Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / March 1, 1996, edition 1 / Page 14
Part of Chowan University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Campus minister serves students on athletic field and campus “Our team is better because he’s a part of it.” By THAD WHITE Staff W riteK The News-Herald Finding the campus minister on most college campuses is easy — you look for the preacher- type in the traditional blue suit and necktie. Not so at Chowan College. If you begin looking for the Reverend Tim Wilson, Chowan’s campus minister, you might have trouble finding him because, to start with, he’s not locked in his office out of sight. Instead, Wilson is busy milling among the students and faculty of the college, making his presence felt and not just known. Then there’s that tie thing. Yes, for certain occasions, the campus minister does don a suit and tie, but he regularly Rev. Wilson changes to athletic attire and serves as assistant coach for the women's softball squad. One player proudly proclaims that he is considered “a part of our team." 1996 Cady IJraves Softball Schedule MARCH 1 Methodist College Tournament TBA Away 2 Methodist College Tournament TBA Away 6 John Carroll University 2:30 Home 12 St. Joseph's College 3:00 Home 13 Urslnus College 2:30 Home 15 Virginia Wesleyan College Tournament TBA Away 18 Virginia Wesleyan College Tournament TBA Away 19 Bethany College 2:30 Home 21 Christopher Newport University 3:00 Home 23 North Carolina Wesleyan College 2:00 Home 26 Virginia Wesleyan College 2:30 Away 29 Montclair State Tournament TBA Away APRIL 11 Methodist College 2:30 Home 14 Salisbury State University 2:30 Away 16 Averett College 3:30 Away 18 Mary Washington College 3:00 Away 19 Elmira College 2:30 Home 24 Barton College 3:00 Home HEAD COACH Jack Goldberg ATHLETIC DIRECTOR James G. Garrison trades those in for a t-shirt, Chowan baseball cap, an old pair of jeans and a coaching whistle. You see, as well as serving the college in the capacity of campus minister, Wilson is also one of the guiding hands behind the success of the Chowan College softball program. “Tim came to me three years ago and asked if there was anything he could do to help the program,” seventh-year Lady Braves skipper Jack Goldberg said. “He volunteered to help out of love of the game, and we’ve been benefiting from that spirit ever since.” Thus, in part, came about the transformation of Wilson’s wardrobe on campus and the way students look at the campus minister at Chowan. “If all it takes to get to students is to change clothes, then that’s not asking much,” Wilson insisted. He also said the opportunity to coach offers many new chances for coming into contact with students. “I get to see the students on a difference level,” Wilson said. “Many of the students call me ‘coach’ instead of ‘Reverend’ or ‘Mr.’ now. They’re more comfortable.” Wilson’s players say they were a little worried at first about having a campus minister as a coach, but the concern lasted only until they got to know the new coach. “I was a little skeptical at first (because he was a campus minister), but not now,” freshman Stephanie Kenyon said. “It’s sort of like having God right there with us in a way. He looks after us.” Kenyon said it was comforting to know that if she needed someone to talk to, she could go to Wilson not only as a campus minister, but also as “coach.” “Coach Wilson has been with me though everything,” she said. “He’s helped me with problems here and at home. He has a good heart — a real good heart!” Sophomore Kim Gracia had similar feelings about Wilson and his effect on the team. “He’s like our moral support,” Gracia said. “He is a person you can confide in and, on the field, he has the best sense of humor.” Still, at first, Gracia was a little skeptical about having a campus minister on board as a coach. “At first, I thought ‘Oh, no!’ because we had a campus minister as an assistant coach, but he really helps out,” she said. “I felt a little uncomfortable before I got to know him, but not now.” A pair of the Chowan softball players didn’t REVEREND TIM WILSON , .. Campus Minister find the u^ansition so hard to make. “It wasn’t difficulty because you don’t think of him as that (campus minister) — you think of him as part of our team,” junior Cindy Jo Rash said. Junior Tracy Bennett also felt Wilson fit in with the rest of the team. “You think of him the same as everybody else,” Bennett said. Both of the athletes believe Wilson is also someone they can talk to and with whom they can confide. “I think he’s a great guy,” Bennett said. “He’s not only a coach, he’s someone we can confide in.” Rash said Wilson’s influence on the team is posifive. “He more or less tells us to keep our heads up and go for the best,” said Rash. Goldberg said he was sure it was he, his team and the students who had benefited most from Wilson’s involvement. “Our team is better because he’s a part of it,” Goldberg said. “His involvement and ability to be down-to-earth with our players and the other students have made him the success he is on this campus.” A graduate of Northern Durham High School, Wilson received the bachelor’s degree at Wingate College before earning a master of divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He is married to the former Krista Russell of New Freedom, PA, and has a daughter, Rebecca Elizabeth. He is the son of the late Leonard and Mary Ruth Wilson. (EDITOR'S NOTE—This article appeared as the "Roanoke-Chowan Pvfile " in the Feb. 7,1996 edition of The News-Herald. It is reproduced here with the permission of the writer, Thad White, and Joseph Vaughan, general man- ager of the newspaper.) Softball squad continues to set records By JACK GOLDBERG, Sports Information Officer The Lady Braves softball team put their name in the record book last year when they surpassed a record that had stood since 1954 and became Chowan’s all-time most successful team with 35 victories in a single season. With a u-emendous season behind them the squad is now preparing for another victorious year. With a squad of 17 determined young ladies, senior co-captains Mandy McCain and Meredith Davies led a veteran cast of returning lettermen opened their season with a challenging schedule. McCain, who enters her final ^ason as Chowan’s all-time career win leader with 41, will be looking to surpass her last season’s outstanding record of 16.3 and an ERA of .053. Davies, a prototypical athlete with a cannon for a right arm, will patrol centerfield where she led the Lady Braves last season with a perfect l.OCX) fielding average. McCain will not be the only weapon that the Braves will have on the pitching mound this year. Joining her in the rotation will be returning lettermen Cindy Jo Rash (10-3,1.74 ERA), Kelly Rothery (7-3,1.73 ERA), and freshman standout Kristina Sublett, Veteran Michelle Mitchell returns for her third season behind the plate, giving Head Coach Jack Goldberg and his staff essential experience and leadership. A veteran infield led by junior shortstop Jennifer Murden, who was last season’s MVP, will team up with Kim Annis and Kim Hetherington to provide leadership in a solid infield corp. The Lady Braves opened their season in fine fashion by winning the Methodist College Invita tional Tournament, earlier this month, which featured ten strong teams of the Division III ranks. PAGE 14 — CHOWAN TODAY March 1996
Chowan University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 1, 1996, edition 1
14
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75