Message from Assistant Director of Sports Information Trevor Wenners: Interested in getting to know the ins and outs of what make your favorite LaGrange College student-athletes tick? Our dedicated and loyal fans will be able to get an up-close look at the personalities and dreams of our student-athletes.
Ivy Grant was longing for meaningful connections and a sense of belonging two years ago.
After enrolling at LaGrange College in the fall of 2018, Grant has found the perfect home academically and socially as a student-athlete.
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"As a transfer student, the main thing I was hoping for when I came here was making connections with more people," said Grant. "At my previous school, I did not feel like I had the number of friends or connections that I was hoping for. When I came to LaGrange, it was the total opposite. I had many more friends here and not just the girls from the softball team. I made friends with people from theatre, basketball and Greek life."
Grant has been a pivotal presence on the softball field, as she has made a considerable impact for the Panthers in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. During the abbreviated 2020 season, the Hartwell, Georgia, native batted .333 in five games, to go along with four runs, four hits, one RBI and one stolen base.
Grant finished 3-for-5, with three runs and an RBI, in an 18-1, five-inning victory over Mississippi University for Women on Feb. 23.
During Grant's first year sporting the red and black in 2019, she made seven relief appearances in the circle, worked 12 2/3 innings and struck out four batters. She pitched an inning of scoreless relief during a 9-1 triumph over Fontbonne on March 8. The young woman threw 2 2/3 innings of relief and was not charged with a single run in Game 1 against Piedmont on March 7.
Grant, who just began her senior year, spoke about the uniqueness of the LaGrange softball program, and talked about her favorite college class.
Q: What does your day consist of from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night during softball season?
A: On days that we engage in weight training, I must get up early and go lift weights with the team and get ready for classes. I go to my morning classes, and then get a little break to eat lunch and do some homework. After I am done with my classes for the day, we have practice around 3 or 4 p.m. and usually get done around 6 or 6:30 p.m., so that we have time to get dinner in the cafeteria. Once I eat dinner, if my homework is done, I go spend time with my friends, and then I get ready for bed.
Q: How has being a part of the softball program enriched your college experience?
A: I have had the opportunity to play with an amazing group of girls. Being on the team has helped me create friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I could see many of these girls being my bridesmaids one day. As a student, being a part of this team has helped me learn how to work well with others on many levels. When I was in an online class last year, there were many group projects that we had to do. My experience from working with a team in softball made working with my group in class much easier.
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Q: How old were you when you started playing softball and what pushed you into the sport?
A: When I was 5 years old, my dad asked me if I wanted to play T-ball. I had no idea what it was, but I loved being active and trying new things. I played for the recreational department in Hartwell and my team was the Cubs. I, of course, had no idea what I was doing, but I remember having so much joy and being so happy to be there. When I moved up to coach-pitch softball, I fell in love with it because during my first at-bat I managed to contact the ball every time. I knew in that moment that this was something for me that I would enjoy doing.
Q: What are the biggest lessons that you have learned as a LaGrange student-athlete?
A: A big thing that I have learned from being a student-athlete is being able to manage my time. I cannot spend much time procrastinating my work for class because I have practices and games that take up a great deal of time. I am involved on campus, so having the skill to manage my time wisely between school, softball, Phi Mu and extracurricular activities is important.
Q: What has been your favorite class at LaGrange?
A: My favorite class that I have taken while at LaGrange would have to be my anatomy class. I enjoyed getting to understand more about the human body, but I also liked being able to dissect a rabbit to see the muscles up close and personal. I am a big fan of doing hands-on activities because I feel like I learn so much more that way, instead of sitting in a class and listening to a lecture.
Q: What is a nervous habit that you have?
A: I have a terrible habit of biting my nails when I am stressed, anxious or nervous.
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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