitely knows how to have fun and can turn it on when he needs to. He also has a great lacrosse IQ (must be a Ridgewood thing).

 

Jonathan Fritog

You’ve taken quite a few drumming classes at Muhlenberg; are you a rock star in waiting? I don’t think I’m a rock star in waiting, but since Nick Rispoli takes guitar lessons, and we both took a magic class together, we decided that if we are unable to find jobs after college we will stay in Ridgewood (yes, with our parents) and become street performers. All we need is a singer like Jay “Mad Dog” Salasko, and we can be an official band.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? My most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory is definitely going on the Vancouver trip over this past summer. Even though the entire team wasn’t with us, it was still my most favorite vacation that I have ever been on because it was with all my friends. That trip really gave all the guys a chance to simply kick back, relax and enjoy being in a different country with each other. Oh yeah, and we played lacrosse there too. Also, scoring against McDaniel this year was pretty cool since they were my first collegiate points.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? My best off-the-field memory from my time here is really all four years that I was able to spend here. From going from room to room in Walz hanging out with friends, then moving into Benfer with guys on the lacrosse team, then getting a house off campus and just being able to hang out with the people that have had such a great influence on my life in the past four years has really made this one of the greatest experiences of my life. I really owe it to all of the people that I have met and all of my friends that I have made here. I will truly miss this place and everyone that I have met. I will also miss beating Andrew Disdier in video games every day. I really have my parents to thank the most because they never stopped pushing me and believing in me to do my absolute best in whatever it was that I decided to do. And they never missed a single game in my time here at Muhlenberg, which means more to me then they will probably ever know. They truly are the best parents that any kid could ever ask for, and I am extremely grateful that they have acted as such a great support system to me throughout my life. Love you guys.

What are your future plans? Besides becoming a street performer with Nick Rispoli, I want to become a high school teacher and lacrosse coach. I am going to take a year off after college and then hopefully go to grad school to get my master’s degree.

What’s Charlie Pianko like off the field? Pianko is probably one of the nicest guys on the team. In my past four years here I cannot recall one time that I have ever heard him complain or not have a smile on his face. Charlie is just a happy-go-lucky guy who leads by example and is a hard worker.

 

Jay Salasko

What would you say is the strongest part of your game? The strongest part of my game would have to be my ability to communicate on the field.

What made you decide to transfer to Muhlenberg after your freshman year? I came to Muhlenberg because it was a great opportunity to come to a great academic institution and join a great group of players who I had a chance to meet before I made my decision.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? I think our win against Gettysburg last year stands out the most. The emotion that we played with in that game fueled our victory, and it couldn’t have been a better feeling.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? It is hard to choose the best off-the-field memory from my time here, but if I were to choose one I can guarantee that it would be with my teammates. Although we spend every day together on the field, our off the field time together is how we grew as a team. That said, it’s impossible to choose just one moment.

Some of your drawings were in a recent exhibition on campus; have you always been an artist? I definitely have not always been an artist and still don’t believe that I’m much of one. But the few drawing classes that I have taken here definitely taught me a few things that have helped me graduate from drawing stick figures.

What are your future plans? After graduation I am hoping to find a graduate coaching position where I can further my schooling as well as get a jump start on a collegiate lacrosse coaching career.

What was it like getting to play three more years with your high school teammate Andrew Disdier? Playing with Andrew again was definitely a plus when I made my decision to come here. Andrew has been a great asset to the team in his four years here. He is a great guy to have in our locker room. He always helps to keep team morale up and keep those who are struggling motivated.

 

Andrew Disdier

Do you have any hidden or unusual talents? I can tie my shoelaces without using my hands, and I’m fluent in five languages. However, those talents are completely dwarfed by the arsenal of tricks Connor Winter has.

How frustrating has it been having to deal with so many injuries during your career? It is difficult to articulate the frustration. I will say that the recovery process has been much easier with the support from my family, teammates and coaches.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg lacrosse memory? This past summer’s trip to British Columbia was unforgettable.

What’s the best off-the-field memory from your time here? I’m a big basketball guy, so all the pickup games that we played in the fall were some great times. I know that Mike Carpetto and Jack Reilly will keep the tradition going next year. Beating Jon Fritog in “Around the World” in a single turn is something I won’t forget either.

