University of Minnesota Athletics
A True Softball Family: The Cowgers
9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Many of our players, if not all, would not be where they are today without the sacrifices, love and support of their families. We continue our feature series with the Cowgers. Ellie Cowger was in for a surprise walking into practice one day her freshman season.
"I looked into the bullpen and saw a guy catching for our pitchers. My first thought was, 'Hey, that guy is wearing the same Minnesota softball shirt we gave our cousins a few years prior,'" Ellie said.
After a closer look Ellie realized that was in fact her cousin Max.
"I was so confused to see him and when I asked Coach Allister what he was doing there she told me he was our new manager," Ellie said.
Max was just the latest of many Cowgers to become part of the Gopher softball family. Two of Ellie's older sisters, Kate and Tori, both played on the team and Max's older brother Michael was also a manager. While Ellie and her sisters were rasied in Fenton, Mich., her parents Dave and Annette both grew up in Minnesota and attended the U of M. Their relatives stayed in the area.
"We took many trips to visit relatives as the girls were growing up and they became very close to their Minnesota cousins," Dave said. "We are also both U of M alumni, so you could say we brainwashed our kids into being Gopher fans."
The Cowger's elementary school would have college day where all the kids would show up in their Spartans or Wolverines gear. All the kids except the Cowgers that is. They showed up decked out in head to toe Maroon and Gold.
Dave and Annette recall that when asked who they were cheering for in the Michigan-Michigan State game their daughters would proudly reply, "neither… Minnesota!"
Not only was Minnesota a way of life but softball has always been special to the Cowger family as well. Both Dave and Annette coached at various levels and all four of their daughters- Kate, Tori, Sammi and Ellie- played.
"Softball was our family time growing up. When all of our friends were going on vacations in the summer or going to Mexico on spring break, we were traveling for softball tournaments," Kate said. "That time we spent together was more than just softball to us."
"We used to say we take our family vacations one softball weekend at a time," Dave said.
It did not take long for Ellie, the youngest in the family, to form her own passion for the sport.
"Softball was always a family thing for us. I grew up going to all of my sisters' little league games and travel ball tournaments before I was able to play myself," Ellie said. "To be honest, I did very little watching of their games because I was always playing ball on the sideline with Sammi or other players' younger siblings. Softball was a commonality with our family and I can't imagine it any differently."
From that young age Ellie dreamt of donning the Maroon and Gold.
"Growing up in a family full of Minnesota alums, I really had no desire to attend any other school. I grew up watching my sisters play for the U and rooting for the Gophers in every athletic event we watched," Ellie said. "I really just had a personal desire to play for the university as well as for one of the best coaching staffs in the country."
Ellie is now gearing up for her junior season as a Gopher. Not only is she the third sister to play at Minnesota but the fourth to play Division I softball. Her sister Sammi played softball at Ball State.
"I think it is easy to see a family of four Division I athletes and assume there is something crazy going on in the gene pool but I don't think we are by any means the most athletic or naturally talented family out there," Kate said. "We all just ascribe to the theory that if you are the hardest worker out there and are always willing to do what is asked of you there will always be a place for you."
It also helps the four sisters have a great support system in their parents.
"As parents, all we can hope for is for our children to work hard and be successful at whatever they choose to do," Dave said. "Having all four of our daughters do well and graduate from great universities while playing the game they love at the Division I level is an unbelievable blessing."
But what happens when a family full of competitors gets back together around the holidays?
"Let's just say that my parents still frequently have to give their adult-children time-outs during family game time," Kate said.
Past Family Features-
The Wagners
The Mackens
