Lions Speak Out!
This page will consist of some thoughts from your Lions. Each player constructed an entry about their thoughts on the fall, their current thoughts about winter workouts, their feelings about the team as a whole, their goals for the spring season, and any other information that they wished to add. Hope you enjoy reading!
Ashley McCurry- Senior
I think our fall season went great compared to last year. I think we worked hard as a team and really got to know each other on and off the field. I think 18 players make us a more competitive team and it also makes our team work harder than normal. I think our workouts are benefitting our team as a whole by making us faster and stronger both mentally and physically. I enjoy this team because we all click together and get along really well. My goals for our team is to play hard every day, play our best every day, and be as successful as possible with the team we have.
Stephanie McGrath- Senior
I think this fall has been really productive. We focused a lot on improving skills, rather than just reps. We have had time to break things down and get lots of individual attention. Workouts have really helped me as an individual, but I also see the improvement in the team as well. The workouts are hard and all the girls are rising to the challenge. Not only has everyone gotten stronger, but we have gotten more mentally though as well. This spring, I hope we rise to our potential. We have so much talent on this team and if we can bring it all together we will have a great season. Another goal I have for both myself and the team is to play fearlessly; to be able to make the plays I know we can make and not be afraid to go all out. I like the way the team is working
out. 18 girls is a larger team than I’ve ever been on but it’s going well. There’s a wide range of personalities which makes things interesting and fun.
out. 18 girls is a larger team than I’ve ever been on but it’s going well. There’s a wide range of personalities which makes things interesting and fun.
Taylor Morris- Senior
This fall season I think we were pretty successful. I liked how everyone got the chance to play at their positions. Workouts were very successful and I definitely feel stronger and like I am throwing harder. They are definitely going to benefit the team because it will make everyone stronger. My goals for the spring are to win conference tournament and then go to regionals. Many things have made me enjoy this team over the fall season. I enjoy hanging out with everyone and getting to know them. I am really hoping that we do well this season since it will be my last!
Megan Arrington- Junior
I believe that our fall season went really well. We have 9 returners and 9 new players so that could make coming together so early in the year difficult. I believe that we came together as a full team and competed with and defeated some strong teams throughout the Southeast. Right now, we are in the process of winter workouts. We are lifting, conditioning, and having individuals over a 5-day span. We are fighting through the early mornings, tough weights, and sometimes painful conditioning sessions as a team. We all know it is a tough time but we also know we are getting stronger, faster, and better every step of the way! I have never played on a team this big but I love the fact that we are like a big family. We know how to have fun but we also know how to come together and play as a team. I am hoping in the spring to bond together even more and prove to everyone that MHC belongs towards the top. I want to be the team that everyone is talking about and everyone is scared to play. If we continue to grow and improve I really believe that we will be that team.
Allie Carrigan- Junior
This fall season was an exciting one. We got the opportunity to play at several amazing fields like ETSU, WCU, UT. Our workouts are very hard and demanding, but we feel good after completing them! They will definitely pay off during season. Our goals are set very high this year, but we expect to complete them. We want to win conference and win a ticket to regionals. Although we have a large team of 18 people, we all have a great relationship with one another. We play very well together and enjoy every minute we are together. We work hard and play harder!
Brittany Gibson- Junior
I think the fall season went pretty good. It gave us time to learn to play together and it showed what we needed to work on. I feel as If workouts are benefitting us because they are somewhat intense and we’re all sore about 85% of the time. My team goal for the spring is to win conference and get a championship ring. I enjoy this team because everyone is so much fun to be around and the chemistry that we have is top notch. I transferred here from Pitt Community College and the transition hasn’t been hard at all because I have made friends quickly and my teammates have been real welcoming. I think that this team has a lot of potential and if everybody is on the same page I think we have a good chance at doing some great things.
Jamie Hockaday- Junior
I feel like the fall season went very well. We have been doing weightlifting and conditioning that will greatly improve our team’s stamina and skill level. One of my team goals is to stay connected with my teammates throughout the year. I enjoy this team because we mesh so well together and there is never a dull moment. I transferred from Louisburg College and I feel like the transition has gone very smoothly. The professors, coaches, and students here have been very willing to offer any type of help I have needed. In the spring I am looking forward to getting games started and putting what we are working on in the fall into effect. I think we are working towards a great season and I can’t wait to get started!
