May 2, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team will be hosting its final regular-season game of the 2009 season Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex against Conference USA-foe UTEP. But, the contest will not only serve as the last home game of 2009 for the Knights, but will also serve as Senior Day, the last game in the careers of seniors Lexi Gresham (Fresno, Calif.), Magon Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.), Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.).
Members of the UCFAthletics.com staff recently sat down with Paul to get her feelings about the end of her career at UCF.
Talk about your past four seasons at UCF?
"It has been fun and really competitive. It is like a step up from travel ball, because that is what we all ended with in high school. To take that even further in the past four years, I was playing against really good competition and then just growing with people."
What is your favorite memory of your time at UCF?
"My favorite memory was actually when we played the Olympic team, because as a little kid playing softball you never think that you would actually see them in person, much less play against them. Being able to hang with them was pretty cool. Even though we pretty much all were struck out, to be able to hang in there with them is really exciting."
What is something you will be able to take away from your experience as a Knight?
"Just being able to grow as friends and as a team. We grew into a family. Just being able to know that you can connect with different types of people turned us all into one unit."
What does Senior Day mean to you?
"Senior day means that softball is over. It has just been a long road like four years of workouts, running, practice, games, season and traveling. All of that stuff is over now. Because we have been playing softball our whole lives, it is going to be like what does a real person do in their lives because I don't know."
Do you think Sunday's game will be emotional for you?
"I want to say that it won't, but I know it will if I see my dad get emotional. It probably will be."
Who would you like to fill your shoes next season?
"Probably, Diana (Rojas) or (Ashleigh) Cole because we need a leader as a pitcher and a team leader. I think there are aspects of my abilities on and off the field that they could use to help the team in its successes. Not just in athletic ability."
What has been the most rewarding part of being a senior this season?
"Just having people come to you for insight on things because we have been here for four years now. We know more than the newer girls just because we have been here for so long. Just being able to help them through things that they just don't know yet."
What legacy would you like to leave for your teammates?
"That I am kind of goofy. So I think that the team needs to find the balance between being serious sometimes, but at other times just having some fun. It is just a game and it is not just a job, you have to have some fun too."
Will you be coming back to play in the annual Alumni Game?
"Probably because I will want to see everyone. I think if I move away, then I will not be able to see them as often. It will be cool to see everyone, not just from this year, but from past years."
What are your plans after graduation?
"I have no idea. I am graduating in August, so I am going to try and find a job. If I don't, then I am just going to stay in school to get my master's degree until I decide what to do."
The UCF softball team will play its final C-USA series of 2009 against UTEP at the UCF Softball Complex on May 2-3. The series gets underway with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday, before concluding with a single game Sunday at Noon.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.