Northern Star

LaChiana, NIU softball weathers the rain, Zips

By Jarrod Rice | March 28, 2005

Rain and cold weather could not stop NIU softball pitcher Lindsey LaChiana over the weekend. After two cancellations, the Huskies were finally able to play a doubleheader at Akron Sunday. LaChiana baffled the Zips, allowing only one earned run in 14 innings...

Softball begins MAC play at Akron

By Nathan Lindquist | March 25, 2005

Defense might win championships, but as NIU softball found out last year, you need to score runs to win games. A season after compiling a .202 team batting average, timely offense has invigorated the Huskies (11-9) as the team enters its MAC season schedule...

Playing with athlete’s minds

By Sean Ostruszka | March 23, 2005

Motivation hangs on every wall in the room NIU sports psychologist Moira Stuart uses to talk to players.

On the right it’s vision. The left tells the importance of drive. Behind you, the wall reminds to take advantage of opportunities.

But it’s the message on the back wall Stuart likes the best.

Behind a single stand black lamp hangs a picture of a man rock climbing in the desert. Below the image reads "challenge" in bright yellow letters.

"I like that one because I think athletes should not think of challenges as threats," Stuart said. "They should use them as positives. And that’s where I come in to try and help them realize that."

Forgive Stuart’s positive attitude, but in her mind, that’s what it’s all about. To Stuart, athletics are more that just one’s physical ability, but their mental ability as well. And it’s her job to help players and coaches overcome their challenges.

That’s one of the reasons the assistant professor in kinesiology and physical education received an e-mail from softball coach Donna Martin two years ago.

Martin had a few questions about how to make her a better coach. And after Stuart e-mailed her back some answers, Martin knew she wanted her players heading to Stuart’s room.

But in order for Stuart to help players and coaches overcome their challenges, she had to overcome one herself. Her problem: the stereotype of being a psychologist.

Many players don’t want to go to a psychologist because they don’t want to feel they have something wrong with them, Stuart said.

But that’s not what sports psychology is about. And as the seasons pass, more and more of NIU’s athletes have decided to make a visit.

"Players have to realize it’s not about you being broken and [Stuart] having to fix you," Martin said. "It’s about just wanting to improve."

That’s exactly what NIU basketball player Anthony Maestranzi wanted to do.

After Stuart spoke in front of the men’s basketball team prior to last season, Maestranzi’s curiosity took hold and he set up a session.

"I wanted to see what it was all about," Maestranzi said. "She helped me work on a few key points which have really helped me through the season."

Since his first session, Maestranzi has gone back a few times to see those posters in Stuart’s room to both learn new mental skills and to check his progress.

Yet that room and its posters serve a two-fold purpose for those who enter it. The coaches and players visit that room for advice to help them on the playing field. They leave with skills for life.

"When an athlete comes for a session I can teach them skills to help them deal with the stress and pressure of being a college athlete," Stuart said. "But for the rest of their lives, they will benefit from these attitude skills - because attitude is everything."

Softball remains above .500 mark

By Jarrod Rice | March 21, 2005

Like many college students, the NIU softball team spent its Spring Break in Florida. But instead of lying in the sun, the Huskies played 11 games in 11 days. The Huskies (11-9) went 5-6 over the break with three of their losses coming against Top 20 teams....

Huskies hope to continue success

By Jarrod Rice | March 10, 2005

After last year’s 14-41 season, NIU softball coach Donna Martin hopes the Huskies good start can result in more wins this year. The Huskies will take a 6-3 record into the Speedline Invitational today in Clearwater, Fla., where they lost five of seven...

Softball team picks up more awards

By Ian Waddick | March 8, 2005

After winning the Sycamore Classic on Sunday, the NIU softball team earned a MAC Player of the Week award for the second week in a row. On Monday, first baseman Toni Del Toro and pitcher Lindsey LaChiana were named the MAC West Player and Pitcher of the...

Peterson awarded

By Ian Waddick | March 1, 2005

After winning its second consecutive game Sunday, the NIU men’s basketball team received more good news when forward Todd Peterson was named the MAC West Player of the Week on Monday. For the week, the junior averaged 15 points and 5.5 rebounds a game...

Intramural playoffs to begin soon

November 2, 2004

After making a name in NCAA baseball, Brett Muhlhan now has his sights set on NIU intramurals. Formerly a collegiate ballplayer at Mississippi State and North Carolina-Asheville, the current NIU graduate assistant will compete for his third intramural...

Transfer makes mark

By Sean Connor | October 13, 2004

Junior transfer Lindsey LaChiana knew that she wanted out of Loyola even before Ramblers softball coach Jamie Gillies resigned last season. “There were a lot of reasons I left,” LaChiana said, “but in general I didn’t like Loyola, and there were...

Hall to welcome five

By Jarrod Rice | October 13, 2004

Five former NIU athletes will be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame as part of NIU’s 98th Homecoming weekend, beginning Friday in the Duke Ellington Ballroom. T.C. Dantzler, E.C. Hill, Julie Sexton, Ernie Wickstrom and John Wrenn make...

Intramural softball has largest turnout ever

By Bob Grant | September 28, 2004

NIU intramurals are underway with 450 students playing 16-inch softball, the largest turnout in the Office of Campus Recreation’s 19-year history. Softball was able to add six teams to its usual 34-team lineup this year because of more student interest....

Athletics complex in the works

By Sean Connor | September 16, 2004

NIU football coach Joe Novak said he’s seen big donations of late toward an indoor athletic facility. “We’re still in the process,” Novak said. “It’s still the top priority for us.” There are no current plans to build an indoor practice...

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