Lauren Saller- Junior
I think the fall season went well. It showed us what we need to work on as a team to become successful in the spring. I think our workouts are going well. I notice, for the most part, that everyone is working hard and doing all of their reps. I feel like the workouts are going to benefit us as a team. We have different exercises each day in the weight room and different sets and reps that will help us achieve different goals. As a team I would like to win a lot of games, work hard, and work well together as a team. I enjoy being on the team because everyone gets along. There are a lot of personalities, but it seems as though we all make time to hang out with each together. From transferring from Louisburg College, I am not finding the transition too hard. School is harder, but the softball is close to the same since I already had Coach Gordy and Stanley before at Louisburg.
Shaundee Woosley- Junior
I think our fall season went pretty well. It showed what we need to work on but also showed our potential as a team. I think we will have a great season because of our depth and talent. Our current workouts are tough but helpful. We work up a good sweat in the weight room and we always work very hard. I think we are clicking well as a team. I think we work well together and get along great.
Taylor Hussey- Sophomore
I am so excited for what the upcoming season holds! I believe that our fall games showed a lot of potential for our team, but also a lot of room for improvement. Currently, we are working hard in the weight room and fine tuning our hitting, fielding, and pitching skills. I hope that our efforts during the winter will pay off for the spring in the forms of faster running, more hits for our batters, and more strikeouts for our pitchers. My goals for the team during season are to score more runs per game than last year and to play in the conference tournament and playoffs. Even though we have many new players, I believe that these goals are totally feasible. After the past couple of months, I think that the girls on our team mesh pretty well with each other. I know that we will grow even closer when the season start because we will be spending so much time together. Every day, I look forward to being around these girls and working with them on and off the field.
Taylor Jordan- Sophomore
This fall has been extremely beneficial for our softball team. The amount of weight lifting and conditioning that we are participating in is making ourselves faster and stronger for the competition that we will face during the spring. Some team goals that would be good for the spring would be: to have the toughest defense in the SAC, to hit all throughout the line up, to sweep up to 80% of our games and to WIN conference. This team of girls is by far one of the best teams I have ever been on. The amount of willingness to work and the competition to get better is fascinating. Everyone wants to succeed and get better, and each girl is willing to push themselves and other teammates to work hard to reach their full potential. As far as off the field, there is a feeling of family and unity between our team. All the girls are there for one another if something is needed. I think this year will be a great year for Mars Hill Softball. Everyone
is working hard and it will be evident through our actions during the spring!
is working hard and it will be evident through our actions during the spring!
Aleshia Peek- Sophomore
I thought the fall season went really well we definitely gelled as a
team. It’s definitely hard moving from one college team to another. No year is the same as your freshman year in college. I, however, feel like I enjoy my new teammates just as much as I enjoyed them at Belmont Abbey. I feel like we work well together as a whole and we all push each other to work harder in the weight room and on the field. I would say that the transition has been very smooth between schools. I have maintained those relationships and even made new ones. I can approach almost anyone of my teammates for advice. The coaches are much more approachable and I am very happy with my decision of coming to MHC. Our weights program is very structured and set to maintain our strength. I enjoy the program although it’s very vigorous we are definitely gaining muscle! As a team goal, I would say we should finish in the top five teams in the conference. We played a very strong set of fall games and we need to carry that over to the spring! Another team goal would be to have more wins than losses both in the SAC Conference and as a whole. Mars Hill softball is capable of winning the conference this year we have a great group of hardworking girls for the 2013 season! I am looking forward to the 2013 softball season! Building relationships and making memories with my new teammates. It’s great to finally have all of the components to a successful team.
