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SPORTS
Women's soccer's Lily Wotkyns is the epitome of focus and dedication
By Zach Morgan
Sports Editor
As the wind blows through the stadium a distinct chill
enters the air and you know that fall is upon us. On the field
in their white home uniforms stands the Guilford College
women's soccer team. In the middle of all the athletes eager
to hear the whistle designate the beginning of play stands
a 5'2", bronze-skinned giant with her long, flowing, silky
black hair tucked neatly into a ponytail.
She is quiet, stealthy, and seems to be in her own world.
As she prepares for yet another game in her senior year of
college Lily Wotkyns affixes the game-time scowl she is
known for, looks to the heavens and sets
her focus on her opponent.
Some players have a pre-game routine
that is legendary. Michael Jordan always
wore his UNC shorts under his Chicago
Bulls uniform. Former New York Jets
running back Curtis Martin always read
Psalm 91 prior to games.
For Wotkyns it is her focus that is her
pre-game routine. This same focus has been
a benefit to her on and off the field.
Adopted from China when she was a
mere five years old, Wotkyns has been a
special addition to her family and friends
since she arrived in the United States.
"Lily is an extremely diligent person,"
said Jeanette Wotkyns, her mother. "She
knows everyone, so when I go anywhere in
Denver they always say 'Oh, you're Lily's
mom.'"
Always pushing forward and never being
happy resting on her laurels, Wotkyns is
scheduled to graduate from Guilford early.
"I'm pretty focused academically," said
Wotkyns. "I would like to attend graduate
school after Guilford to receive my Ph.D. in
Clinical Psychology."
That desire to achieve has been evident
in all that Wotkyns participates in. When it
comes to sports, she is a teammate first.
"This year's team is amazing," said Wotkyns. "I am so
happy to see the girls come together. We had struggles in the
past but now we are determined to win and most of all trust
each other to win. The first-years are dedicated and we all
push each other daily."
Wotkyns has pushed herself to the limit since she first set
foot on the soccer field.
"I remember when she was very young and her older
sister Alice would have soccer games," said Kip Wotkyns,
her father. "Lily just couldn't understand why she couldn't
play so we realized at that point that we had to get her on a
team. Shortly thereafter, we signed her up and she started
playing and has been a natural talent ever since. She has
Third-year Lily Wotkyns concentrates on a kick during seasonal practice with her teammates at
Armfield Athletic Center. She has been honored frequently for her work both on and off the field.
found great solace in soccer."
And the rest, as they say, is history. Wotkyns played soccer
all four years in high school in Denver, Colorado at East
High School. Upon graduation she took many colleges into
consideration but settled on Guilford.
"I picked a Division III school because don't have any
intentions on going pro and also so I could have a life outside
of sports," said Wotkyns. "I picked Guilford because it was a
small school and it has a good student teacher relationship.
That was very important to me."
That determination to find the right fit has paid off.
Wotkyns has been named to the Dean's List, twice named
Academic All-OD AC, four times honored as Guilford College
Honor Roll recipient and is secretary of the
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"Lily has a lot of determination and
follow through," said Alice Wotkyns, her
older sister. "She is a social butterfly and
that helps her remain active and keep
moving forward in her life."
She works hard, she studies hard and
she makes her family extremely proud of
her. Is not that what having a great life is
all about?
After a hard-fought match the women's
soccer team has been victorious yet again.
They celebrate at midfield and soon
Wotkyns emerges from the middle of the
huddle of high-fives. With a quick flick of
the wrist she whips her hair out of her eyes.
One more achievement for this athlete that
continues to press on and remain focused.
"This was a great win for us, today," said
Wotkyns. "I'm so happy that we were able
to trust each other to win. But I have got so
much homework to do tonight."
And with that statement the focus shifts
ever so slightly from student athlete back
to student in the blink of an eye. But is
not that what focus is all about? Realizing
responsibilities and ensuring that you stay
the course to ensure the final goal is met.