How was the experience interning with Merrill Lynch? I really perfected my envelope addressing and database updating skills at Merrill Lynch. In all seriousness, it was a great experience, because I was able to apply my academic ability to the professional workplace. The fundamental knowledge that I absorbed there really put me a step ahead for the following semester. I wish AJ “The Bond Vigilante” Diaz and Ian “The Big Short” de Ruiter the best of luck this coming summer at Merrill Lynch.

What are your future plans? To start, I’m going to get my knee fixed. Professionally, I have accepted a bank examiner position with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, an entity of the Department of the Treasury.

What was it like getting to play three more years with your high school teammate Jay Salasko? It has been a tremendous opportunity to play with Jay “Mad Dog” Salasko for an extra three years. He has always been a ferocious competitor, and he has a canny knowledge of the game. He is also one of the toughest players I know. If he did not have the back of a 55-year-old arthritic man and had not gotten sniped in the spleen by Corey’s rifle of a lefty bounce shot, I know his career would have looked a lot different.

 

 

Senior Profiles: Men’s Tennis

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with men’s tennis, which beat Ursinus, 5-4, in its Senior Day match. Seniors Jordan Rutt, Andrew Brod and Robert Buesser were honored before the match.

Jordan Rutt

What’s been your key to balancing tennis and school work to be named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll each of the last two seasons? I’ve always been a horrible procrastinator, so playing tennis and having even less time for schoolwork makes me focus really hard during crunch time. Luckily it’s worked out pretty well!

What was it like studying abroad in the Netherlands during the fall of your junior year? Studying abroad was the experience of a lifetime, which is why I took 10,000 photos! I had never even been on a plane before, so leaving America and flying across the Atlantic to a new continent was a huge adjustment for me. I still can’t believe I got to see 11 countries, and I certainly want to travel again when I’m older.

Are your parents going to go through withdrawal next year not having any Muhlenberg sporting events to attend for the first time in eight years? Yes, absolutely. It will be the first time one of their kids isn’t playing a sport in 20 years, and they have never missed a single tennis match throughout both high school and college! Luckily my sister coaches high school field hockey, so they can go watch her games.

What are some of the funniest moments from your time with the team? Burrito seshes, swum seshes, singing on the bus rides, Maestro (and Eli), and watching coach lather sunscreen on an umpire.

Do you have a favorite pro player? Rafael Nadal because of his athleticism and fighting spirit, and Maria Sharapova for obvious reasons.

What made you decide to major in economics and political science? When I was a freshman I was really interested in politics, but I knew I wanted and needed something else too. I thought I might enjoy a career in business, but I kind of liked math as well, so I chose economics. I don’t really care that much for politics anymore, so I’m glad I’ll have that econ degree!

What are your future plans? I’ll be looking for a job in business or statistics, and maybe one day if I somehow get super rich I’ll attempt to become a politician (but I doubt it). I also definitely want to coach tennis in the near future.

What’s Andrew Brod like off the court? Brod’s an all-around great guy. He’s goofy, happy, funny, a conscientious student, and not to mention a good friend. I’ll miss him a lot next year, along with the entire team.

 

Andrew Brod

What was it like getting to intern at the Library of Congress and with former Senator Arlen Specter the past two summers? … Hoping to learn more from government service work in D.C., I was selected for the 2011 Summer Junior Fellowship program at the Library of Congress. Assigned to the law division, I was able to hone my research and analytical skills by examining U.S. Court of Appeals records and briefs. After reviewing them, I docketed the briefs in a proprietary computer system so that they can be located if a lawyer or law clerk requests them. The fellowship was a great opportunity to whet my appetite for the study of law, particularly antitrust and consumer protection law, interests that stemmed from constituent phone calls in Senator Specter’s office. During my research, I came across a brief in a case involving an NFL antitrust claim in Joe Kapp v. National Football League. That case inspired me to research antitrust and sports contracts, including a specific provision in standard NFL player contracts, and I presented the findings in an exhibition at the Library of Congress. I performed a detailed search as if I were preparing to represent Joe Kapp directly. Researching the law and applying it to the circumstances of a potential case was exhilarating to me.

