As seniors Demi McNulty, Cara Hoover and Julia Montoya gear up for their last weekend donning the purple and white, the three reminisce on some of their favorite moments from their four years of memories.
McNulty, who plans to achieve a masters degree in athletic administration said she will never forget when redshirt sophomore Hannah Null threw a no-hitter in 2014 as a freshman. McNulty remembers she was playing shortstop and a ball was hit toward the hole between third and shortstop, and she had to make the play to throw the batter out at first to save the no-hitter bid.
Until heading of to start her masters, McNulty plans on becoming a English teacher and coaching softball at the high school level.
Hoover, who is graduating with a bachelors degree in kinesiology and nutrition said she will never forget her years here, especially when the Wildcats played away from home.
“For instance,” Hoover said, “we went to Corpus Christi this last weekend and for fun, after dinner, we went and enjoyed the beach and got in the water. There’s nothing more fun than jamming out on the bus going home from those away games, either. We all just sing along to whatever is playing and have a great time.”
Similar to McNulty, Hoover plans to be a high school teacher and softball coach. She hopes to use her degree to make a difference in athletes lives as her coaches have done for her.
From the move to Div. 1 to the new renovations, transition and change have been recurring trends for these three over the past four years. Yet at every step of the way each one has helped guide and improve the softball program through the transition to the next level. In fact, with three games left this season, these three have helped the Wildcats nearly double their win total from last season. ACU also has the ability to finish as high as third in the Southland Conference standings, which would be seven spot jump from last year’s finish.
“Being apart of the ACU softball team has shown me the true meaning of what teamwork is about and pushing through adversity,” McNulty said.
Hoover’s experiences as a Wildcat have led her to a similar conclusion of the past four years.
“These past four years all have their own memories, and I look forward to rekindling those memories one day. I’ll never forget anyone, nor anything, that happened over the past four years,” Hoover said. “College athletics isn’t easy, so having a good group of girls by your side going through the same things.”
When asked what they would do differently about these past four years, the two agreed in their answers. They both said that as underclassman, they wished they would have played more relaxed like they did this senior season and just go out their and “play as if you won’t get to play tomorrow.”
After four years as a college athlete, through numerous early morning workouts and in triumph and defeat Hoover said not to take anything for granted.
“College goes by way too fast, as cliche as it sounds,” Hoover said.
As part of her farewell to the college softball scene, McNulty said to savor every moment.
“Appreciate every low and use it as a learning experience and remain humble through every high, as the glory belongs to God,” McNulty said. “Never wish time away, because in a flash you will be graduating and moving on from the game you’ve loved your entire life. Always leave it all out on the field, knowing you have given 110% and be thankful for the opportunity to be a Division I college athlete.”
