UC Athletes are more than just Athletes

       A visitor at the University of the Cumberlands, may look around and notice students who are wearing jerseys or carrying ball bags or sweating after a team workouts. If one wanders in the library they will see students repping UC as proudly as a first year little league mom repping her son’s number at his first t-ball game. Why is that one may ask? Its simple really, these students are more than just students who are pursuing their future careers; they also belong to a team.

            An unknown fact about student athletes is they are proud they are all apart of One Big Team. The purpose of this One Big Team is to join all athletes from their individual teams into a big team; this allows for the campus to stay united. Aside from the One Big Team, this pride is also represented by many athletes who dedicate their time to additional jobs and clubs on campus instead of just to their sports.

            I interviewed five student athletes who shared their personal stories of excellence and also gave some brief advice for others. Some students are recognized by their unique country origin or because they invest themselves in Christian leadership roles, in RA positions, and international missions. It is a big responsibility and full time job to be a student athlete, but to perform at a level of excellence and also invest themselves in other areas simultaneously is a major accomplishment deserving of recognition.

Kaylee James: an Athlete with Excellence in Academics and Softball

Kaylee James steps up to the left side of the plate on game day at the
University of the Cumberlands Softball Complex

            Kaylee James a west coast native from Oakley, California, is also an athletic and academic high achiever at UC. She is the left outfielder for UC softball patriots and has been for four years now.

            James shares that her journey with softball started at age 6, and now as a UC senior she has broken multiple records with her team as well as some individual records.

Kaylee says, “As a team we earned the ‘Mid-South Conference First Team All-Conference 201.’ For my individual season records, I have set records for stolen bases, hits, and batting average. I also set a career record for stolen bases.”

Recognizing James’ athletic excellence is only recognizing half of her achievements. In adittion  to stealing bases and setting records James is also signing her name to the President/ Deans List for academic excellence with a current GPA of 3.88.

James says, “Throughout college I have earned honors and awards including NAIA and Mid-South Conference Scholar Athlete awards.”

            Upon excelling her last four years in college, James shares she is fueled with motivation to continue her education. James states, “I will be attending Eastern Kentucky University for their Clinical Psychology doctoral program. I hope to help mental illness in the community through art.”

James shares her years at college were difficult juggling both academics and athletics. Some advice she offers to students at any level regarding academics is, “Be sure to prioritize your academics. I fully believe in my mind that if I didn’t keep school first, I would be swimming in missed deadlines and bad grades. Realizing that academics will prepare you for your future career and that sports are just a way to get you to your goals is crucial,” says James.

James also shares some advices for her fellow and future athletes. “I think that above all it is important to love the people next to you regardless of what you are involved in. This sense of support has been very important for my teammates and myself this year. We battle together and uplift each other to unite as a team. It’s easy to feel a lack of faith, hope, and love from coaches, bosses, teachers, etc. but it’s my job and your job to make sure those around us understand that all of these remain and love is strong. 1 Corinthians 13:13 ‘and now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love,’” says James.

Video by: Brandon Hensley with UC Sports Information
Tennis Highlight video 2015-2016

Luka and Denee Lyttle: Athletes with unique country of origin

            Luka and Denee Lyttle are two recognizable twin sisters that are from the Caribbean; more specifically, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines area. These tan twins are always have a pleasant smile and greeting in passing. They are seen most often around campus wearing bright neon yellow tennis shoes and a tennis racket either loosely grasped in hand or sticking out from the constraints of the zippers on their backpacks.

            Adjusting to the States was not a difficult adjustment; after talking with Luka she explains, “The largeness of the States was a refreshing change from the smallness of everything back home.”

  Luka Lyttle reaches for the ball hit hard to the far right side.

However Denne shares her memories of her community back home as more connected than people in the States. Denee says, “Almost everywhere that you go, you can almost be sure to see someone that you know.  In the United States it is different in that it is so large, that the people are not as connected, and it is highly unlikely that you will meet up with people you know or be familiar with them.”

                        Luka explains another element that the Caribbean doesn’t offer that the States do, is the opportunity to further your athletic career while pursuing an academic career.

Luka states, “Back home, athletics is not associated with education. At the university level academics is the main focus unlike in the States when you can do both academics and athletics simultaneously. Also, I love how the possibilities and opportunities of becoming a professional athlete and doing your sport as a career.”

Both Luka and Denee are eight years into their tennis career and are very excited about the level of competition the States has to offer.

Denee shares, “One advantage of coming to the states to play tennis is the exposure that is received.  I have the opportunity to meet and experience a lot of different coaches from different schools as well as being able to be exposed to a lot more competition or players with different game styles.”

Denee Lyttle returning a hard hit ball to win the match.

Luka says, “There are a few local tournaments in my country, but there is only one big international one in which we get the most competition from. For advanced players the States offers more tournaments with higher levels of competition on a regular basis and for more affordable prices.”

            It is truly an enlightening moment to realize all the different insight that is readily available to students at UC offered by other students who are from other countries but attend UC.

            Luka describes her country that is small and on average overpriced, but she also mentions the rare beauties such as, “an active volcano which one can climb and enter the crater of.”

