Katie Wills- Player Profile

Name: Katie Wills

Year: Junior

Position: Center Field

Uniform Number: 3

Major: Environmental Science

Minor: Psychology

What made you choose Allegheny College: I knew that I was going to come here the moment I visited. The campus setting was so beautiful, the class sizes were exactly what I was looking for, and I was able to continue my softball career.

Favorite part of Gator Softball: Being able to play with a group of girls that I know will always be there for me.

Favorite class taken at Allegheny: My favorite class at Allegheny was Foundations of Psychology—After taking this class I developed an interest in psychology, and now psychology is my minor.

Favorite place on campus: Campus is beautiful in its entirety, but if I had to choose my favorite place it would be the area behind Ford Chapel with the wooden bridge. I often go there to read.

What activities are you involved with outside of softball: I am a Peer Leader for an environmental science freshman seminar.

Favorite movies/TV shows/books: Books- Anything by Nicholas Sparks, Movies- Princess Diaries, Love and Basketball, TV- Greek, 30 Rock

Thoughts From Our Leaders- Maggie Bodenlos

We are already into our fourth week of pre-season practice and are working hard each day on our blue inside courts. It seems like we had just started; yet, there are only three weeks until we are on the road to our Virginia Beach Blast Weekend Tournament where we face four challenging match-ups against Lynchburg, Salisbury, Stevenson, and Polytechnic Institute of New York. We did find a few days last week where the weather was warm enough to get outside for practice, but we are anxious to actually get on the field and start playing some ball. After last week’s late night practices, we have officially practiced at each time slot, from the beloved 5:30 am to the late 8:30-10:30 pm.

Practice continues to be challenging both mentally and physically where fifteen girls get together and put everything out there for a part of each day. As class assignments begin to pile up, we must remain focused and hard at work each day. These next few weeks and the work we put in are what will allow us to have a strong season. We are excited to put all of our dedication and commitment towards this upcoming season.

We have just had our last full weekend off to relax our bodies and will jump right back into our daily work outs. Only three short weeks until we start up, Virginia for the weekend and then off to the Florida sun for an exciting ten game week at the Rebel Spring Games. Soon enough the Allegheny Gators will be back on the field, and we are eager to get started!- Maggie Bodenlos, Junior

Player Profile- Liz Burr

Name: Elizabeth Burr

Year: Senior

Position: OF

Uniform Number: 11

Major: Biology

Minor: Psychology

What made you choose Allegheny College: I visited the college in the fall, which is the most beautiful time to see the campus. The size of Allegheny was the best fit for me, because unlike some of the big schools I visited, it didn't make me feel scared and overwhelmed.

Favorite part of Gator Softball: Being part of a support system that pushes you to always be your best.

Favorite class taken at Allegheny: My favorite class is Sign Language. The class is really fun and a nice change from same old biology scene.

Favorite movies, books, tv shows: Zoolander, Lord of the Rings, and One Tree Hill respectively

Favorite place on campus: Aside from Steffee B306 where I've pretty much lived for the past year and a half, I'd have to say Schultz courtyard.

What activities are you involved with outside of softball: I am a member of SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee)

Player Profile- Stephanie Baer

Name: Stephanie Baer

Year: Freshman

Position: Pitcher

Uniform Number: 2

Major: Environmental Science

Minor: Undecided

What made you choose Allegheny College: I chose Allegheny because it is close to my home town. It is different than any other college and I really liked how the academic programs are set up here. It’s very unique and I love it here; I wouldn't be happier anywhere else.

Favorite part of Gator Softball: The team chemistry, everyone is so close and we always have a good time together.

Favorite class taken at Allegheny: My freshman seminar “The Conservation and Ecology of French Creek” with Professor Wissinger. We were involved with a lot of hands on activities and we went on field trips to different creeks in the area.

Favorite movies, books, tv shows: Favorite movies- “A Cinderella Story”, “The Notebook” and “The Holiday” Favorite Book-“Crimson Stain” by Jim Fisher
Favorite TV show- “Family Guy”

Favorite place on campus: The Wise Center, and the library during finals week! :)

What activities are you involved with outside of softball: I play intramural volleyball and basketball.

Thoughts From Our Leaders- Katie Wills

We are three weeks into classes and have officially completed our first full week of practice including the ever anticipated 5:30 AM!! We are all so excited to finally be fielding, throwing, and hitting that we sometimes forget that all of this is happening on the blue courts!! We have come to stand by the motto: regardless if we are practicing on the blue courts or playing at Robertson we give everything we have leaving nothing on the FIELD.

The semester is already moving at a fast pace and the papers and exams are following quickly behind. This is the time when it is so great to have softball because it gives us at least two hours a day where we can clear our minds of this week’s Bio and concentrate on the thing that we all love. We have four and a half weeks of practice until we head to Virginia to compete in the Beach Blast Tournament and then the following week it’s on to Florida to play in the Rebel Spring Games.

As fast as this semester is going, I know that before we know it the next four and a half weeks will be over and we will be outside playing. I can’t wait for the quality bonding time on the plane ride or in the fifteen passenger vans. But most of all I am anxious to get outside on the field and show our opponents our HEART, HUSTLE, and LOVE for the GAME!!!- Katie Wills- Junior