Wolverine Spotlight Q&A: Sara Driesenga
3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 17, 2016
Senior RHP Sara Driesenga has started off the 2016 season in good form. After missing most of last season due to a rib injury, the veteran pitcher has been a dependable and consistent force in the circle for U-M.
With a perfect 11-0 record, Driesenga recently earned a save at No. 13 UCLA, a complete-game shutout with five strikeouts against California and a win in relief against Oregon State. She is also a two-time All-Big Ten first team selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten award recipient.
Driesenga took some time chat with MGoBlue.com as the Wolverines prepare for a weekend off before continuing their upcoming homestand against Western Michigan and Northwestern.
Q. Can you talk about the team's start to the season and opening the home schedule>
A. We always evolve as the season goes on. It's cool to see how we come together as a team and trust each other when we're on defense or offense. Just knowing someone is going to get it done. If I don't get it done, someone behind me will get it done. I think we have built our confidence in each other a lot, especially over the last couple games.
Q. What have been some physical or mental challenges related to your injury? How have you overcome those setbacks? And though you were sidelined, what were some lessons you took away from your recovery period?
A. It's different trying to contribute when you're not on the field. There are multiple parts of your game. There's mental, physical and spiritual. So, I could focus on emotional things and help people through stuff, if they were going through something. For me personally, just getting back out there on the field and finally being able to contribute in this way. I've been trying to enjoy the moment since I wasn't expecting to get another year and enjoying the people I'm with because that's what makes it all worth it.
Physically, for a while I wasn't able to pitch, run or even stay physically fit. Adding in extra workout days over the last couple months has helped a lot. It has helped me get my speed, strength and endurance back. It's definitely a process getting it back. You always want it to come back just as good as it was right away. That's not how it works though. You have to work through it. That is also mental, too. I want to enjoy my time with everyone and have fun. We're a family. If you ask any of the alums, they'd give anything to get another year, and I get that extra year.
Q. Many of your teammates have said you provide fervent energy in the dugout. If a fellow pitcher is struggling, what kind of advice do you give her? How would you describe your leadership style?
A. Confidence is a big thing. We do some yoga before games, pitchers and catchers. I think it is a good way to calm us down and remind us to stay in our moment. So, giving that other pitcher confidence. Telling them you've been here before, so you know you can do it. Just letting them know we trust you, we know you can get it done, so believe you can get it done. I try to lead by example. It's hard to hold others accountable if you're not doing those same things. So, setting an example of working hard. I'm also a vocal leader, encouraging everybody.
Q. As an undergraduate, you studied psychology with an emphasis on sport psychology. How have you applied this knowledge to your gameplay? What do you want to do with your master's degree in social work?
A. Again, there's different parts of your game -- mental, spiritual and physical. Having all three at your strongest helps your game be at its strongest. Trusting yourself, your teammates and your coaches. Letting go of the other things you can't control is a big thing.
I want to do something with social work in sports. It's a field that is up and coming. I think there will be a lot of opportunities in the next couple years, like being in leadership roles at universities. My friend, who was a swimmer, is also in the program, so we have a couple ideas we want to implement. There's been a lot of brainstorming, and we're excited about it. There's a lot of stuff that can be done.
Q. What has the team been focusing on during the last few practices?
A. Discipline. It's an all-encompassing term. Discipline in yourself, discipline whether you're on defense or offense. Discipline to stay in the moment and not get ahead of yourself or look too far in the past.
Q. What are you working to improve on this season? What are your expectations for this season?
A. Going right at the hitters. Not being too careful about where I am throwing my pitch. Trusting that I'm sighting it and throwing it where I want to throw it, trusting that it will spin and move. We want to win a Big Ten championship and a national championship. That is what we're working towards.
Q. What is your favorite Michigan softball tradition?
A. One of my favorite things is drawing in the dirt right before the announcer reads the starting lineups. It adds some personality to our team. What we draw in the dirt is personal to everybody. Everyone writes their own thing. A couple of us pair up and write different things together and then we fill in the blanks. I really like that, and it really gets you into the game. I also like, when the announcer calls everyone's names, that everyone does their own handshake thing with Monte at the very end. Not every team does that.
