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.
Natalie Glass is willing to take on any challenge that comes her way.
The senior has proved to be a versatile student-athlete during her three-plus years sporting the red and black at LaGrange College. Originally, she planned to strictly be a Panthers' softball player but was more than willing to give cross country a try when the opportunity presented itself.
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"I would consider softball to be my primary sport," said Glass. "I originally came here to play softball, but when athletic director and softball head coach Jennifer Claybrook asked me to run, I was more than happy to say yes. I have played softball all four years here and started running halfway into my first semester freshman year. Both sports have been very rewarding, and I will always remember the memories that I have made on both teams."
Glass has gone 3-1 as a pitcher over the last two seasons for the softball program. During the abbreviated 2020 campaign, she earned the complete-game win, giving up no earned runs, in an 18-1, five-inning victory over Mississippi University for Women on Feb. 23. Additionally, Glass provided a spark on offense, scoring a pair of runs, as the Panthers finished 7-5 overall and 2-0 in the USA South.
The Dawsonville, Georgia, native went 2-1 during the 2019 season in the circle, maintaining an outstanding 0.68 ERA in 10 1/3 innings of work. The young woman pitched the final two innings, allowed no runs and earned the win during a 5-3 triumph over Huntingdon in Game 2 of a first-round, best-of-three series in the 2019 USA South Tournament. Glass recorded her first-collegiate victory and relinquished no earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief during a 5-4 win at Judson on April 16, 2019.
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The impressive individual made an immediate and considerable impact for the cross-country program. During her sophomore season in 2018, she competed in all six meets, registering a season-best time of 35:07.6 in the 6 kilometer at the USA South Championship. Glass also suited up for the 2018 NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional, clocking a time of 35:55.85 during the 6-kilometer race.
During the 2019 season, she was LaGrange's representative on the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team. Glass crossed the finish line in a career-best time of 31:52.94 during the 6-kilometer event at the conference meet. At the Foothills Invitational, she posted a personal record of 27:47.00 on the 5-kilometer course.
Glass talked about a variety of topics in a Q&A segment, including her unprecedented senior year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration in the LaGrange College athletic department?
A: Cross-country and women's basketball head coach Jasen Jonus has definitely had the biggest impact on me, while playing sports at LaGrange. He is so low-key but has a huge impact on everyone that he meets. He radiates rays of energy and positivity and is a great coach, which is uncommon. Without him, I could have never made it the 8-plus miles that we run most days.
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Q: How are you coping with the uncertainty of this academic year and what are your career plans?
A: I am honestly very laid back and do not get bothered by many things. This academic year has brought on some additional stress. With some of my classes being online, I have been finding myself less stressed out. My major is political science, with minors in criminology and sociology. After I graduate, I plan on attending law school at Mercer University and eventually opening my own practice, specializing in family law.
Q: What is the most creative mask that you have seen during this pandemic?
A: I honestly think the coolest mask that I have seen is the Chick-fil-A, cow-print mask.
Q: Dogs or cats?
A: Dogs.
Q: Could you rank the three Panther social-media channels?
A: 1. Panthers' Instagram. 2. Panthers' Twitter. 3. Panthers' Facebook.
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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