team. It’s definitely hard moving from one college team to another. No year is the same as your freshman year in college. I, however, feel like I enjoy my new teammates just as much as I enjoyed them at Belmont Abbey. I feel like we work well together as a whole and we all push each other to work harder in the weight room and on the field. I would say that the transition has been very smooth between schools. I have maintained those relationships and even made new ones. I can approach almost anyone of my teammates for advice. The coaches are much more approachable and I am very happy with my decision of coming to MHC. Our weights program is very structured and set to maintain our strength. I enjoy the program although it’s very vigorous we are definitely gaining muscle! As a team goal, I would say we should finish in the top five teams in the conference. We played a very strong set of fall games and we need to carry that over to the spring! Another team goal would be to have more wins than losses both in the SAC Conference and as a whole. Mars Hill softball is capable of winning the conference this year we have a great group of hardworking girls for the 2013 season! I am looking forward to the 2013 softball season! Building relationships and making memories with my new teammates. It’s great to finally have all of the components to a successful team.
Robyn Stanek- Sophomore
During the fall our team worked very hard whether in
the weight room, conditioning, on the softball field, or in the classroom. To start off, our fall season was a success! As a team, we came together to compete with very talented D1, D2, and JuCo teams. We got the opportunity to travel to ETSU, WCU, and UT and play on very nice fields, while proving our ability as a strong D2 program. Now that we have completed the fall
season, we have dove back into our rigorous weight lifting and conditioning program created by our coaches. These workouts are challenging each and every day, pushing the whole team to become the greatest athlete they can be. Although we have greatly increased our numbers on the roster this year, it has not affected us as a team. With 18 girls we have so many more options for practices and during game situations. For the spring I would like to see us as a team stay positive, competitive, and rank high in the conference standings. It would be a great experience to make it all the way to the conference championship, and even to regionals, which I think is possible with the talent level on our team. I hope to be able to sweep some conference teams, but not be swept by anyone else. I cannot wait to see what is to come for the 2012-2013 MHC Lion Softball Team! It’s going to be a great year!
the weight room, conditioning, on the softball field, or in the classroom. To start off, our fall season was a success! As a team, we came together to compete with very talented D1, D2, and JuCo teams. We got the opportunity to travel to ETSU, WCU, and UT and play on very nice fields, while proving our ability as a strong D2 program. Now that we have completed the fall
season, we have dove back into our rigorous weight lifting and conditioning program created by our coaches. These workouts are challenging each and every day, pushing the whole team to become the greatest athlete they can be. Although we have greatly increased our numbers on the roster this year, it has not affected us as a team. With 18 girls we have so many more options for practices and during game situations. For the spring I would like to see us as a team stay positive, competitive, and rank high in the conference standings. It would be a great experience to make it all the way to the conference championship, and even to regionals, which I think is possible with the talent level on our team. I hope to be able to sweep some conference teams, but not be swept by anyone else. I cannot wait to see what is to come for the 2012-2013 MHC Lion Softball Team! It’s going to be a great year!
Jamie Booze- Freshman
I think the fall season went pretty well. It gave us all the opportunity to learn who each player is off the field, at practice, and in games. It was difficult coming back after our two week break and doing a maintenance work out. I have a partner that pushes me during workouts to grow in size and in mental toughness. Workouts help the team keep on track and expand in the area of strength. This spring I would really like to come together as a team and kick some butt, push aside our differences on the field and have more opportunities to bond as a team. The transition from high school to college wasn’t very different in the atmosphere, but the skill level and intensity of the game has definitely increased!
Taylor Burkhalter- Freshman
I believe our fall season as a team was successful. We won many
of our schedule games and competed with some strong D1 schools and thankfully beat Western Carolina! Workouts have been going good too, I believe everyone is focused on themselves in the weight room to get in shape and stronger for season. Some team goals I believe we should work for the spring would one be getting together more often and hangout to stay connected, not just on the softball level. This team is full of entertaining girls who are great to hangout with and that is what makes me enjoy it the most. I like how everyone on the team clicks together with each other and helps each other when needed. With 18 people it is hard to get to know some as well as others, but everyone gets along just fine. Being a freshman, high school ball was a lot different than college ball because I played on a team for four years where the girls were not at the same level as me and now in college everyone is the same level and a lot more competitive. I really have enjoyed the whole experience though!
of our schedule games and competed with some strong D1 schools and thankfully beat Western Carolina! Workouts have been going good too, I believe everyone is focused on themselves in the weight room to get in shape and stronger for season. Some team goals I believe we should work for the spring would one be getting together more often and hangout to stay connected, not just on the softball level. This team is full of entertaining girls who are great to hangout with and that is what makes me enjoy it the most. I like how everyone on the team clicks together with each other and helps each other when needed. With 18 people it is hard to get to know some as well as others, but everyone gets along just fine. Being a freshman, high school ball was a lot different than college ball because I played on a team for four years where the girls were not at the same level as me and now in college everyone is the same level and a lot more competitive. I really have enjoyed the whole experience though!
