Good athletes know how to handle adversity. Great athletes know how to overcome adversity, and CMU’s Tawnee Woosley is a spectacular athlete.

Woosley is a junior multi-position player on the Maverick softball team. From Aztec, N.M., Woosley grew up playing multiple sports, including gymnastics, volleyball, basketball and softball, but an injury during her sophomore year in high school started a spiral of hardship for Woosley. While playing basketball, Woosley tore her ACL. Although ACL tears are fairly common among athletes, the return from injury is common as well. Woosley, however, had a much different fate in her career.

Fully recovered from the first ACL tear, Woosley would return to playing all three sports, but misfortune struck again during her senior year. Woosley tore her ACL for the second time while playing volleyball. One torn ACL and a return to the game is expected, but two torn ACLs in a span of two years usually marks the end of a career.

Woosley, however, rehabbed, fought the statistics and continued to play. While looking to continue playing in college, Woosley was open to the idea of playing two sports if possible but decided on playing softball for CMU. In her time at CMU, Woosley has had a successful career and has achieved many awards, but as fate would have it, adversity would hit Woosley again. This time, however, it was not injury-related. Woosley has been learning to switch-hit. This is no easy feat, but it is a testament to how great of an athlete Woosley is. When asked about her personal goals for this season, Woosley’s response was very concise, but well put.

“My individual goals for the season are to improve on the left side of the plate, become a better player within my role and, before my career is over, make an All-Conference team.”

Woosley and the Mavs swept Colorado School of Mines Saturday with a walk-off homer from Jessica Severinsen. CMU improved to 6-8 overall and 5-3 in the RMAC.

Makayla Kovac and Jessica Severinsen went two-for-four with two RBIs. Woosley went 2-for-3, and Jo Bolyard led the team with three RBI.

miawilso@mavs.coloradomesa.edu