A regular column by Athletic Director Bill Husak.
This is the time of year when the Athletics seasons are coming to a close and we are happy for the athletic accomplishments and academic achievements of our teams. Let me focus only on the athletics accomplishments and in my next column I will highlight our full year's achievements.
It is wonderful when a team accomplishes a first. For the first time in program history our softball team will be entering NCAA post season play after winning our second Pacific Coast Softball Conference. These are a special group of women and I don't believe that I could say it any better than an email that I received from a parent. Let me paraphrase a part of it:
"These ladies are truly something special. They are unbelievably close and extremely supportive of each other. They have overcome many obstacles this year -- multiple injuries, adversity and the strongest schedule they have played in years. Please also a special note praising the nine seniors who played a significant part in getting these ladies their honorable title. Danielle Kaminaka, Emily Foltz, Casey Phillips, Jessica Grassi, Tiffany Lawson, Lisa Abbott, Lauren Hiramoto, Megan Julian and Caylin Hornish are stellar examples of what LMU is about. They are successful students, phenomenal athletes and class-act young ladies. They are the reason why my daughter decided to come to LMU. She saw their camaraderie and love for the game. Cheers to our Championship Softball team!"
In like fashion, our women's water polo team will be entering their fifth straight NCAA Championship, traveling to the University of Michigan for the Elite Eight on May 13-15. This team has won five consecutive WWPA titles and on top of that they are a very young team, so the future appears to be very bright. We wish both of these teams well.
Additionally, we are excited about the prospect of beginning construction this summer on a brand new softball facility and golf practice area. Thanks to the generous donation of two people in particular, who will be highlighted later this summer in this column, these facilities will become reality sooner rather than later.
LMU is a wonderful place where dreams can be realized. These dreams include earning a degree, leaving LMU as a better person and earning the title of CHAMPION in the athletic arena. None of these goals can be met easily. But for those who decide that being a Lion is the right thing for them, the effort is well worth the reward.
Go Lions!
Bill Husak, AD