Do you have any interesting or unique pre-match traditions or superstitions? I like to keep the same overgrip on my racquet until it rips off completely.

Do you have a favorite pro player? Gael Monfils

What made you decide to major in psychology and minor in political science? I have always been interested in the intersection of psychology and law. After exploring the various disciplines, I found that studying psychology allows students to think critically, especially while attempting to take different perspectives and understand theoretical constructs that define everyday behavior. I feel as though it has prepared me well to handle the rigors of the law school curriculum.

What are your future plans? I will be attending law school in the fall.

What kind of person is Robert Buesser? Rob is a perseverant and overall stand-up guy who I’ve seen grow as a tennis player over the years. His enthusiasm is uncanny; he has a desire to constantly improve. It’s quite an admirable trait.

 

Robert Buesser

What made you decide to join the team as a sophomore? Originally, playing tennis in college didn’t really cross my mind freshman year. But I was encouraged to try out after a couple kids on the team saw me playing. So I decided to try out as a sophomore, and it’s been fun ever since. I guess it’s pretty cool to be a college tennis walk-on.

What’s the most memorable moment from your tennis career? The times in practice were actually the most fun, but I think the most memorable moment came this year against Gettysburg when Corey and I came back from down 6-3, 40-love all the way back to win 8-6.

What’s your most memorable off-the-court moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? I have had the opportunity to be the Mule at the Homecoming football game twice. That was one of the most fun and memorable experiences I can remember.

Do you have a favorite pro player? Probably Roger Federer. He is the most respectable player in tennis because he almost never complains. And because of the hard work he puts into his game, he makes every shot look easy.

What made you decide to major in psychology and minor in Spanish? Coming into college, I always subconsciously knew that I would major in psychology. I have always found psychology interesting and applicable to everyday life. In addition, the professors from the psych department left a great impression on me, and I knew that psychology was for me. As for Spanish, I have always been naturally good at speaking the language. Also, I have taken Spanish since seventh grade, so I decided I should continue to study the language. Speaking Spanish is very important because in 20 or 30 years the majority of the nation will be Hispanic.

What are your future plans? My future plans include: Visiting every continent as well as the moon, curing cancer, saving a beautiful woman from a fire then marrying her, then eventually becoming the town hero of Little Rock, Arkansas.

What kind of teammate is Jordan Rutt? Jordan is a great teammate and captain. He legitimately cares and notices how you are playing and, of course, gives great pre-match speeches.

 

Senior Profiles: Women’s Tennis

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

In the coming days, the MuhlBox will feature some of the highlights from the traditional senior question and answer profiles that run with the programs for Senior Day.

We start with women’s tennis, which beat Ursinus, 8-1, in its Senior Day match. Seniors Emily Robbins and Lauren Wink were honored before the match.

Emily Robbins

What’s the most memorable moment from your time with the tennis team? One of my favorite memories is a bus ride last year with the four seniors. They knew how to keep us all laughing, but get us ready for the match at the same time. I also enjoy our team dinners (especially at Wegmans) before important matches. :)

Who’s your favorite pro player? I love watching Roger Federer play because of how hard he works and his strategy in matches. I have seen him live a few times, and he is incredible.

How have you been able to balance your time to make the Dean’s List the past two semesters? I really focus on my schoolwork and make that a priority. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, which is also motivation for me to get my work done.

What made you choose psychology as your major? I took Intro to Psychology with Dr. Rudski and was very intrigued by the information we were learning. I ended up finishing my major in three semesters because I enjoyed my psychology classes that much.

What are your future plans? I intend to use the next year to do research and apply to graduate school in 2013 in neuropsychology to do concussion research.

What kind of person is Lauren Wink? She works hard, but also knows how to have fun. She is a great friend and truly enjoys spending time with the team. Even though she’s student teaching this semester, she joins us at practice whenever she can, which shows her dedication.

