ROCK REPORT
Adversity Serves as Teacher for Softball Coach Bailey Wittenhauer, head coach of the Rockhurst University softball team.
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fter five years of experience playing and coaching in the GLVC, Baily Wittenauer headed to Rockhurst University in July 2017 as head coach of the softball team. Before Wittenauer herself went to college, she was used to starting on her high school team. She loved to hit and catch, and relied on her strong arm to throw hard and get people out.
“I tell the women all the time that softball is just a practice for life. I’m showing them not to get caught up and dwell on their mistakes, because when they do that, they lose sight of future opportunities.” Wittenauer explains that this year is about the changing culture.
“However,” Wittenauer says, “My freshman year of college, I tore my labrum. My arm didn’t heal the way I wanted it to and I had to learn a new position.”
“It has been a really good experience and I feel like our players are growing as women. I have seen complete growth in their attitude and effort, too.”
In addition to learning new field positions, Wittenauer also took time to reflect and understand her role as a teammate and develop as a person. Her personal growth in this challenging time reflects on her coaching style today.
At the close of her first season, Wittenauer set goals for the future. She can check off work ethic, skills and hard-working athletes and now it’s time to see where those will take the team in year two.
Men’s Lacrosse Earns First-Ever National Ranking The men’s lacrosse program has wasted no time getting noticed, considering it was only founded in 2013. In April the squad, led by head coach Kevin Kelley, was ranked No. 20 nationally by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. It was the first time the program was listed among the best in the U.S. and came amidst a successful campaign overall. The team posted its best record yet at 14-2, netted 12 all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team honors, and took home RMAC Coach of the Year honors for Kelley and a Defensive Player of the Year award for sophomore Connor Bateman.
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