Liberty Life - Winter 2010 - Liberty Christian School

Alumni Play at Big 12and Live for ChristLiberty seeks to mold and develop the whole child,students who are spiritually grounded and wellroundedin academics, the arts, and athletics.Liberty Life magazine interviewed four alumni who arecurrently performing with excellence in all areas at aBig 12 school and play for the University of Oklahoma.Ben Habern is the center on the Sooner’s football team,Ashley Kowalewski is a pole-vaulter for OU’s track andOU’s baseball team. These alumni write about theirpassion and success in athletics, they provide advice toLiberty students wanting to play at the collegiate level,and they describe how Liberty prepared them for theircollege career.What is it like playing for a Big 12 school?Ben: The Big 12 is one of the biggest conferences inthe nation. It has a tremendous amount of traditionand legacy. I feel very special knowing that I get to bea part of something that is so much bigger than justone person, team, or school.Ashley: The coaches are very intense, and are notonly concerned with our development as athletes, butacademically as students too. As a freshman, I amrequired to log 10 study hall hours a week. They arevery concerned with our grades.Whitney: It is such a privilege playing for such apower conference. From the gear to the nationalrecognition, it makes working that hard veryrewarding and fun … plus, it is the best competitionElliott: Growing up, every young athlete dreams ofplaying college sports for a perennial powerhouse.I’m fortunate enough to be living that dream.Playing in the Big 12 forces you to stay at the topof your game every day. During my career at OU,I’ve played against several players that are alreadyplaying Major League Baseball and hundreds morewho are working their way through the minor leaguelevels. Throughout my years here at OU, I’ve alsobecome friends with other big-time athletes like Blakeathletes here that it’s fun to see who will be the nextprofessional superstar from OU.What is your advice to a Liberty athlete whowants to play at the college level?Ben: My advice would be to push through yourobstacles and trials and know that most importantly,you are working for is your Father in Heaven over anysport.Ashley: praise God with the gifts inwhich He has blessed you.You are not out there towin the competition; youare there to win people toJesus. In my case, I am notthere to jump high becausethat is not my purpose inlife – my purpose is to knowHim and make Him known.Whitney: Get yourself outthere! Liberty does a greatjob, plus there are millionsof opportunities to getyourself seen if you arewilling to seek them out.Elliott: First, have fun inhigh school. Don’t let yourand don’t be in a rush tograduate. Enjoy every partof it.Ben Habernhow good you think you are, there is someone who isin to prepare for a game, someone is working harderaspect of your game, even the little things, and thatway you’ll stand out among the other athletes in yourrecruiting class.Thirdly, make sure you like the school for reasonsother than their athletic programs. You’ve got to likethe town, the campus, the atmosphere, and everythingabout the school.Fourthly, go where you are wanted. Make sure thetheir program.Fifthly, build a strong foundation. Make sure youknow where you stand in your beliefs and moralsbefore you step foot on a college campus. Don’t evercompromise what you stand for, and you will earnpeople’s respect.Page 44Liberty Life