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Catching up with Groenewegen Ahead of Pan-Am Games
8/1/2019 9:56:00 AM | Softball
Sara Groenewegen just touched down in Lima, Peru ahead of competing at the Pan-American games. Softball at the Pan-American games will take place Aug. 4 to 10 but will have no direct impact on the 2020 Olympics. The WBSC Americas Softball Qualifier is scheduled to take place from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 in Surrey, B.C.
We caught up with the three-time All-American on her season with the NPF, international competition and more below:
Gopher Sports: First of all, are you healthy and feeling good now? You gave us all a bit of a scare last summer.
Sara Groenewegen: Yes, I am extremely grateful for my health and strength. It has a full year since being in my coma and I have been doing a lot of reflecting on it lately. I couldn't even imagine having a teammate get so sick so suddenly. I am very lucky to have the continued support from them as well as having the care team that I had last summer.
GS: You have been staying busy since the last time we chatted with you. What's it been like competing with the Wild in their first season in the NPF?
SG: Competing with the Wild has been quite a different experience compared to my first time playing in the league. I originally played with the Akron Racers (who unfortunately folded the next year). Being with the Wild is a lot of fun because it is pretty much the Canadian National team in different uniforms. There are a number of us who have had experience in the league, however it seems to be a more enjoyable experience to go through the grind with people that I have been training with for seven years.
GS: What was it like being back in Minnesota for the Mankato series and what's it like knowing you have so many Gopher fans that still follow your career and support you?
SG: I think it's a testament of how much gopher softball make an impact on people's lives and how strong the culture is around the program. I am extremely proud to have played softball for the University of Minnesota and the Twin Cities will always be my home away from home. Getting the chance to play in Minnesota again was bittersweet. Obviously I wish I could be playing for the U, but I was happy to see some familiar faces out there supporting me and my teammates, no matter what uniform I was wearing.
GS: There are big goals ahead for the Canadian National Team. What is it going to take to make another run at a Pan-Am gold medal and qualify for the 2020 Olympics?
SG: I think that we are able to do anything we set our minds to. There is no doubt that we have what it takes to compete at not only the Pan-Am games in Lima, but the Olympic qualifier this summer. I think the biggest thing is not getting too ahead of ourselves. We find a lot of people asking about the Olympics, but quite frankly - we have to qualify first. So it is just taking it one game at a time and making sure we learn something from each game that we play.
GS: Do you still have your gold medal hanging up somewhere to admire from four years ago?
SG: I keep the gold medal safe and sound at home. I hope to someday have it hanging up. One can only dream of having the opportunity to win an Olympic medal as well to add to that collection.
GS: What would it mean to qualify for 2020?
SG: I think the biggest thing would be all of the sacrifices that me, as well as all of my teammates, have made throughout our softball journeys would come full circle. Softball hasn't been in the Olympics since 2008 when I was only in eighth grade, yet I still made the choice to continue to play the game. Now that being an Olympian could become a reality gives me the chills every time I think about it.
GS: Did you get to enjoy the run that Gopher softball went on this past season at all? What was it like to see from afar?
SG: Me, as well as a bunch of other alumni, basked in the success of the program this year. I think Erika Smyth said it best. She said something about if an alum were to say they weren't jealous, then they were lying. Obviously I would have loved to guide the team to the World Series while I was there, but to see the team that we all helped build get there means a lot as well. We are all very proud and can't wait to see what the future holds.
GS: Have you thought about what is next after the dust settles on this crazy softball ride and what you will do after this year or after 2020?
SG: I honestly haven't done much thinking past 2020. My main focus right now is doing the most I can to help my team qualify for 2020. I want to be involved with college athletics in some way, whether that be coaching, director of operations, something to keep me around the competitiveness of the game I love.
We caught up with the three-time All-American on her season with the NPF, international competition and more below:
Gopher Sports: First of all, are you healthy and feeling good now? You gave us all a bit of a scare last summer.
Sara Groenewegen: Yes, I am extremely grateful for my health and strength. It has a full year since being in my coma and I have been doing a lot of reflecting on it lately. I couldn't even imagine having a teammate get so sick so suddenly. I am very lucky to have the continued support from them as well as having the care team that I had last summer.
GS: You have been staying busy since the last time we chatted with you. What's it been like competing with the Wild in their first season in the NPF?
SG: Competing with the Wild has been quite a different experience compared to my first time playing in the league. I originally played with the Akron Racers (who unfortunately folded the next year). Being with the Wild is a lot of fun because it is pretty much the Canadian National team in different uniforms. There are a number of us who have had experience in the league, however it seems to be a more enjoyable experience to go through the grind with people that I have been training with for seven years.
GS: What was it like being back in Minnesota for the Mankato series and what's it like knowing you have so many Gopher fans that still follow your career and support you?
SG: I think it's a testament of how much gopher softball make an impact on people's lives and how strong the culture is around the program. I am extremely proud to have played softball for the University of Minnesota and the Twin Cities will always be my home away from home. Getting the chance to play in Minnesota again was bittersweet. Obviously I wish I could be playing for the U, but I was happy to see some familiar faces out there supporting me and my teammates, no matter what uniform I was wearing.
GS: There are big goals ahead for the Canadian National Team. What is it going to take to make another run at a Pan-Am gold medal and qualify for the 2020 Olympics?
SG: I think that we are able to do anything we set our minds to. There is no doubt that we have what it takes to compete at not only the Pan-Am games in Lima, but the Olympic qualifier this summer. I think the biggest thing is not getting too ahead of ourselves. We find a lot of people asking about the Olympics, but quite frankly - we have to qualify first. So it is just taking it one game at a time and making sure we learn something from each game that we play.
GS: Do you still have your gold medal hanging up somewhere to admire from four years ago?
SG: I keep the gold medal safe and sound at home. I hope to someday have it hanging up. One can only dream of having the opportunity to win an Olympic medal as well to add to that collection.
GS: What would it mean to qualify for 2020?
SG: I think the biggest thing would be all of the sacrifices that me, as well as all of my teammates, have made throughout our softball journeys would come full circle. Softball hasn't been in the Olympics since 2008 when I was only in eighth grade, yet I still made the choice to continue to play the game. Now that being an Olympian could become a reality gives me the chills every time I think about it.
GS: Did you get to enjoy the run that Gopher softball went on this past season at all? What was it like to see from afar?
SG: Me, as well as a bunch of other alumni, basked in the success of the program this year. I think Erika Smyth said it best. She said something about if an alum were to say they weren't jealous, then they were lying. Obviously I would have loved to guide the team to the World Series while I was there, but to see the team that we all helped build get there means a lot as well. We are all very proud and can't wait to see what the future holds.
GS: Have you thought about what is next after the dust settles on this crazy softball ride and what you will do after this year or after 2020?
SG: I honestly haven't done much thinking past 2020. My main focus right now is doing the most I can to help my team qualify for 2020. I want to be involved with college athletics in some way, whether that be coaching, director of operations, something to keep me around the competitiveness of the game I love.
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