Box Score By Megan Burnett, MC Sports Information Intern
Maryville College strives to provide an exceptional student athlete experience while staying true to the mission of balancing academics and athletics. Beyond the Boxscore will give insight into extraordinary students, focusing not only on their athletic achievements, but also on their interests, their background, and their academic career. Some stories will be funny, others heartwarming, but all of them will inspire others. Over the next ten weeks we hope to go beyond the perceptions of how a college athlete is perceived by diving into their perspective away from their playing venue.
This week we go Beyond the Boxscore with sophomore dual-sport standout Rachel Taylor. Rachel has been a pivotal player for both the Scots softball team and soccer program, and has really broken out of her shell for both sports. Rachel has developed into a more confident player this past year, and that certainly shows on the field. Her confidence as a player helps encourage her teammates whether she is aware of this or not.
Rachel's major is biology and she desires to be an Army field doctor after she finishes school. I asked her how she thinks her athletic career has helped her in her career path and her response was "My athletic career has definitely taught me perseverance, teamwork, determination and how to deal with high pressure situations. All those things are what you need when you have someone's life in your hands."
Rachel's caring nature is present on the field as well. Even though she is competitive, she is also very encouraging to her teammates, and looks inward when things do not go well instead of placing blame on others. When I asked her if she was more quiet or outgoing she said, "I'm usually the quiet person on the field who becomes "loud" with my performance. I have never been the obnoxious, in your face type of player".
I asked her how she handles difficult sportsmanship situations and she said that she is usually the person to address a situation when it is within the team, but if it involves her opponents then she lets the game take care of it. She says she will just beat them and they can be sore losers after that. I went on to ask about frustrating situations in the game and how easy is it to just let it go. Rachel responded "In soccer, it's hard to deal with frustrating situations because being a goalkeeper, I can't take back any mistake, like letting a goal in. In softball it's a battle for me because I know I can make up for it in the field or during my next turn at bat".
Rachel is a big team player, and she evaluates her success by the success of the team. She told me "I think you are successful if you do your part in the game. As a goalkeeper, I'm supposed to stop everything that comes my way. If I do that, I'm successful. In softball, if I'm up to bat and I move the runners, I did my part and I feel successful". Her interpretation of success does not revolve around herself, but her teammates as well, and as long as she has done her part then she feels as if she has succeeded in that game.
I asked Rachel how her best friend would describe her and she said "caring". This is a very fitting description because she always tries to build people up and encourage them as best as she can. Rachel said that she is not a big motivator on the team, but just because she does not believe she is, does not mean that she does not make a difference. Rachel serves as a positive influence for all those she comes in contact with.
The people who have inspired her most in life are her mentors, her family, and her coaches. Rachel said that she takes everything they say to heart and is thankful to have so many positive influences in her life. One big influence in her life is her mother. Rachel said "I am very unique. I also love crafts, and thanks to my mom, I am great at scrapbooking and handmade cards."
I asked Rachel to tell me who her favorite athlete is and to also think of two celebrities to be her parents. She said, "That's really hard because I have so many. If I had to pick one right now, I would say Carli Lloyd because of all she has done this past year. She hit her peak and didn't disappoint. She persevered and became such a pivotal player and leader." After her response, I could see how Rachel was a lot like Lloyd in the fact that she was a pivotal player and a leader, and Rachel is on the path to be the same way. The two celebrities that she chose to be her parents were Sandra Bullock and Peyton Manning, both of whom are athletic as well.
Rachel was recently named USA South Player of the Week, so she must be doing something right. I asked if she had any weird game day rituals, and her response was not too surprising. "I literally have to do everything the same. Left sock on first, then right then left shoe, right shoe. I do breathing exercises before I take the field. All my equipment is in the same spot. If something is working, I will do everything the same because I feel the good vibe". Rachel is cautiously repetitious, but if it keeps working I don't see her changing her routine anytime soon.
Rachel believes that being a red-headed, blue-eyed, lefty is the most unique thing about her, but I believe her dedication and perseverance to play two sports and keep a good GPA is the most distinctive part about her. It is hard enough to play one sport in college and to be able to keep grades up, but the fact that Rachel has been successful in two sports and in her classes is an incredible accomplishment. She has evolved so much in the past year, and she will continue to grow as a player and a student throughout the duration of her career at Maryville.
