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Wayne State University Athletics

SB Commits July 2024
Notre Dame College transfers Danielle Fick and Grace Fisher.

Softball Sydney Long, WSU Sports Communications Class

Unexpected New Beginnings

The following is a feature story written by a student (Sydney Long) in Christine Maleske, Ph.D. Fall 2024 Sports Communications Class about WSU softball transfers Danielle Fick and Grace Fisher.  Long is a softball teammate of Fick and Fisher.

UNEXPECTED NEW BEGINNINGS

On February 29, 2024, Danielle Fick, Grace Fisher, and their fellow athletes at Notre Dame College were summoned to the auditorium for a meeting that would change everything.  Rumors had been swirling around campus since December, hinting at the devastating news that awaited them.  

"We did not want to go to that meeting because we kind of knew what the news was going to be.  Our coach pulled us into a classroom of just the softball team," Fick said.  

In early 2024, Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. announced its decision to permanently close after the school year due to financial difficulties and declining enrollment.  With the institution facing severe bankruptcy, the administration felt they had no choice but to shut its doors for good.  This situation left infielder Danielle Fick and pitcher Grace Fisher with no school to finish their last two years of collegiate softball.  

"We all broke down when we found out," Fisher said.  "We were all in a classroom and our coach came in crying, and it was just kind of a dead giveaway."

The NDC softball team found out this information the day before they left for their spring training tournament in Florida.  Realizing this was going to be their very last season together at NDC, they all quickly became overwhelmed figuring out what they were going to do next, especially while they were still in season.  They were all put into the transfer portal the day of the meeting.  

"The first email I got from a new school was the first day of the Florida tournament, the subject line said, 'Your Next Dugout' and that was just not comfortable to me because I am playing right now, I am in my dugout actually," Fick said.  

"I got a text five minutes after our meeting that we found out the school was closing saying 'Hey what are you doing next year, I heard your school was closing.'  Like, five minutes ago I just found out my school was shutting down I still have not processed it" said Fisher.

It was a struggle for Fisher and Fick trying to navigate their last season, while finding a new home to finish their athletic and academic careers.  The number of emails and texts they were getting while having to go through the emotions of it being the last season with their team even brought doubt of continuing to play in their minds.  

"We had strong doubt, I mean we really liked it there so when something that you really like gets taken away from you suddenly it's like well do I just finish my degree or go somewhere cheaper, easier, and not play anymore," remarked Fick.
 
But then, they both decided to reach out to the coaches at Wayne State University.  After reviewing all their options which were limited due to them being Nursing students, they decided to come on a visit to WSU, and it confirmed their decision of wanting to come to Detroit and continue playing softball.  But they did run into an issue with their majors and ended up switching from Nursing to Kinesiology.  

"We had the option to go to other schools and continue on that nursing path or go to a different school and be behind, but here you could get one major and finish a degree and then go into an accelerated nursing program for a year and a half and you would get two degrees," commented Fisher.

One of the biggest differences that the student athletes faced that was significant to them was the difference in the size of the schools and their amount of free time.  NDC was a private college with just over 1,400 students while WSU is a public university with nearly 24,000 students.  

"You do not see or interact with as many people here since it is so big.  At NDC there were around a 1,000 people at the school and if somebody walked in this door and walked past me, I would be like "I know you."  Almost everyone knew everyone," said Fisher.  

"You get here, and you do not know as many people, and our class work and daily schedule has changed a lot," stated Fick.  

Even through all the doubt and changes, Fick and Fisher are excited for their upcoming season and opportunities here at WSU.  They are happy with the choice they made about coming here.  They have many different things they are looking forward to.  

"Seeing different people and getting a fresh start and getting to kind of start over.  No one knows who you are coming in and it is nice.  I feel that way for softball and school," said Fisher.  

"I am excited to play in a new conference, it is definitely a step up in competition.  We also spend less time traveling which is nice for keeping up with classes and homework," Fick said.  

Being forced to leave their school where they were very happy was a difficult process and transition for Fick and Fisher.  Now they see this as a new opportunity to do great things and succeed on the field and in the classroom here at Wayne State University.  


 
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Players Mentioned

Danielle Fick

#7 Danielle Fick

OF
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Grace Fisher

#16 Grace Fisher

P
5' 6"
Junior
R/R
Sydney Long

#6 Sydney Long

P
5' 5"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Danielle Fick

#7 Danielle Fick

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
OF
Grace Fisher

#16 Grace Fisher

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
P
Sydney Long

#6 Sydney Long

5' 5"
Sophomore
R/R
P