Marla Willard-Midwest Conference Performer of the Week

Tying one school record and closing in on another has earned Monmouth College’s Marla Willard (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield) this week’s Midwest Conference Performer of the Week award in women’s basketball.
Willard picked up her first double-double of the season in Monmouth's 98-87 win over North Central last Wednesday. The junior forward pumped in 13 points and pulled down 21 rebounds, tying the Scots' single game rebounding record. She was especially good on the defensive glass, pulling down 17 defensive rebounds. She also dished out five assists, blocked two shots and had two steals. Her 76 career blocks are just two shy of the school record.
An education major, Willard is the daughter of Bradley and Stacie Willard.

Where are they now? Mallory (Mulvihill) Green

1. Give us some updates! Where are you living, any recent life accomplishments?
I live in Wauconda, IL right on the lake and it's amazing. I just got married to my high school sweetheart (as lame as that sounds) in July, finished my Masters from Roosevelt University in Integrated Marketing and Communications, started a new job and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings me.

2. How has a Monmouth College degree helped your career pursuits?
I think right out of college, I was a little lost. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to, and I honestly wished I had done a lot of things differently while in college. I think I was too busy enjoying my youth!! But, I really, really loved all my English classes and by writing for the college newspaper, I kind of realized that I enjoyed to creatively write. Those English classes were tough and the professors expected perfection, and I think that mindset (even though I may have found it obnoxious at the time) helped me throughout grad school and in my current job.

3. Favorite on or off the court basketball memory?
Tough to say. On the court, I think I'd have to go with hitting a 3-pointer as a freshman to put us up against Knox. It was right at the end of the game so the gym was PACKED. The experience of that Knox rivalry as a freshman was awesome and to hit what ended up being a game winner, was amazing. Ms. Lisa Curry set the screen to free me up. Off the court, living with Laura Hurckes (Jahn), Cassie Jensen and of course, Becky Wakeland (Dixon). Some of the best times of my life. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard.

4. What do you miss most about playing basketball at Monmouth College?
I miss the competitiveness of it all. I struggled a little bit with myself during college, but the one thing I always brought every day to practice was my competitiveness. Even now, I hate to lose. I miss just playing for fun because I loved the game. Oh and defense, I miss playing defense. I loved when the girl I was defending would cuss at me. Best feeling ever.

According to Jasmine Johnson...

If our coaching staff were replaced by your parents…who would be the best to fill the following roles & why J

Please answer the following questions with a team member’s parent & why you think they are best suited for this role:

1.       Tie ball game & we need a great set to win the game. Who should draw up the play?

Jasmine-Mr. Corban because he is THE MAN! I think he would know exactly what we needed to do.

2.       There is a conflict amongst the team, who should step in and be the mediator to resolve the issue?

Jasmine- Kim’s Dad because he’s a basketball coach with that stern basketball coaches voice so I think he could shut us all up real quick.

3.       You ladies can get huuuungry! Who would put together the best pre-game spread?

Jasmine- Colleen and Kathleen’s parents always have something spectacular for us to eat whether it’s a four course meal or cookies and cake after the game.

4.       Bonding time! Who would put together a fun activity & what would it be?

Jasmine- Momma Tiffsquirrel! She is very funny so I think she could come up with something great for all of us to do!

5.       It’s preseason & we’ve got to get you ladies in shape! Who would be the best strength & condition coach & why?

Jasmine- Marla’s mom because she works at the jail so I know she would whip us right into shape and she wouldn’t take any mess from anyone!

6.       Who would be the best academic tutor to help us keep our grades up?

Jasmine-Kaley’s mom is a teacher so I’m sure she could help with all of our classes. I should probably ask her about this accounting spreadsheet due Monday…

 

Assistant Coach: Haley Jones

Haley Jones
Monmouth College Graduate '12

Knoxville High School- 3 time team MVP, all-time leading scorer (basketball)
      National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

College- ICC: All-Region, Academic All-American, President's List
             Monmouth College: All-Conference (2 years), Free throw record (career and season), Dean's List
                    Track: 2nd place in 400 hurdles at conference :)

Currently attending Western Illinois University for her master's in sport management and volunteering in the compliance department.

Assistant Coach: Allison Dynes

Meet the Coaching Staff 2012-13: Allison Dynes

HIGH SCHOOL: Eight-time letter winner for the Bravettes of Annawan High School (four in basketball, and two each in volleyball and track). She finished her high school career as Annawan's all-time leading scorer with 1,624 points and is now 2^nd in all-time scoring. She is also 2^nd on the list of single season scoring with 587 points. As a senior, she averaged 15.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.1 apg and 2.3 spg. She was named her team's MVP after leading the team in scoring, assists and free throw percentage. She was named fourth team all-state by the IBCA, special mention all-state by the Champaign News Gazette and honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press. She also earned All-Area Player of the Year (twice) and was Pacesetter (three times) from the Moline Dispatch. She was a three-time first team all-conference selection and a first team Quad City Times All-Area as a senior. While in high school, she was president of the National Honor Society and Annawan All-Stars 4-H Club. She was also involved in many other student organizations, clubs, and mentoring programs.