 

Lauren Wink

What made you decide to join the team as a junior? My parents always told me to live my dreams. With their motivation and encouragement, I was able to work hard and join the team as a junior. I always played tennis with my family, but never competitively. I was an avid soccer player growing up, and unfortunately soccer and tennis were the same season in high school. The summer after I had back surgery, I shied away from competing in physical contact sports and increased my time spent playing tennis. It was at that time that I decided to take lessons and try out for the team at Muhlenberg. I thought it would be a good opportunity to become part of a team, which was a huge part of sports that I missed from playing varsity soccer and lacrosse in high school.

What’s your most memorable off-the-court moment or accomplishment from your time at Muhlenberg? I participated in the career center’s Senior Year Experience. As part of the three-day event, we were given a short cooking demonstration (because we all have to be prepared to cook in the real world!). Then at night we had a “Top Chef” competition. I was captain of my team; we were assigned the theme “mother-in-law is coming for dinner.” Two-and-a-half hours, a salad, a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and an elegant brownie dessert (with homemade whipped cream from Jordyn) later, we were selected as the “Top Chef” winners (shout out to Team Five!!!). It was a very fun event; they actually had chefs from local restaurants come in to judge all of the food! I am excited to see my name on the “Top Chef Winners” plaque hanging in the Wood Dining Commons!

What made you decide to major in business administration while pursuing your elementary education certification? People always say, “So you want to teach business to kindergarteners?” I always knew I wanted to receive my certification in education, but after enjoying my economics class in high school, I decided to take one at Muhlenberg. I decided that a major in business would give me many options. I have enjoyed taking the diverse classes from my marketing concentration to my certification in elementary education. I’m still trying to brainstorm ways I can combine the two – maybe by being an administrator in a school in the future.

What are your future plans? I plan on attending New York University in the fall to receive my master’s degree in literacy. After interning in New York last summer, I am very excited to have the opportunity to be there next year.

What kind of person is Emily Robbins? Emily actually moved into my hallway in the middle of sophomore year, but it was not until the summer before junior year that we actually spoke! When I was deciding to try out for the tennis team, I sent Emily an e-mail asking her what it was like being on the team. She gave me the rundown, and told me she loved the team and loved being able to play tennis every day. It is because of her that I decided to try out! She has been a very supportive teammate!

 

Athletes of the Week

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for contests between April 30 and May 6

Female Athlete of the Week – Tara Keegan, Track & Field

Keegan won a pair of bronze medals at the Centennial Conference Championships. In the heptathlon, she scored 3,866 points, topping her previous personal best by more than 180 points. Keegan threw the javelin 118-4, beating her old personal best by more than three feet. She also ran the first leg of the 4×400 relay team that came in eighth.

Male Athlete of the Week – Peter Rice, Track & Field

Rice won three golds and a silver at the Centennial Conference Championships, wrapping up his incredible career with 28 CC medals, including 16 golds. He anchored the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams that took first place, setting school records in the process. Rice also won the 400 meters and finished second in the 200.

Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?

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Over the last 24 games of the 2012 season, Muhlenberg second baseman Chris Manfredonia hit .320, raising his average from .260 to .299.

A solid end to a promising first season of collegiate baseball, especially for someone who missed most of his senior season in high school due to a back injury, but nothing extraordinary.

Except for the fact that Manfredonia had at least one hit in each of those 24 games.

Manfredonia broke a 25-year-old school record for longest hitting streak. But the streak was so inconspicuous that it flew under even his own radar until he surpassed the previous mark of 17 games in the second game of the Gettysburg doubleheader.

“After the Gettysburg game a couple of guys came up to me and told me that I broke the record for longest hitting streak,” said Manfredonia. “I thought they were joking.”

Manfredonia had exactly one hit in 18 of the 24 games. In 15 of the 24 games, his first hit came in the sixth inning or later – including the record-breaking single against Gettysburg, which came on a two-strike pitch in the ninth. That was one of five ninth-inning streak-extenders.

True to form, Manfredonia made sure his streak would carry over into 2013 by going 1-for-6 in each game of Sunday’s season-ending twinbill vs. Johns Hopkins. He beat out a slow roller to third with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of the opener and went opposite field for his only double of the season in the sixth inning of Game 2.

