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by Cynthia Taura staff writer

Anybody who is part of the Cabrini College Community or involved in sports probably is acquainted with senior Mary Lear, the captain of Cabrini's field hockey and softball teams.

Born in West Chester, Pa., Lear's main reason for attending Cabrini is because her sister, Chris, attended Cabrini and graduated last year. Like her sister, Mary has made a big impact in athletics at Cabrini.

Oddly enough, Lear had never played the two sports in which she now excels until eighth grade.

Lear's original sport was tennis. However, in eighth grade, she saw her sister's field hockey team and liked the spirit that came with the sport.

It was then that Lear decided it was time for a change.

She played field hockey in high school and was captain during her senior year.

As captain, Lear feels that there is definitely a need to be a leader on the team. Lear has embraced that leadership role for the last couple of years and has tried to play as a role model for younger students.

Lear feels that she has learned through her leadership role. The role taught her to care about her teammates and to be a role model.

"Do not expect anything of them that you do not expect of yourself," Lear said.

Lear appreciates her coaches, Jackie Neary for field hockey and Bridget Bax 0 ter for softball.

"Through their commitment to our teams, they have taught me so much about life skills, not only sports skills," Lear said.

For field hockey, Lear plays goalie and for softball she is the catcher, two important positions in which it is necessary to be a leader.

When she does not have a goalie or catcher's mask on, Lear is a member of Cabrini's Campus Ministry and will be graduating in May after taking a double major of Special Education and Elementary Education.

Lear likes to challenge herself and she feels that teaching Special Education will fulfill her. She likes not knowing what to expect her future students will be feeling that day. Part of her future plans include working with her sister and coaching field hockey and softball.

Every game Lear plays in she hears the cheers in the stands coming from her pa.rents, her sister, two brothers and cheers in the form of barks from her two dogs, Max and Ginger. However, those cheers will be far from the last she will ever hear.

Lear seems to have a bright future ahead of her that will be filled with cheers that she will hear for the rest of her life. Her cheers in the stands at her sporting events are just the beginning.