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Printer-Friendly ModeBishop named All-American at nationals
March 19, 2007 —
Only a select few are able to compete in college athletics, and even fewer gain national honors. Ashley Bishop is one of the exceptions, as she was recently named a Track & Field All-American, an honor only given to the top athletes in the country.
Bishop, a senior thrower for the SVSU track team, saw her brilliant indoor season come to an end at the NCAA Division II National Indoor Championship in Boston. There, she placed eighth in the weight throw. The top eight finishers are named All-Americans.
"It was definitely a great moment for me," Bishop says.
This is not the first time Bishop has been invited to compete in nationals. A year ago, she competed at the meet, but ultimately finished ninth, leaving her one spot away from All-American honors.
"I just missed being an All-American last time I went," Bishop says. "Last year when I was there I got ninth place, so it was nice to go this year and do well."
After a successful high school track career, Bishop was approached by several schools, but ultimately chose SVSU because of the small, friendly atmosphere the campus presented her.
"Coach [Jim] Nesbitt is great to work with," Bishop says. "He gave me the opportunity to continue throwing after high school. I was contacted by a few other schools, including some Division I teams, but when I visited SVSU, I really liked the feel of the smaller campus. Everyone was really friendly here, and I really liked the team."
Giving thanks
On top of the support she received from her coaches and teammates, Bishop also remains in close contact with Jeremy Garn, a former thrower at SVSU. Garn, now a middle school teacher in Flint, voluntarily drives from Genesee County twice a week to practice with the team, and Bishop cites his support as being one of the main reasons for her success.
"I really appreciate all of his time," she says. "He knows a lot about the events. I think that he has helped me and I have improved a lot since he started working with me three years ago."
She also wanted to give a special thanks to the trainers that worked with her throughout the last few years.
"I injured myself really bad my second year after I stepped on a weight. I did a lot of damage to the ligaments in my left ankle," Bishop explains. "Now everyday the trainers have to tape it so that I can throw. I have some difficult days because of it, but they do whatever they can to help me stay out there and keep throwing."
Runs in the family
Bishop is also grateful to her family for all the support they have given her over the last few years. Her family hails from Pickford, a town in the Upper Peninsula, making it challenging for them to make all the events.
"My family is really supportive of me even though sometimes I can't get home for long periods," Bishop says. "My family tries to come down to meets when they can, but a lot of times the weather does not always agree with their travel plans."
Coming from a family of throwers, Bishop says her success comes as no surprise.
"My mom used to throw in high school and my two sisters and my two brothers did as well, so I guess you could say that throwing runs in the family," she says.
What it takes
Becoming an All-American didn't happen overnight for Bishop. She practices every day, and spends a significant amount of time working out.
"Overall I spend about three hours a day practicing," Bishop says. "I usually start about 3 p.m., then I will throw for about two hours between my different events. Then I go to the weight room and spend about 45 minutes to an hour there. Most days I lift and do cardiovascular workouts. Other days I have some other types of cardio or polymetric workouts."
School comes first
Bishop is also currently in the midst of earning her degree in elementary education, and says that is where her future is.
"I have been contacted by some coaches about working and coaching somewhere in the future, but I want to get my degree first," she says.
Despite the heavy commitment that is required to be a college athlete, Bishop finds time for her schoolwork, and excels in the classroom just as much as she does on the track.
"I made the Dean's List last semester, but sometimes I find it hard to balance track and classes," she says. "But this experience has been so rewarding to me. I have made some really great friends along the way."
She is also proud of the recognition she received as an All-American, but realizes it won't take her as far as her degree can.
"Being an All-American is a great honor, but I'm not sure how much it will help me getting a teaching job," Bishop says with a laugh. "They'll probably look at it and say 'Wow, she was a great athlete, but what can she teach my kid?'"
With the indoor season over, Bishop is looking forward to the outdoor season, and is excited at the chance to finish her career with similar success.
"I have three more chances to get this honor again," she says. "I am going to do everything that I can to get there."
