All systems are go for Newsome

KARL PEARSON
Star Beacon

May 09, 2008 02:36 am

— Support systems have always been important to Miranda Newsome. They were in her athletic career at Lakeside High School. They are the factor that helped her make her college choice.
Thanks to the input of her head volleyball coach at Lakeside, Lisa Newsome, and Dragon assistant coach Paul Stofan, the 2008 Star Beacon Ashtabula County co-Player of the Year has chosen John Carroll University to continue her volleyball career.
She will be receiving a package of scholarships and loans that will defray all the costs of her education at the school in University Heights, with the exception room and board.
“I heard from many people that once you graduate from there, there are a lot of alumni who will help you find a job,” the daughter of Carleen and Randy Newsome said. “I want to major in something like accounting or business.”
Newsome’s 3.7 grade-point average, which ranks her 45th of 297 seniors at Lakeside, helped her earn two academic scholarships from John Carroll.
Several collegiate options were open to Newsome, who led the Dragons to the Premier Athletic Conference volleyball title in their first year in the conference and their first appearance in the Division I district finals. Visits were also paid to Lake Erie College in Painesville and Edinboro University, but her visit to the John Carroll campus helped cement her choice.
“Coach Lisa took me for a visit there and I really liked the campus,” she said. “Everybody there was helpful and seemed really interested in me. I really liked the coach (Cally Plummer, entering her fourth year at JCU) and the rest of the team, too.
“I like John Carroll because it’s close enough that my parents can come and see me play and where I can get home pretty easily whenever I need it. At the same time, I get to be on my own.
“I knew I wanted to go to a smaller school,” Newsome said. “John Carroll has its own little community. Once I found out what they had to offer, it made my decision pretty easy.”
Lisa Newsome believes her protege has made the right choice.
“I sent information to Coach Plummer and she contacted me,” she said. “Miranda and I met her, the assistant coach and six of the girls, toured the campus and just everything clicked for us. I think she made the right decision
“Coach Plummer has the same views we have of hard work. I think Miranda will definitely fit in with that. Coach Plummer was looking for a strong outside hitter, so I think Miranda will get a chance to play.”
Balancing the demands of her academic responsibilities with those of collegiate sports with its travel schedules and team demands will be difficult, but Newsome feels JCU will help her in that regard, too.
“I think playing volleyball will actually help keep me focused on what I have to do,” she said. “They have tutors and a study table, so I’m sure that will help.”
Newsome, who was also an important part of coach Rob Livingston’s basketball team and is in the midst of finishing a productive softball career for coach Kerri Weir’s team in its pursuit of the PAC title, really hadn’t thought a great deal about having her athletic ability help finance her education until relatively recently.
“Since my sophomore or junior year, I’ve been thinking about it, but I wasn’t sure,” Newsome said. “But I just couldn’t see myself not playing sports anymore in college.
“Coach Lisa and Coach Stofan told me they were sure I could do it. After my junior year, Coach Lisa helped me get my paperwork together for college.”
She is grateful for the preparation Lakeside athletics has given her for the next step.
“I know college volleyball will be much different,” Newsome said. “I know it’s going to be faster and there are a lot of new ways of playing, but I think Lakeside volleyball has prepared me well. I’m really grateful to Coach Lisa and Coach Stofan for what they’ve taught me.
“I think Coach Livingston coming in for basketball helped us tremendously, too. I’m really pleased with how well the softball team is doing with Coach Weir’s work.”
Newsome is also grateful to her parents.
“They’ve always been there for me and have helped me out a lot,” she said.
Lisa Newsome is happy she will get the chance to see Newsome play, too.
“I’m very excited to get the chance to see Miranda play in college,” she said. “I’m very excited for her.”
Signing on with John Carroll is just one more element to a super senior year for Newsome.
“Definitely, winning the PAC and getting to the district finals this year was special,” she said. “Being the player of the year was great and winning a Seeds Scholarship meant a lot. My senior year has been even better than I would have expected.”
Plummer has advised her to enjoy the remainder of her senior year.
“She’s going to send me a workout at the end of May,” Newsome said. “I’m going to play as much as I can in the summer, probably with Coach Lisa’s team. I’m going to do all I can to get ready.”

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