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Hometown Unites Prairie Fire Athletes

The 167 miles between Grinnell, Iowa, and Galesburg, Illinois, didn't stop three friends from following different paths to Knox College and the Prairie Fire Athletic department. Lucas Motta '11, Abby Owens 12, and Sara Johnson '13 all came to Knox College for different reasons, but they all share two things -- their hometown and their love of their experiences at this 174-year-old institution. Read more about the Grinnell, Iowa, natives' journey to Knox College.

Coach's Corner

Dear K Club Members,

Let me start by thanking you for your support by joining K Club. We appreciate your effort to enhance athletics at Knox and the experience it provides for our student-athletes. I am eager to watch our K Club grow as our athletic teams do the same. I look forward to meeting you and hope to see you on campus in the near future.

This is my second year as the head coach of Prairie Fire softball. I am happy to report that our team is on the rise as a tough competitor in the Midwest Conference. Our young team has been quickly rising in stock as it continues to gain experience with every game. We are currently on a three-game winning streak, and we have three Midwest Conference South Conference doubleheaders left on our schedule to fight for a higher spot in the league standings.   

Brittany Wisniewski '13 (Park Ridge, Illinois) has completely disregarded the sophomore slump, picking up right where she left off last year. She continues to be a force at the plate, leading the team with a .381 batting average and 10 runs batted to go along with four doubles.

First-year player Amber Eisha '14 (South Wilmington, Illinois) has proven to be tough in the circle and at the plate. As a pitcher she is responsible for three wins -- including an exceptional outing against Robert Morris University of Springfield.  Eisha took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing a double, the only hit against her. Eisha is right behind Wisniewski at the plate with a .356 average, nine runs batted in and a team-leading seven doubles. 

I hope this update finds you as excited about Prairie Fire softball and all athletic programs as I am. Thank you again for your support and don’t forget to take a look at our remaining 2011 schedule and see if you can catch a game if you are in the area.

We would love to see you!

Sincerely,

Ashley Sims
Prairie Fire Head Softball Coach

Student-Athlete Spotlight

Kevin Morris is a senior member of the Prairie Fire men's golf team. The Machesney Park, Illinois, native also served as a student assistant coach for the men's basketball team this past season. In addition to his duties as the captain of the golf team, the history major is very active on campus as well. He is the president of the History Club and sports editor of The Knox Student.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Galesburg? I am a big fan of Budde’s Pizza on Main Street.

What are your career goals? I hope to someday hold a Ph.D. in history with a concentration on Britain and the Middle East in the 20th Century.

What’s next in life? Right now, I’m applying for a lot of jobs and a lot of summer programs in Arabic language study. I’m going to take a few years off from school, traveling and working as much as possible, before applying to graduate school.

Who is your Favorite sports team? I am a big fan of the Chicago White Sox.

What’s your Favorite city to visit? London, England. There is so much to see and do there.

What’s your most memorable Knox moment? For now, it’s winning a conference championship in my first year. In a few months, it will probably be defending my Honors project.

What’s your favorite thing about Knox? The academic freedom, for one, and the feeling of respect afforded students the moment they arrive on campus.

What things do you like to do in your free time? Golf, read, watch movies.

What event in history do you wish you could have been a part of? Something non-violent, I guess. 1972 Summer Olympics Gold Medal Game in basketball.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you? I have deadly three-point range on the basketball court … and little else.

What’s your favorite meal? Black bean burger with sweet potato fries.

Athletic News

Wrestler Ends Historic Career

When senior Edel Vaca '11 arrived on campus, no one could have thought he would finish his senior campaign with the second most wins in the Prairie Fire’s 174-year history. Read about the Edel's Prairie Fire career.

Quarterback  Throws More Than Just Pigskin

Most first-year quarterbacks are into their studies and football. Drew Diaz is not the typical first-year quarterback. He's gotten involved with many extracurricular activities around campus. Read more about Drew and all the things he does on campus.

K Club Golf Outing Date Set

While the Knox athletic department golf outing has a new name, there won't be much that is changing in the annual golf outing for the Prairie Fire booster club. Read more about the upcoming golf outing.

Jenny of All Trades Leaves Her Mark

In Division III NCAA sports, four-year careers are the norm. Jenny Haskell '11 (Murphys, California) has not had a normal career. Unhappy with her playing time at her first educational institution, Jenny decided to transfer to Knox. The rest is history. Read the full story in The Knox Student.

2011 Men's Golf Spring Preview

The Prairie Fire men's golf team got a chance to play together during the brief fall season, allowing the returning and first-year members of the squad to become acquainted on the greens. Read about the 2011 spring season.