Led by Northern
Kentucky’s Malika Glover, a quartet of very
capable student-athletes is ready to lead the A-Sun Student Athlete Advisory
Committee as the 2014-15 academic year is just days away from beginning.
Glover, a senior
guard for the Norse, joins Vice-Chair April Terry (Lipscomb women’s track &
field), Secretary Shannon Christian (Kennesaw State women’s track & field)
and A-Sun National SAAC Representative Brittney Reed (Kennesaw State women’s
soccer) in leadership this year. Read below for more about each of the A-Sun
SAAC leaders via their Q&A.
Chair – Malika Glover, NKU Women’s Basketball
Favorite Athlete: Serena Williams
Favorite Team: Detroit Lions
CD in your car player right now: India Arie - Voyage to India
Favorite Band/Artist: Hillsong Worship
Favorite Social Media Outlet: Twitter
Favorite Movie: Princess Diaries 2
Favorite Actor/Actress: Tina Fey
Favorite Food: Nachos (not the concessions kind)
Vice-Chair – April Terry, Lipscomb Women’s
Track and Field
Favorite Athlete: Serena Williams. She makes being strong
fabulous!
Favorite Team: Team USA. I love watching the Olympics.
CD in your car player right now: Booker T,
Sound the Alarm
Favorite Band/Artist: Justin Timberlake
Favorite Social Media Outlet: Facebook. I
refuse to get a Twitter or Instagram. I also like Vine, as my suitemate Ashley
Southern from Lady Bison Basketball and I will watch and laugh for hours.
Favorite Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Favorite Food: Cold Watermelon
Secretary
– Shannon Christian, Kennesaw State Women’s Track and Field
Hobbies
Outside of Your Sport: Writing, listening to music, dancing
Favorite Athlete: Gabby Douglas
Favorite Team: Any team at KSU
CD in your car player right now: R&B channel on Sirius Radio
Favorite Band/Artist: Drake
Favorite Social Media Outlet: Instagram
Favorite Movie: Law Abiding Citizen
Favorite Actor: Denzell Washington
Favorite Food: Chips and Queso
A-Sun Representative to the NCAA SAAC –
Brittney Reed, Kennesaw State Women’s Soccer
Hobbies
Outside of Your Sport: Going to the lake
Favorite Athlete: Abby Wambach
Favorite Team: US Women’s National Team
CD in your car player right now: Summer Jam Mix tape 2012
Favorite Band/Artist: Carrie Underwood
Favorite Social Media Outlet: Instagram
Favorite Movie: Bridesmaids
Favorite Actor/Actress: Sandra Bullock
Favorite Food: Mexican
If you could play any other sports besides
your own, what would it be and why?
MG:
The one other sport I wish I could play besides basketball would have to be
Tennis. I always grew up watching tennis on TV and I even went to a couple
camps when I was younger to learn. Sadly I was awful and never got the hang of
it. Now I resort to simply living through Serena Williams.
AT:
Volleyball.
I played in middle and high school and actually dreamed of playing in college.
I love watching our team play, and probably get a little too excited when they
score points.
SC: Volleyball. I
love watching it.
BR: I would play
football. I’ve always wanted to play football since I was a little girl since I
was a tomboy and loved competing against boys. My parents figured it was too
rough and chose to sign me up for soccer.
Why is involvement in SAAC so important?
MG:
Being involved in SAAC for has been such a great experience. I love the fact
that the student athletes have a say. SAAC is a way for our voices to be heard
but also a way for us to reach back to our communities and stand united.
AT:
While
the SAAC’s main goal is to hear the voices of student athletes, it is important
to me because it gives student-athletes leadership positions and opportunities
to contribute to the campus outside of the playing field. It helps
student athletes become, as the A-Sun motto says, not only just champions of
sport, but also winners for life.
SC: It is important
that the student-athlete has a voice, and we represent not only ourselves but also
all of our student-athletes through our activity. Being a collegiate
student-athlete teaches your things about dedication, commitment and time
management and I believe that SAAC can assists our SAs with those things as
well.
BR:
As a
representative for SAAC at the institutional, Conference, or National level, I
feel it is important to be involved with SAAC to develop leadership skills and
express our opinions as Student athletes.
What is/are your goal(s) via your leadership
in SAAC this year?
MG:
My goals for SAAC would be to communicate clearly and to complete
current SAAC initiatives with both the A-Sun SAAC and NKU. I am
so thankful, for the leaders before who have led by example with their
leadership. I hope to continue in their footsteps.
AT:
I would
love for SAAC members to get to know each other better this year. I look
forward to the A-SUN SAAC meetings and want the representatives to spend more
time with each other. No one knows about being a student athlete better than
our fellow student athletes, so having that fellowship time will be rewarding.
