Deboodt Succeeds as Mulit-Sport Athlete

 

 

5.5.07

 

Story by:  Jenna Elliott

 

La Grande, Ore - Student-athletes carry a heavy load.  Their schedules are always full, juggling practice, workouts, travel, meetings and more. Don’t forget to add a full-time class load and sometimes even a part-time job.

 

                 

Most student-athletes strive off of this busy lifestyle, but all will admit that it can sometimes become hectic.

 

                 

For Freshman Grace Deboodt, volleyball just wasn’t enough. Deboodt added a successful season in Track and Field to her resume this spring.

                 

 

On the volleyball court, Deboodt jumped into the preseason as a quick standout. She emerged as a leader on the floor and was an immediate starter at Middle Blocker.

                 

 

She ended the season with 246 kills; this average of 3.19 kills per game was good enough to place her seventh overall in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. She also ranked eighth in hitting percentage with a .242 average.

                 

 

Her tough serves placed her at tenth place in the conference with 32 total aces.  She also ended the season with 111 digs and 47 blocks.

 

 

These statistics earned Deboodt a spot on the All-Conference Honorable Mention team, as voted by the coaches.

 

 

During the winter, Deboodt not only participated in the grueling off-season volleyball workouts, but began working out with the track team as well.  Even this new, busier schedule didn’t hinder Deboodt’s success.

 

 

“I was able to go to all my classes, come to track on time and then head to volleyball later in the evening,” Deboodt said. “I found myself struggling a few times to find time to get my homework done, but it always seemed to work out just perfect.”

                 

 

With the start of the outdoor Track and Field season, Deboodt’s athleticism began to show.

 

While joining the team to throw the Javelin, she quickly became part of the 4X400 relay team and sometimes part of the 4X100 relay team.

                 

 

In the Javelin, Deboodt finished fourth in the conference tournament with a throw of 135-11, earning her a ticket to the national tournament in Fresno, Calif.

                 

 

The 4X400 relay team also earned a spot in the national tournament with a time of 3:57.93, which beat the school record. The previous school record was set by the same members earlier in the season.

 

 

Deboodt also competed in the open 400 in the conference championship meet and placed third with a time of 60.3 seconds. This finish is remarkable considering it was her first time ever competing in the event.

 

 

“Grace is an amazing athlete and has proven so with her accomplishments in track as well as volleyball and only as a freshman. She is the meaning of the word ‘true athlete,’ but with that works hard every day to better herself as well as her teams,” Head Volleyball Coach Kaki McLean said.

                 

 

McLean also added that it was often hard for Deboodt to juggle being a member of both teams late in the Track and Field season, but Deboodt said, “It was a little overwhelming at times, but it was totally worth it.”

                 

 

Deboodt added that the support from her volleyball teammates was essential.

                 

 

“I would like to say that I had 100 percent support from Kaki and my teammates. If I didn’t, they always made it seem as though it was,” she said. “They were always wishing me luck, asking how I was doing, and coming to track meets that were local to cheer me on. That was a big part of my success, having people there for me, let alone my team.”

                       

“The girls and I support her as much as we can; they cheered her on at the conference tournament and are rooting for her while she is at Nationals,” McLean added. “She will only continue to get better and we look forward to see what will happen with her next year.

 

Both McLean and Deboodt feel that her accomplishments this spring will carry over onto the Volleyball court in the fall.

                 

 

“Track and Field has already bettered her athletic ability; she is faster, stronger and jumping higher than she ever has, so it has been beneficial all the way around” McLean said.

                 

 

Now that nationals are over, Deboodt is turning her focus back to volleyball in preparation for the 2007 season, saying she is most excited for the competition.

                 

 

“It is going to be a tough, fun year.” Deboodt said. “With them changing the regional conference and adding one more team, it is going to be a fight to get one of the top four spots to go to the regional tournament, but I have no doubt that we can do it”

 

 

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