Softball graduate students appreciate the opportunity ahead
By: Eric Detweiler, GW Athletics Communications
This story begins with the sun shining bright on a perfectly ordinary fall afternoon at GW Softball Field on the Mount Vernon Campus.
In her fifth season with the Buff and Blue, Faith Weber had, of course, seen plenty of picture-perfect days like this. In fact, that's precisely why the scene moved the graduate student from New Jersey.
As the group gathered to begin practice, all eyes settled on Weber, who tipped her head back, threw her arms out wide and drew in a deep breath with a hint of theatrical flair.
"I just need to take a second to notice myself being in this moment," Weber told her teammates with a smile.
In any other year, Weber's proclamation might've been shrugged off as a bit of pre-practice goofiness, but in this unprecedented season set amid the continued COVID-19 pandemic, that sentiment offered a refreshing dose of heartfelt perspective.
"Sometimes, I just like to take a moment to think about where I am and how thankful I am to be back," Weber recalled. "Each season of life has its own gifts and something special to offer. I think taking that moment to soak it all in is really special. I try to do that as often as I can."
Together for one last ride, Weber, Jenna Cone and Jessica Linquist have taken great care to savor every moment.
The three graduate students have returned to the nation's capital to continue their education while aiming to put a satisfying cap on a memorable run in Buff and Blue.
As the new season begins, they've already made quite a difference, their veteran leadership boosting a new-look squad aiming to continue the program's steady climb.
"You just have to open up the record books and see what they've done during their careers and how much it helps us on the field, but what we really got into talking about is how much of an impact it's going to make for our program off the field with their leadership," Head Coach Shane Winkler said. "It's big for our program for the next four years to have them here and really leading our young kids as they come in as first-years and getting them acclimated to what it's like to be a Division-I student-athlete and not only to compete at this level but hopefully to compete for a championship at this level.
"Those three have been there, done that and have had success doing it – on the field, academically and in the community. Just having them leading the way has been huge."
Faith Weber led GW in the circle last spring, posting a career-high seven wins and 59 strikeouts in 75 1/3Â innings.
Indeed, Weber, Cone and Linquist have earned their place in program history.
They've helped the Buff and Blue push forward at every turn, highlighted by the 2019 squad that won a program-record 44 games to earn a share of the program's first Atlantic 10 title and a postseason berth into the National Invitational Softball Championship. Combined, their names currently appear 153 times in the all-time record book.
The program's first A-10 Player of the Year and All-American as well as a CoSIDA Academic All-American, Cone enters 2021 as the Buff and Blue's all-time leader in home runs (56), extra-base hits (98) and RBIs (203). With a strong closing kick, the California native could break onto the NCAA's career home run and RBI lists.
Linquist is also an Academic All-American who has earned All-Conference and All-Region honors for her work behind the plate, while Weber, a force in the circle and in the batter's box, is aiming to build on a breakout senior season in which she became the first Colonial to earn both A-10 Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week awards.
They came back, all agree, eager for the opportunity to help the program take the next step.
"None of us really got closure last season, and that goes for the whole team," Linquist said. "We all kind of walked away knowing that we had a lot of unfinished business."
Jessica Linquist enters her senior season with 152 career hits, including 40 for extra bases.
Last spring, GW was tabbed A-10 co-favorite before tackling an early season gauntlet featuring matchups vs. the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon and Virginia Tech with an eye on preparing an experienced cast for a postseason push.
After a rocky start, the Colonials built momentum with a run of seven wins in nine games, punctuated by a March 11 doubleheader sweep of Bucknell at The Vern that finished in thrilling fashion with a walk-off squeeze bunt.
A day later, the NCAA canceled all winter and spring championships due to COVID-19, and a couple days after that, the team gathered at its home field for an impromptu Senior Day ceremony to say goodbye before everyone headed home.
"Obviously, we had no idea that was going to be our last game," Cone remembered. "No one could've predicted that, but we learned that's why it's so important to appreciate every moment that you're in and really make sure that you're present."
As the Colonials moved operations virtual with student-athletes spread around the country, Winkler reached out individually to see if the seniors would potentially be interested in returning for grad school.
It took months to finalize those plans, but everyone involved was motivated to find a way to make it work.
Then, there are the seven first-years who have been ready and willing to learn at every turn.
"We talk every day about finding the good, finding the silver lining," said Cone, who is pursuing a master's in Media and Strategic Communication. "I think we're really grateful for these new relationships that will hopefully last a lifetime." Because of COVID-19 protocols, the Buff and Blue navigated a fall with no exhibitions and limited time together away from the field. The squad had to create their own competition with a series of 17 intrasquad scrimmages, and most of the team-building activities had to take place online.
Every step of the way, the graduate students have set the tone: The team's three young catchers get the chance to learn the fine points of the position from Linquist, Weber is the veteran on a pitching staff that added two new hurlers and Cone's presence in the batter's box offers a model for every hitter to emulate.
"Really, every single day is a new example of just how mature they are and how they're able to handle themselves and bring the team along with them," Winkler said. "Obviously, they have their coaches to lean on, but those three are such an extension of our coaching staff, it's been instrumental in what we've done so far."
As another Opening Day draws near, Weber, Cone and Linquist are right where they want to be.
On the picture-perfect days and the not-so-perfect ones, too, they're determined to bring that same joyful energy to The Vern.
"Personally, I've had more fun this year than I've had ever," said Linquist, who is working toward a master's in rehabilitation counseling through the Graduate School of Education/Human Development. "Because I know that this wasn't something that was planned. We're lucky to be back here."
