The players on Cabrini University’s first baseball team are gearing up for their first season. The decision to add baseball has attracted students from all over the country who may not have considered Cabrini if it was not for the new team.
Ryan Givens, a junior communication major, graphic design minor and pitcher for Cabrini’s baseball team, is originally from Florida and transferred from a college in Chicago. He has been playing baseball since he was 2-years-old.
While looking at colleges to transfer to, Givens received a call from Cabrini’s coach and took a tour of the campus. When he saw the trophies and banners in the Dixon Center he knew he wanted to make history by being a part of Cabrini’s first baseball team.
“For me coming to a first-year program what I thought would be cool was to be the first one to do that and to be the first member, first team to put up a baseball banner or baseball trophy. I thought that would be bigger than winning a national championship,” Givens said.
Most players on the new baseball team, like Givens, would not have attended Cabrini if the team was not added.
“The guys on the team are baseball players through and through so had there not been an opportunity to play here at Cabrini 99 percent of the guys would have gone on to play at other institutions, in my opinion,” Nick Weisheipl, head coach of baseball, said.
Jake Dohar is a freshman human resource management major. He is originally from Ohio and has been playing baseball for 13 years.
“I think baseball just brings that summertime sport together and there is just something about it that is special,” Dohar said.
He is currently an outfielder and pitcher on the new team and is part of that one percent described by Weisheipl that would have attended Cabrini even without the baseball team.
When looking for schools, Dohar fell in love with the small, beautiful campus. Unlike Givens, baseball was an element that Dohar was looking for in a college but it was not a determining factor for him and he may have still come to Cabrini if he could not play.
“It was important to me because I still love playing the game but it was not the end of the world if I couldn’t,” Dohar said.
Cabrini decided to add baseball for a number of reasons, according to Weisheipl.
“A recruiting and enrollment vehicle for the institution, another positive opportunity for students to get involved in campus activities and to create another engaging group to promote the mission of the University in the local community and beyond. It’s been a wonderful addition to an already exciting department and University,” Weisheipl said.
Adding a new sport to a college can be difficult and a large challenge to tackle but the enthusiastic community at Cabrini made it a whole lot easier.
“With our facilities, coaching staff, vision, incredible winning tradition of the department and gorgeous campus, it doesn’t take a whole lot extra to get folks on board with Cabrini baseball and the University as a whole,” Weisheipl said. “Being a part of something brand new actually was advantageous for us.”
There has been a lot of excitement on campus surrounding the new team. The players have been doing their best to promote the game and bring positive attention to them by not only elevating their own sport but supporting others on campus as well.
“We wanted people to know baseball is here. People have been waiting a long time,” Givens said, adding that the baseball team tries to attend other sporting events on campus as well to show support for their fellow athletes.
As for the students, their curiosity and anticipation for the new sport is positive and is making the players feel welcome and ready for the season.
“The outpouring of support for baseball and the excitement surrounding the players and the sport has certainly been palpable on campus,” Weisheipl said.