By comparison, Kelly Kline of the Muhlenberg softball team had a school-record 25-game hitting streak this season in which she batted .512. Joe DiMaggio hit .406 in his Major League Baseball-record 56-game streak in 1941.

This wasn’t so much “Joltin’ Joe” as it was “Consistent Chris.”

“I just try to not get too low, stay on an even keel and play the game with a consistent approach,” said Manfredonia.

Of course, you can’t get hits without putting the ball in play, and Manfredonia did plenty of that. He struck out 10 times in his 50 pre-streak at-bats but whiffed only 11 times in 97 at-bats during the streak.

“I was striking out a little more early in the year than I would have liked,” he said. “So I tried to get fastballs early in the count, make hard contact and put the ball in play.”

A big Yankees fan, Manfredonia gained a new appreciation for DiMaggio’s streak, which would take almost another full year for him to approach.

“In the Major Leagues you play every single day; here you play only four days a week,” he said. “It’s hard to stay healthy to be able to hit in 56 straight games, and you have to get lucky once in a while. I can’t even imagine doing that.”

One of the ironies of Manfredonia’s record streak is that before it got going, he was on his way to a different school record. He had six sacrifices, one short of the record, halfway through the season, but as the hits kept coming and he moved up in the order, the bunt sign stopped coming. Another unfortunate irony is that most of his streak coincided with a team losing streak that turned the program’s best start in 84 years into a 19-21 final record.

So would Manfredonia, the would-be king of sacrifices turned king of hitting streaks, be willing to sacrifice his streak for a few more wins next year?

“Any day!” he said.

Waiting for The Call

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When she traveled to Italy with the Muhlenberg women’s basketball team during the summer of 2010, Alexandra Chili fell in love with the culture and European way of life (especially the croissants and cappuccino).

Now, she wants to make another trek across the pond. But this time she hopes the trip will be primarily about business.

After completing one of the most accomplished careers in both Muhlenberg and Centennial Conference history, the two-time All-American was invited to the 2012 Women’s Final Four Combine held in late March in Denver.

Alexandra ChiliThere, Chili took the next step in a journey she hopes will end in a place not normally associated with Division III athletes: professional basketball.

Chili was part of a group of about 80 players from all NCAA divisions, as well as former college players, who took part in a series of drills and games played in front of scouts from the WNBA and several European professional leagues.

And just like she had during her time in a Mule uniform, Chili stood out from the rest, thanks in large part to her lethal jump shot.

The school and conference career three-point leader for men or women, Chili knocked down 21 of her 25 attempts from beyond the arc, more than any other player at the combine. Then when teams were picked for the games, she found herself alongside players from conferences like the Big Ten and Pac 12.

And after taking a short while to get used to the thin air in the Mile High City, she felt that she more than held her own despite being one of just a handful of Division III players invited to the event.

“You could really notice the elevation difference,” she said. “But I feel like I played pretty well. I was a little nervous at first, but once we got going I didn’t really think about that.”

Chili played so well, in fact, that she’s already garnered interest from teams in Israel and Italy. Although there have not been any official offers yet, she received positive feedback from the combine’s director, who told her she had the ability to play professionally.

Now comes the hardest part for Chili, who made a habit of scoring points quickly: waiting. She’s done all she could to leave a positive lasting impression for the scouts, and as she gets ready for finals week, she’s anxiously hoping for the phone call that could come as early as today, or not until August or September.

But as she was during her entire career, Chili is prepared. After she dons her cap and gown and graduates in two-and-a-half weeks, she will continue working to improve her game. She has a summer job lined up in case she doesn’t hear back soon, but she’s also put her long-term plans temporarily on hold so she can chase her dream.

It’s not every day that an athlete is given the opportunity to make a living playing the sport they love. Then again, considering she’s the only player in conference history, male or female, to score 2,000 career points, Chili has shown she’s not like every other player.

Now she’s ready for the opportunity to take her game to the next level. All that she needs is a call.

“I had never really thought about playing professionally until this season,” she said. “But when I looked into it, I thought it might be pretty cool. It would be a great to get to live in Europe and experience the culture. I’ll probably never have a chance like this again, so I want to make the most of it.”

“Hopefully I’ll get a call soon; between that and graduation, it would really be time to celebrate.”