Four years ago Jill Ring's freshman season ended with her being voted to the Terri Lynch-Jackie Havercamp Memorial Award as Union's “Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete of the Year.” The award is presented annually to “the freshman female student-athlete who has shown desire, dedication, sportsmanship, and inspirational leadership on the field of competition as well as in her daily life.” The award, by its description and by the fact that it is given to an individual who displays unrealized potential, is one where you have to “wait and see” if the right person was selected.
As it turns out, Jill Ring epitomizes the meaning of the award and brings honor to the spirits of the two women who are being remembered each year.
A four-year player for both the basketball and softball teams, Ring has seen both sides of the bench. As a four-year starter for the Dutchwomen's diamond squad, Ring has been among the team's leading hitters each year. Co-captain of this season's 8-4 team, she is the Dutchwomen's leading hitter with her .444 average and is once again the Garnet's slugging percentage leader at .778. Among her 15 hits are five doubles, two triples and a home run.
Being in the center of the limelight during the spring is nothing new for the Brewster, Massachusetts, native. As a freshman she hit a team-high .362 while cracking six
doubles, six triples, and two home runs. Her 34 base hits, 22 rbis and .617 slugging percentage wereall among the teams leaders. Her success continued as a sophomore as she led the Dutchwomen with 29 rbis while collecting seven doubles, four triples, and four home runs among her 32 hits. Last year Ring hit .330 and again led the squad in rbis, (19) while collecting five doubles, two triples, and four home runs among her 35 hits. Also a dependable base stealer (she is 13 of 17 for her career), Ring, who has a cannon for an arm, can play second, short, or third as well as any of the three outfield positions.
Her prowess on the softball field has earned her a position on the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association's All-Tournament teams following the 2001 and 2002 campaigns.
“Jill's affect on the team is her performance at the plate, says head coach
Peter Brown. “The team knows she always comes thru in the pressure spots.
“I don't think her attitude changes in basketball or in softball,” Brown continued. “You would never know she was the star of our team. She is a great person, always upbeat and happy, and willing to do anything for a
teammate.”
Her success on the basketball court, however, is a different story.
A four-year member of the squad and tri-captain of this year's record-setting 22-5 team, Ring has averaged less than 12 minutes a game throughout her career. Her career scoring average is 2.8 points from her guard position. In basketball, Ring's contribution is not what takes place on the court, rather it is her presence in the locker room, on the bus, and among her teammates.
“Jill has been a leader for the basketball team by her personality and outgoing style,” said head coach
Mary Ellen Burt. “She has seen this program change over the years and in doing so her role on the team has also changed. Throughout it all, Jill's positive attitude and enjoyment of Union and her teammates have kept her spirits high. She is a true leader by example.”
A fierce competitor by nature, Ring admits that her role on the basketball team was tough to handle at times, especially since she had been successful at the sport since she began playing in the second grade.
“It was extremely difficult and frustrating to work as hard as I did and not get much of a chance to play,” she explained. There were several instances throughout my career where I thought it was almost too much to handle because I had enjoyed a successful high school career. I guess it all came down to the love I had for the game and the tight bond I had with my teammates that gave me
strength.
“I loved the feeling of comradely; the group involvement, dedication and effort put forth by my team,” she continued. “As the sole senior on the this year's team and coming back from a term abroad in Australia/New Zealand in the fall, I focused more on the role of being a successful captain and providing enthusiasm and support for my teammates. As hard as it became, the satisfaction gained by watching my teammates succeed was fulfilling enough to make it a positive experience.”
Ring's favorite memory of her hoop career came from her freshman year when the Dutchwomen surprised St. Lawrence, 67-61 in Memorial Field House. “I will have to say beating St. Lawrence at home my freshman year was one of the best experiences in my basketball career. The next year, St. Lawrence went on to participate in the Division III NCAA championship game. I will never forget the energy and excitement our team had at the end of that game; the feeling was indescribable. Although I didn't actually participate in that game, I felt as though I had contributed by preparing my teammates throughout the week by playing my heart out defensively in practice.”
Ring has some advice for players who find themselves in the situation she experienced with basketball.
“Everyone playing college sports are athletes that have experienced a certain level of success during their high school years,” she began. “This means that at college you are now competing with athletes with similar or better skills than yourself. Although you may not play as much as you would like, or even be the star of the team, you have to follow your passion and not let anything stand in the way of that. I know that when my basketball career ended, I felt a sense of self-fulfillment. I knew I had accomplished trust and devotion with my teammates and myself; I felt stronger than ever before. I feel as though I have the confidence to get through any tough situation in real-life if it were to arise.”
Ring's accomplishments as a leader for both the basketball and softball teams have been noticed beyond her coaches and teammates on the diamond and court. Besides winning the award as the best freshman female, she has been awarded the Women's Commission Athletic Promise Award, the Sophomore Athletic Prize, and the ECAC Medal as Union's “Outstanding Junior Female” student-athlete.
Despite being a two-sport athlete, Ring, who is majoring in biology and psychology, has been involved in several activities outside to world of athletics. As a sophomore she was an intern at the Hilltop Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna and this past fall she studied abroad in Australia and New Zealand. She is currently an intern in the emergency room at the Albany Medical Center.
One of the highlights of Ring's Union career was her term abroad.
“I was tentative about leaving the country for four months of my senior year, but knew that it would help me figure out what direction to take after graduation,” she said. “I am a biology/psychology major with the intention of becoming a physician's assistant, but I knew I was also interested in marine biology, since I spent a majority of my life near the ocean. In Australia and New Zealand, we took an extensive marine biology course, terrestrial ecology and geology. Turns out I had the time of my life over there! I had so much fun!!
“I was able to do things that I have always dreamed of,” she continued. “I met 30 new people, went scuba diving, swam with sharks in the dark, went horseback riding in the outback, walked through a rainforest, hiked up an active volcano in the snow, lived with 16 people for a week in a room the size of out locker room, sailed for for days straight with 10 people around tropical islands, and so much more!! During this trip I learned to be extremely independent. We would travel every weekend by bus, train, boat, car, plane, taxi, you name it! We learned how to deal with and solve the most
difficult situations on our own. It's definitely something I suggest doing and Union has such an amazing term abroad program it would be a waste not to take advantage of it! If you are an athlete, try and do it in the off-season, but if you can't, definitely do not hold back. Being a part of the softball team as well, I had no other choice but to go away in the fall. I have no regrets; it was the time of my life!”
Ring's term abroad experiences were shared by her basketball teammates through constant emails.
“She kept in constant contact with the team while she was in Australia and New Zealand,” said Burt. “The freshmen felt they knew her before they finally met her in late December.
“Jill would do anything for any of her teammates,” continued Burt. “She is always ready to do something and partake in any activity. Her zest for new and interesting adventures is what I will cherish most about her. It was really neat to her about her travels while she was the semester abroad. Though we new she was scared about some things she was about to attempt, she went ahead anyway and did it and then told us all how awesome it was afterwards.”
Ring has no regrets about Union, the place she has called “home” for the last four years.
“Overall, I feel like I have made the right choice in coming to Union,” she says. “The friendships and experiences throughout my four years here are priceless and could never be replaced. “The people I have met and the plethora of memories that we have made have been satisfying, to say the least.”
Jill Ring has had an incredible four-year stay at Union, both in the classroom and on the playing fields. Her accomplishments have left a legacy for current and future players. She will be missed, not only for her accomplishments, but also for the friendship she has bestowed on all of us who have had the privilege to know her.