COLLEGE: Allison played a year at Carl Sandburg College, a member of the NJCAA D2 basketball association where her team finished 5^th in the nation in her freshman campaign. She then took her talents to Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA where she played post for the JV team and back-up point guard for varsity. She became JV assistant for BCU in her final two years of college. In her junior year of college, she also coached the Sioux City HOOPLA 7^th grade AAU team. That summer she took her coaching talents to Lake Como, PA where she was a basketball and volleyball coach to kids ages 6-15 as well as a counselor to over 15 fifteen year old girls. Her senior year of college she founded Sioux City CHAOS, a 14U AAU girls basketball team and traveled throughout South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.

After college graduation she worked for Paddle Diva, a stand-up paddle boarding company on Long Island, NY, whose main focus is empowering women through sport. She then coached for Columbus Crossover, an AAU organization based out of Columbus, OH before ultimately coming back to Illinois. She is currently attending Western Illinois University where she is a graduate student studying sports management.

Big Red Interview: Chelsea Gross

  

Big Red: What is your major/year are you at Monmouth College?
Chelsea Gross: Physical Education- Non-teaching. I am a senior at Monmouth College

Big Red: What is your summer internship?

Chelsea Gross: I worked for the Peoria Chiefs Minor League Baseball Team

Big Red: How did you learn about this internship?

Chelsea Gross: I knew about other classmates who did their internships for other minor league teams, and I remember going to the Peoria Chiefs games when I was younger and really liked the environment and Peoria so I thought I would give it a shot.

Big Red: Why did you take this internship?

Chelsea Gross: I thought it was a great opportunity and my trainer Bob Foster said it would be very beneficial to me and thought it would be a great experience. I knew this would be a great start to get familiar with what my future occupation may entail.

Big Red: Your primary job duties/responsibilities are?

Chelsea Gross: My job is to mainly promote the Chiefs throughout the Peoria and surrounding communities throughout the week. I also am very involved with the crowd during the games, such as doing baseball chants to get the crowd excited, throwing T-shirts, and doing on-field games during the innings to keep the crowd entertained. Each game has different events that happen at the ballpark and it is one of my responsibilities to make sure everything is set up right and then is executed as planned. It is very busy most of the time because there are so many events that take place during each game that need to be ran smoothly while keeping the crowd happy and entertained.

Big Red: What is the best part of your internship?

Chelsea Gross: Everything. This internship had no negative aspects. I would have to say our “team” had a lot of fun during the games while entertaining the crowd and cheering on our team.

Big Red: What is the most challenging part of your internship?

Chelsea Gross: Definitely getting everything set up on time and having everyone on the same page. We have so many exciting things that happen almost every inning and there are about five to six of us on field who need to all communicate and execute together in order to make sure things run right. I do not think that everyone knows how much we do behind the scenes to make sure the crowd is happy and also representing the Chiefs positively.

Big Red: What is one thing your team/teammates/coaches at Monmouth College taught you that helped you with your internship?

Chelsea Gross: Teamwork, hard work, and respect. You are constantly working with many different people with different opinions on different levels. I work with the owner of the Peoria Chiefs, my boss, and many co-workers who are all working together to keep the Chiefs honorable reputation. Being a part of a team has also taught me how to be a hard worker and to give 100%. It takes a lot of hard work to be involved with a minor league Class A baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. We are trying to promote a positive background for the Chiefs to continue our connection with the Chicago Cubs. There are many games in a row each week that I am constantly working endless hours with a large amount of people while also having to report back to my boss and then the owner is not always the easiest task to do. By being a member of the Monmouth College basketball team I have learned how to respect others. I have a head coach, and many assistant coaches as well as my teammates and opposing members. Being respectful is something you are taught when you are a member of the Monmouth College Women’s basketball team no matter how tough it gets. We are a team and how we act comes back on the coaches, our team, and our college. It is the same with a job, I am on a team and I have to show respect towards my co-workers, my boss, and the Chiefs in order to work in a constructive environment which makes it easier to get work done and to keep a positive reputation for the community.

Big Red: What's one thing you've learned that you are taking back to your team/teammates/coaches at Monmouth College?
Chelsea Gross: To be a good and constructive leader. I am a senior now and after working for the Chiefs this summer I have developed better leadership skills that I plan to carry out through my last season as a member of the Monmouth College Women’s Basketball team.

Big Red: How is this internship going to prepare you for your future?

Chelsea Gross: It will help me get a taste of what my future occupation is going to entail. What skills I need to work on and others that I need to keep working hard at. It has also helped to show me what I really am interested in doing and other things that are not down my path. This internship has been a very important learning experience for me that I will use down the road to help me develop into a successful individual in the work force.

Summer Fun: Colleen & Kathleen Forrest

Colleen & Kathleen Forrest: Walking on the beach in Door County!