            Denne follows that by sharing her favorite details of a waterfall found on their volcano. Denee explains, “Hiking up our volcano called ‘La Soufrière’ to experience the refreshing showers of the Dark View Falls (a beautiful waterfall on the island) is one of my favorite things to do.”

Dominick Joseph: Football player with Christian leadership skills

Dominick Joseph # 45 leading the football patriots in their
 grand entrance onto the UC Football Field.

            DominickJoseph, a native from Newport, Kentucky comes to UC to make his mark as a Christian athlete. Joseph is currently a UC sophomore, plays the defensive-end for Patriots football team, and is a thrower for UC track and field. Joseph is also making his mark through a ministry club called, Fellowship of Christian Athletes or FCA. With a leader like Dominick walking around, smiling, and high-fiving everyone on the viaduct there is evidence he is here to make a positive change on campus.

            The UC campus may be recognized as a Christian institution, but students here know the population at UC is very much a secular one. It’s the leaders like Joseph that adequately defines the word Christian with his everyday routine.

            Joseph says, “I display that I am a Christian by the way that I act and speak on and off the field. It is important to me for people to know that I'm a Christian because my life should look different than that of people who aren't.”

            Joseph is intentional when it comes to his faith. There are many who take being a Christian lightly and then there are others, like Joseph, who commit to tackling the challenges that comes with being a Christian head on.

            Joseph also says, “I help other athletes by talking to them outside of practice or games and start to build relationships with them. Once that is established I begin to speak with them about the Lord and invite them to bible study, FCA, church and other things.”

            At the end of a football game or a track meet, or even at the end of a class, Dominick wishes that everyone puts God first in their lives no matter what. “It is important to praise when you win and praise him when you lose! God is awesome!” says Jospeh.

Elisa Taylor: Tennis player  who is also doubling as an RA

   Elisa Taylor UC Women’s Tennis 2015

             Elisa Taylor a sophomore at UC and student athlete is partial to the city life that Cincinnati, Ohio has to offer. However despite her love for the city she reveals some insight into her journey through the small town college of UC. Taylor starts her story by explaining the daily challenge it is to survive college life by doubling as a tennis athlete and serving as an Resident Assistant for the Archer dorm.

            “Time management is the biggest challenge I face on a daily basis as a full time athlete and full time RA. I have learned over the course of the semester that the challenge is not only a balance between the two, but also maintaining a social life,” says Taylor.

            Taylor explains that no two days are the same when trying to keep up with an ever-changing game schedule and RA responsibilities.

             “As an RA I am responsible for six hours of office shifts during the week, plus about four to five hours of ‘on call’ shifts. On the other hand, for tennis we spend anywhere from two and a half hours to three hours a day on the tennis courts,” says Taylor.

            Taylor offers some advice for other athletes who are considering the double life as an athlete and RA. Taylor says, “This job isn’t easy, in fact in order to do the job right you have to be fully committed to both; and both can be very tiresome and stressful. In all honesty you have to commit and care equally about both jobs in order to succeed.”

            Although Taylor starts off speaking about the real responsibilities both positions have, she is sure not to leave out the perks and benefits of having chosen this route through college.

            “Through this opportunity I have seen and learned more about myself and the game I love. I knew growing up I enjoyed assisting others as well as being a team player. Now I find myself also considering coaching tennis in the future; possibly in a different state or even country. The perks of being an athlete and RA allowed me to see God’s calling on my life,” says Taylor

Natalie Graham: retired Soccer Athlete and current International missionary

Natalie Graham (first pink jersey in the second row on the left)
UC Women's 2014 Soccer Team

Natalie Graham is a UC student and former athlete who is still going strong, maybe not in an athletic sense because of a back injury, but she is definitely still trucking out the energy to help lead other athletes to Christ. Graham is heavily involved in FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and has also been on numerous international missions trips while maintaining good grades at UC.

Graham shares that her soccer career as the goalkeeper for UC was cut short after her sophomore year when she suffered a back injury that eventually caused her to quit the team.

“Since my injury, I feel God has really called me to work with the athletes on campus. I want people to experience the love of Christ that I have had the opportunity to experience. He can fill any void and heal any wound. He is my friend, Father, lover, Savior, and Lord,” says Graham.

Some advice Graham offers for athletes, or anyone, who may find themselves pulled out of athletics and into missions is, “Don't be scared. Look at this opportunity as a growing experience, you might find a passion you never knew you had. The impact you make depends on how much you are willing to let God work through you. Your hands and feet can only do so much. Your love, compassion, and fellowship are what really draw them in and make the biggest impact.”

Graham is also heavily involved in international missions. She is firmly standing on her favorite bible verse that encourages her to share the Gospel; Matthew 28:18-20; which reads:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Graham shares, “I have found that people of different cultures will listen to you more than their own people most of the time. In Ireland, our accents and culture intrigue the people in such a way that allowed my team and me a way in to share our faith.”

“In Ireland, I was able to invest a lot of time in two high school boys. I shared the gospel with them and by the end of the week they said that they had learned more about God in the past few days than in their entire religious education.”