...OWU allowed me to pursue both my passions for athletics and the creative arts.
Name: Alyssa Griner
Class year: 2025
Major: Studio art
Why did you choose Ohio Wesleyan?
Coming to OWU allowed me to pursue both my passions for athletics and the creative arts.
Why did you choose your major?
I use art as a means to express myself and to show a little bit about who I am. I've always been introverted, so in my opinion, art is the easiest way to communicate ideas. I believe that learning to interpret art is the best way to understand others and hear their voice without even needing to know what they sound like.
Why did you choose to compete in sports at Ohio Wesleyan?
I grew up playing multiple sports and developed a love for competition. Basketball was a sport that I could see myself enjoying the most in college, and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to play at OWU!
Do you have any pre-event rituals or superstitions?
I drink a Pomegranate Blueberry-flavored V8 energy drink before every game. I only drink them before games and I refuse to drink them at any other time.
Why do you like your event/position?
Being one of the taller girls on the team, I play in the post. This allows me to play to my strengths. I like to play fast, so I'm usually able to get up the floor faster than my defenders.
What is your number one goal, personal or team, for this season?
Our biggest goal for this season is to get to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament and keep pushing ourselves to get better than we were yesterday.
What athletic or academic achievement/accomplishment are you most proud of? What did you do to put yourself in position to achieve that?
Playing my part on a championship-winning team is what I have been most proud of so far in my college career. It's such a privilege to be able to say I was able to contribute to such a success with this amazing group of women.
Is there a specific coach or teammate who has helped you get where you are?
Coach (Stacey Ungashick) Lobdell pushes me to be the best version of myself on and off the court. She coaches us as people before players and has taught me how to face challenges with the right mindset.
Which reality show would you like to star on and why?
It would be awesome to be featured as a judge on any cooking or baking show.
What is your theme song?
"Close Your Eyes" by The Backseat Lovers. It's a song about being in between reflecting on your childhood and growing up. Being in college, it's easy to relate to a song like this when I'm trying to pursue my childhood dreams while also trying to learn and grow for the future. And the guitar sounds really cool.
Which three people, living or dead, would you like to share a meal with?
Kurt Cobain, Bob Ross, and JRR Tolkien
If you could visit another time, when would it be and why?
I would visit any point in the future after I'm long gone to experience new ideas that I won't get the chance to see in my lifetime.
What is your favorite place that you have traveled to as an OWU student-athlete?
We traveled to St. Louis last year, and it was a lot of fun because I had never been to Missouri before, and we got to go up into the Gateway Arch.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a student-athlete?
It's definitely not easy, but being a student athlete has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences I could've chosen to do. I've learned so much about what it means to be a part of a family not connected by blood. I've made relationships with the most amazing people, and have lifelong memories!
