Spring Break
Seniors look to leave legacy of leadership at MU
Dan Kukla
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports
Needless to say, she made the team and has taken full advantage of the opportunity. This year she is leading the team in hits, RBI's, triples and homeruns. She, along with the other two four-year starters, Popson and Bills, now make up the heart of the team.
"All three have career numbers that are just crazy," head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly said. "The three of them have been so dependable. They have been such a solid core that we can build from. To have that consistency for four years is amazing."
Popson's leadership extends beyond the playing field. She is a co-captain along with Williams and strives to set an example for the rest of the team to follow.
"(Being a captain) is a lot of responsibility and it's a lot of respect," Popson said. "We take it upon ourselves to hold ourselves to an even higher standard because eyes are on you all the time."
Coach Schoenly said she is very impressed by the way Williams holds her head high in all circumstances and believes that this an especially meaningful form of leadership.
"Kimberly didn't play all the time last year," Schoenly said. "For her to do what she did with her leadership on the bench-she gained a ton of respect from her teammates. Now that she's a full-time starter it carries out onto the field."
The leadership on the team is not limited to Popson and Williams. All five seniors have worked hard to step up as role models and serve as the heart and soul of the team.
"We are the best illustration of hard workers," Popson said "People who gut it out and may not always have the most talent on the field, but they will work the hardest. That is one legacy that I know this senior class has left behind."
This senior class has its own unique way of leading: personality.
"I think we're pretty comfortable with who we are," Popson said. "That's a maturity thing. We kind of take it upon ourselves to act by example and point out those hard conversations or things that people might not want to hear but need to hear. The seniors did it to us our freshman year and it made us who we are today."
"All three have career numbers that are just crazy," head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly said. "The three of them have been so dependable. They have been such a solid core that we can build from. To have that consistency for four years is amazing."
Popson's leadership extends beyond the playing field. She is a co-captain along with Williams and strives to set an example for the rest of the team to follow.
"(Being a captain) is a lot of responsibility and it's a lot of respect," Popson said. "We take it upon ourselves to hold ourselves to an even higher standard because eyes are on you all the time."
Coach Schoenly said she is very impressed by the way Williams holds her head high in all circumstances and believes that this an especially meaningful form of leadership.
"Kimberly didn't play all the time last year," Schoenly said. "For her to do what she did with her leadership on the bench-she gained a ton of respect from her teammates. Now that she's a full-time starter it carries out onto the field."
The leadership on the team is not limited to Popson and Williams. All five seniors have worked hard to step up as role models and serve as the heart and soul of the team.
"We are the best illustration of hard workers," Popson said "People who gut it out and may not always have the most talent on the field, but they will work the hardest. That is one legacy that I know this senior class has left behind."
This senior class has its own unique way of leading: personality.
"I think we're pretty comfortable with who we are," Popson said. "That's a maturity thing. We kind of take it upon ourselves to act by example and point out those hard conversations or things that people might not want to hear but need to hear. The seniors did it to us our freshman year and it made us who we are today."
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