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BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL

Graduate guard Jasmin Samz sings the fi ght song with her team Feb. 29, 2020, at John E. Worthen Arena. Samz scored nine points for the Cardinals on Senior Night. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN

Grant Covey Reporter

Growing up in northern Wisconsin, graduate student guard Jasmin Samz wasn’t looking up to professional athletes or even college athletes. She idolized those who played on one of the area’s top girls’ basketball teams: the Wausau West High School Warriors.

Specifi cally, Samz looked up to Lindsay Quirt. From the stands to out on the driveway, Samz watched Quirt and tried to mimic her style as best as she could. “I saw her all the time working out, running and preparing for the season,” Samz said. “It lit up my world, and I would try all the time to be like Lindsay.” Samz attended every one of Quirt’s games at Wausau West. During her own games, Samz mimicked more than just Quirt’s style of play. When Samz began playing competitive basketball, there were a lot of similarities between the two. “I wear 24 because of her, I wear a sweatband because of her, I shoot a midrange pull up because of her, I wear a bun on top of my head because of her,” Samz said. “I would see her at camps, and I would purposely count out the right number to be in her group. I would switch spots in line so I could be with her.” Samz admired Quirt all the way through high school, and Quirt had no idea how much she meant to Samz. Eventually, Samz built up the confi dence to tell Quirt how she had looked up to her. However, once Quirt’s time at Wausau West came to a close and Samz’s began, the tables had turned.

Quirt went on to support Samz throughout her high school career. She was in attendance when Samz reached 1,000 points. At the same time, Samz still supported Quirt during her time at Minnesota Duluth.

“My parents took me to go see her at Minnesota Duluth, and I had lots of pictures and T-shirts signed,” Samz said. “I have a shirt of hers that I have hung up, and it has her signature from her senior year.” Outside of being in attendance at her games, Samz took something Quirt told her to heart — something she still holds dear to her and continues to pass on.

“She was the best player. She was allconference and all-state,” Samz said. “She told me two things: ‘Have fun, and play as hard as you can. If you can’t do that, be done,’ and that is all I have ever told anyone.” For Jasmin Samz, the relationships she has formed through basketball have come full circle.

 See SAMZ, 08

Women’s Golf

Team’s best round not enough for top fi nish Ball State travelled to Boulder Creek, Michigan, Monday to take part in the Jackrabbit Invitational. The Cardinals took eighth place through 54 holes over Monday and Tuesday. The team tallied a 310 and a 324 in the fi rst two rounds. Despite the fi nal round harboring the team’s best score of the tournament, the Cardinals were unable to make any ground Tuesday. Men’s Volleyball Cardinals come home, sweep Sacred Heart Softball Ball State goes 8-4 over spring break While most Ball State students who were in Florida over spring break were there to vacation and relax, the Cardinals were there battling out 12 games in 10 days. The Cardinals ended with an 8-4 record over the course of the week while going 4-1 in the UCF Invitational, winning both games of a doubleheader against Bethune-Cookman and going 2-3 in the FIU Invitational. Ball State returned to Worthen Arena Saturday for the fi rst time in three weeks, having fi nished a fi ve-match Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association road trip. Taking advantage of their home comforts, the Cardinals defeated Sacred Heart 3-0 to begin a three-match series against non-MIVA opponents.