The No. 15 Messiah women's lacrosse team is off to a good start for the 2017 season and are currently 1-1 overall. The Falcons earned a big win on Saturday defeating Muhlenberg College 17-9. Assistant coach
Katherine Athens is in her third year on the sidelines along side head coach
Heather Greer and graduate assistant
Rebecca Sheinfeld. Athens was the graduate assistant for the past two seasons before transitioning to assistant coach. She played four years at Division II Pfeiffer University. As a four-year letter winner and three-year captain, she was a three-time IWCLA All-American (2012-2014), two-time conference Carolina defensive player of the year (2013 and 2014) and four-time member of the all-conference team (2011-2014). Athen's also served as the University's head sports Chaplain.
We decided to learn more about Katherine's experience coaching at Messiah in this week's edition of #WhyMessiah
What is your full name?
Katherine Ann Athens
College alma mater?
Pfeiffer University '14 (undergraduate)
Messiah College '16 (masters)
Why do you love coaching at Messiah?
I love coaching at Messiah because I get to work with people who have the same core Christian values and live their lives as I do. It's an incredible experience being able to also watch and learn from so many great Christian leaders and coaches here at Messiah.
You completed your master's here at Messiah and served as the women's lacrosse GA, what was it about Messiah that made you want to stay?
I think it's hard to put into words the experience you get a Messiah and why it is so special. It's an environment where you are pushed and challenged while being encouraged and uplifted. This team and program is what made me want to stay on at Messiah. I love being part of the women's lacrosse program because every player is positively impacted by the people and coaches who come through our program. And I wanted to continue to be a part of that impact.
Has it been a transition from Grad Assistant to assistant coach?
The transition gets easier every year, because I'm continuing to learn how everything works in the office, learning more about coaching, and gaining confidence to use the talents God has given me for His glory in the big and small ways.
What is your favorite part about coaching?
The opportunity to influence someone's life in a positive way. I want to help student-athletes learn to be successful on and off the field for the present and future through leadership, integrity, and learning to overcome adversity.
What is the most unique aspect about your program?
Something I think it unique about our program is every game when the starting line-up for our team is announced, all of our players run out in pairs, while doing a unique handshake for each pair. It's just a small reminder that we are entering into every game together united as a team.
Are you superstitious or do you have any pre-game coaching rituals, habits?
I'm not superstitious but I would say something that I have a habit of doing is while the team is stretching in pre-game I like to set out a handful of balls evenly spread out around the 8meter. I like having them all set and ready to warm up our goalies.
What's it like coaching with Coach Heather Greer and Rebecca Sheinfeld, what is your group's coaching dynamic?
Heather is an incredible coach to work under. I feel like I am always learning something new about coaching and life everyday through her words and example. I have watched her impact countless athletes and people (including me) who come through our program by her passion, care, inspiration, and commitment.
Rebecca adds a lot of fun and excitement to our dynamic. She's a joy to work with and works incredibly hard at whatever task she is given. A fun fact about our staff is that among all of us, we bring something from division 1, division 2, and division 3. I'm excited to continue to lead through this season together! I think two things that make our staff special are our trust and loyalty to each other. No matter what we are fighting through, we do it together supporting each other.
What is one thing that those outside of the women's lacrosse program might not know about Coach Greer?
She loves to dance! And we also love to break out in songs from the musical Newsies.
Favorite Messiah Memory?
I think one of my favorite memories from Messiah was our spring break game in 2015 against Franklin and Marshall. We had a couple players get sick the day before our game in Florida who weren't able to play, a couple who were regular starters for us. But as we went into that game it was all about the next person stepping up. We had players filling huge rolls on and off the field during that game. It was one of those games as a coach you are so proud of your team for facing adversity head on and pulling together as a team and becoming stronger in it.
The team was clicking on the field celebrating each other's successes and picking each other up through mistakes. I'll always remember Casey Daggetts last second goal to end the first half. Definitely a goal I'll smile about for a long time whenever I think about it! J We ended up having a heart breaking loss by one in the last minute but it was definitely a game to remember for many reasons.
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f you had to choose another job besides coaching, what would you do?
I would definitely love to work in a bakery and make cupcakes all day. I'd love to make all kinds of fun flavored cupcakes with beautiful decorations. Who doesn't love fun cupcakes?
What advice would you give to younger athletes who aspire to play a sport in college?
I would challenge younger athletes who want to play sports in college to have a mindset that you can always give more than your body tells you. When you think you can't do any more always push yourself a little extra, it makes all the difference. It instills a mindset to finish stronger, and never give up. Something else I would tell younger athletes is when you get to college come ready to make an impact on and off the field. You are an impact when you are part of a team through your words and actions everyday-choose to be a positive impact.
If you could coach another team in the Messiah College Athletic Department, which team would you choose? Why?
I would probably say basketball. I'm not a great basketball player, but I think it's such an amazing sport in so many ways and a ton of fun to play. Watching and playing basketball, it's a sport that it's skills and concepts translate into so many other sports.
If you could have dinner with any coach past or present, who would it be and why?
There are a lot of incredible coaches, past and present that I'd love to have an opportunity to spend time with, but if I had to pick one, it would be Coach John Wooden. He coached and developed his players as men to prepare them for life and not just to play on the court. He was a godly man with character and integrity that he demonstrated everyday as a coach. He left a legacy to last forever in coaching, sports, and in the world through the life he lived.