Haleigh Fowler- Freshman
The fall season for me was a big learning experience. I am not a
people person so I struggled to bond with my team. As the fall season went along I tried to figure my teammates out as well as I could and I will continue to do so. Workouts reminded me of home other than me cramping up and falling in a ditch, but I can say I have a pretty funny story to tell. I do believe that I am
getting stronger because of our workouts. I have learned to push myself all the way through my workouts and use my teammate’s encouragement as fuel as well. Being a freshman is pretty fun to me. I came here not knowing anyone and I have made a lot of new friends.
people person so I struggled to bond with my team. As the fall season went along I tried to figure my teammates out as well as I could and I will continue to do so. Workouts reminded me of home other than me cramping up and falling in a ditch, but I can say I have a pretty funny story to tell. I do believe that I am
getting stronger because of our workouts. I have learned to push myself all the way through my workouts and use my teammate’s encouragement as fuel as well. Being a freshman is pretty fun to me. I came here not knowing anyone and I have made a lot of new friends.
Micah James- Freshman
I thought the fall season went extremely well. We got along good
and worked together as a team. Looking back on our fall season, I feel like we are going to do good thing in the spring. Everyone contributed to the team, and played their part. As far as weights are concerned, everyone is working hard and busting their butts. If we keep working this hard, then we will be 100% stronger when regular season rolls around. We will also be quicker from the conditioning we are doing. I enjoy working out because I know how much it is going to help. Some team goals I believe would be beneficial to us are; keeping a batting average of .300, no more than one error a game, winning conference, no strikeouts watching the ball, and staying close as a team. If we keep this in mind and do these things we will be fine. With the group of girls right now, I feel like these team goals are reasonable. I love how close our team is and how comfortable we are around each other. We are full of energetic girls, and there is never a dull moment where someone is not doing something funny. Being a freshman and not being the top dog anymore is different, but I have already learned so many more things. The level of intensity is much higher and competitive and I like that about it. Softball is looking much more serious, which is a good thing.
and worked together as a team. Looking back on our fall season, I feel like we are going to do good thing in the spring. Everyone contributed to the team, and played their part. As far as weights are concerned, everyone is working hard and busting their butts. If we keep working this hard, then we will be 100% stronger when regular season rolls around. We will also be quicker from the conditioning we are doing. I enjoy working out because I know how much it is going to help. Some team goals I believe would be beneficial to us are; keeping a batting average of .300, no more than one error a game, winning conference, no strikeouts watching the ball, and staying close as a team. If we keep this in mind and do these things we will be fine. With the group of girls right now, I feel like these team goals are reasonable. I love how close our team is and how comfortable we are around each other. We are full of energetic girls, and there is never a dull moment where someone is not doing something funny. Being a freshman and not being the top dog anymore is different, but I have already learned so many more things. The level of intensity is much higher and competitive and I like that about it. Softball is looking much more serious, which is a good thing.
Erin Vickery- Freshman
I thought the fall season went very well. We blended well as a team even though we didn’t know everyone too well. We came together as a team when we needed to and we meshed very well. The current workouts are hard but they are a lot easier than they were when we first started conditioning. I can see the results from the weights and the conditioning coming together. I think that our team is clicking very well. I know it is hard with 18 girls but we make it work. The transition from high school to college was tough. You have to deal with everything from being homesick to making decisions on your own. Being at the end of October, I feel like it has gotten a lot easier. Now I know how to manage classes, my social life, and softball. I have a feeling that we are going to have a very good year. We are going to be competitive and battle the whole season. We are ready to win!