SC: We already have
a good presence in the community through current activities but I would like to
see even more community involvement from our student-athletes. It seems as
though we see the same people and I would like to get more teams represented in
the group.
BR: I would like to
become a more educated leader who efficiently represents the voices of student
athletes from Kennesaw State University and the Atlantic Sun Conference.
If you could improve one thing about your
game, what would it be?
MG:
Definitely my outside shot.
AT:
I
think way too much. I would like to just go out there and throw without
dwelling on achieving perfect technique every time.
SC: Improve my high
jump and shot put to join the stronger scorers since you get one combined score
from those
BR: I would like to
be braver heading the ball. After I got a concussion in high school, I am
sometimes hesitant to head the ball.
What is your best memory as a player?
MG:
My best memory in basketball at NKU comes from winning our first post-season
tournament game last year. Every year we continue to improve so I am really
excited for this upcoming year.
AT:
Participating
in the Costal Carolina University Invitational flight of the hammer throw with
Olympian Amber Campbell, and competing with women’s hammer world recorder
holder, Betty Heidler, at the University of Tennessee, all this season. I
have watched countless videos of those two throwing the hammer to help me with
my own technique, and I never would have guessed I would meet and compete with
my throwing heroes. Collegiate track and field is amazing because the meets are
open, meaning anyone can participate, and that gives us the chance to sometimes
see or compete with professional athletes.
SC: Practicing in
snow was one of the coolest things that I can remember.
BR: Winning a Youth
Soccer National Championship
What is your game-day routine?
MG:
I honestly do not have much of a routine on game days. I go to shoot around/
pre game meal, I never take naps because I always feel like I will oversleep
and miss the game. Before the game I like to just relax listen to gospel
music and do some mental reps.
AT:
I
always lay out my uniform the night before, listen to upbeat music, and say a prayer
on the way to the meet. I’m also superstitious-I won’t pick up a shot put until
it is time to compete and I always call or text my mom after a meet.
SC: Go through the
neuromuscular wakeup early in the day to get the muscles warm, eat a good
breakfast about an hour and half before warm up.
BR: I listen to
music as I am preparing for a game. Also, I wear white athletic tape on my left
wrist with a motivational quote.
What is the best advice that you were ever
given?
MG:
To live in the present.
AT:
My
mom asked me “how bad do you want it?” once when discussing some athletic
goals. Though it’s not “advice”, I always ask myself that question when I’m
trying to accomplish something as a reminder that I will have to work harder to
achieve what I want, as well as assess what I am willing to do to get there.
SC: One thing that
stands out – If you are going to be your biggest critic, don’t forget to be
your biggest fan. You can always see a need to improve, and is easy to beat
yourself up if you don’t also remember to celebrate the victories.
BR: Be confident and
brave.
Do you have a favorite quote/saying/mantra?
MG:
Bible Verse – Ephesians 1:11
Furthermore,
because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,
for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his
plan.
AT:
Today
I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t!
I’m too blessed to be
depressed.
SC: The pain of
discipline is sweeter than the pain of regret.
BR: “Hard work beats
talent when talent doesn’t work hard” –Tim Notke
How do you define a good teammate?
MG:
I think there can be many forms of a good teammate but I think
some of the main attributes are passion, selflessness,
and visionary commitment. These are just a few qualities, but there
is nothing better than having a teammate that you can trust, count
on, and know the whatever happens they are all about the team.
AT:
Proverbs
says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of
adversity”. A good teammate is like the brother- there to love you when you
win, but more importantly, ready to support and encourage when you lose.
SC: A good teammate
is someone who is a hard worker, encouraging and honest. They set realistic
goals and keep the team in mind, with a servant leadership mindset. They are
someone who shows someone by helping them.
BR: A teammate who
is: passionate, committed, a friend, and self-disciplined.
The best thing about my school is……
MG:
MY TEAM...... But I really do have some of the best professors.
AT:
The
best thing about my school is the people. The supportive atmosphere is why I
chose to go there.
SC: Campus life as a
whole as KSU. There really is something for everyone so that you can get
plugged in and find community.
BR: The Soccer
Stadium
What does a “winner” look like?
MG:
I think that a winner is someone who never gives up, in
any circumstance. They are able to see the best in others
and themselves. Winners are people who have
a motivated mindset and expect greatness. To me the
most important characteristic of a winner is someone
who makes the best of every situation enjoying the little things
in life.
AT:
A
winner is someone who strives to be his or her best. They win, even if it’s not
the best, because they gave all of their effort.
SC: A person who
through defeat ignores negativity and keeps trying. You are a winner in life
when you don’t let defeat, defeat you.
BR: A true winner is
a person who can persevere and overcome adversity under pressure.
