A Dream Come True for Ana Cooke
February 6, 2012
Filed under Featured Athlete, Sports
Great athletes always have trouble walking away from the games that they love. This scenario was no exception for Ana Cooke. In high school, Ana was an all-star athlete participating in many sports, including lacrosse, basketball, and soccer. Ana was a superior athlete back in her hometown of Fairfax, Virginia but she had to make a choice once she graduated. She came to a crossroads of sorts. She either could step onto the field and feed your short-term dreams of playing the sport she loved or securing her future career with a full commitment to the classroom.
Ana chose not to play once she came to Catawba instead focusing all her attention on pursuing a Biology/Pre-med degree with plans to enter medical school in her sights. Ana informed me that she really wanted to play lacrosse once she got to college, but as you may know, Catawba did not have a women’s lacrosse team back in 2008 when Ana first stepped on campus.
Even though Ana was not involved with sports anymore, her parents were very supportive in her decision to focus on school. They knew how much she wanted to be a doctor and how much she valued her education. Ana knew early on in high school that she wanted to major in biology, saying her AP biology teacher made her love the subject and showed her how great it could be.
Ana has been working hard during her entire college career by being involved in activities such as the Delphinian society, which focuses to empower the lives of young women. She also works hard as a bio lab assistant in the Shuford Science Building. But there was something missing in her life, and that was sports. When Catawba announced that they would be starting a women’s lacrosse team, Ana could not have been more excited. She would finally be able to play the sport she loved again. Ana went out for the team and the new coach realized her potential immediately. She was eventually named captain by her coach due to her ability to lead on the field and motivate all the people around her.
The players on the team look up to Ana everyday to get them through practice and lead them into their first ever season in Catawba history. Even though Ana will graduate this May, I know that she will miss the game that she loves.
Ana will miss all the friends and the experiences that she has had here at Catawba. After college Ana plans to go to graduate school so that she can eventually become a doctor. I, as well as many others, know that Ana will succeed in whatever she does, and her ability to never give up will continue to take her far in life.
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