That is focus and Wotkyns exudes it.
Students, student^athletes on converging roads to success
By Catherine Schurz
Staff Writer
There's been talk of a divide among
students for years, often attributed to a lack
of respect between students and student-
athletes. Much of this disconnect is a result
of misunderstanding. Many Guilfordians
are unable to see past the athletic gloves and
helmets and into the hearts and minds of the
athletes who wear them.
Passion is a prized quality in Guilford
College students. All students have something
that gives us cause to wake up in the morning,
whether it be heading to class, a work-study
job, sports practice, or a club meeting. We all
find that thing that makes us tick and we live
our lives in its rhythm.
Sophomore cross-country and track
runner Jodie Geddes is active in many
comers of campus. From her involvement in
the Community Aids Awareness Project to
working in the Multicultural Resource Center
to serving as a Principled Problem Solving
scholar, her hands are full with activism.
Jodie was also named to the 2010 Student-
Athlete Honor Roll and works in the Guilford
Admissions department.
"Academics and athletics hold equal
importance in my time at Guilford," said
Geddes. "I try not to live a divided life. I think
that if I give myself all around, the success
will simply flow."
For student-athletes, their respective sport
is certainly a source of passion. However,
to assume their athletic ability defines
them belittles their various contributions to
Guilford's community.
"I'm passionate about a lot of things," said
first-year lacrosse attack man Chandler Zirkle.
"I think spreading love is really important. I
like to make people laugh and always try to
do everything to the best of my ability"
Sometimes there's a competitive nature
compelling students to compare how hard
they work, and thus, degrade others' hard
work in return. From the sidelines, many
students are unable to see the effort and
dedication behind each tackle or every lap
run.
"I think that many don't see the hard
work that runners endure," said Geddes.
"I commend my team and my coaches for
always pushing me. They gave me the kind
of faith that pushed me to believe in myself
more at every practice."
With each day spent at Guilford, we
become more. Whether it is in the classroom
or out on the field, we are being challenged
to improve.
It is narrow-minded to believe that
student-athletes are somehow less concerned
with academics than the remaining student
population.
Junior Vanessa Johnson is a member
of Guilford's Sister-to-Sister and Blacks
Unifying Society organizations. Johnson not
only works within the Guilford community,
but takes her enthusiasm off-campus into the
Greensboro area with her volunteer work for
her child and adolescent Psychology course.
"I think student-athletes deserve a higher
level of respect," said Johnson. "I see them as
working hard at something they love to do,
while working hard as students at the same
time."
When asked about their post-graduation
goals, both Zirkle and Geddes said that they
plan to attend graduate school. Geddes hopes
to work at Guilford's Office of Admissions
and then work with art and people, while
Zirkle remains open to what possibilities may
unfold over his next four years.
"Both athletics and academics are
important, but, in the long run, while lacrosse
is a large focus now, academics are what will
help me succeed after college," said Zirkle.
All of us work tirelessly for something. For
these students, success comes in many forms.
Succeeding academically is critical to their
futures and their development, but so is their
sport.
"One of my biggest achievements is
definitely when I made it to the state
championship game with my East Chapel
Hill high school team," said Zirkle. "I worked
hard for that forever."
An accomplishment of any kind is worthy
of pride. The feeling some students have at
the sight of an "A" letter grade on a research
paper after slaving away for weeks might be
comparable to the feeling of scoring a goal in
a soccer game against the school's rival team.
"When I get an "A" I feel like all of my hard
work finally paid off," said Johnson.
At the end of the day, Guilford students
all wander into the same dorm buildings
and crawl into the same single-sized beds,
tired and exhausted from a long day of hard
work. Whatever moments from the day float
through your head before falling asleep, rest
easy knowing that your next-door neighbors
aren't much different from you. '
Goals, aspirations, non-stop striving for
success — we are Guilford college students.
one and all.