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Dj8PKY$VViYi1 Ə aTTm-ğ~w zZ\MšmDZI~mpDƕйvY WxƖ:1ڂE4(Q$P[ <?:.š6+c#H^0k_ j2muƼݮNqȈi+:[qxYck\,#ᙎIFauSNXe9"D)ut(PĘO4PC?much as I should have. <br>Whitney decided to accept a scholarship for softball at MidAmerica Nazarene University which is sponsored by the Church of the Nazarene. It is an NAIA school with about 1,400 students of which about 55% are Nazarene members. Men's varsity sports include football, basketball, track, baseball and cross country. Women's varsity sports include basketball, cross country, track, softball and volleyball. Nearly 80% of MNU students receive some form of financial aid. <br>Whitney had some knee problems from summer softball after high school and went to Coach Cross for help.  Whitney's knees came in on the Squat, remembered Coach Cross.  That was the first thing we fixed. <br> My knees are a lot better, said Whitney.  I have no problems in softball or any lift now. I have really improved. As a freshman, I was the slowest on the team and I didn't start. Last year (2nd year) I was one of the fastest and a starter. <br>Krystal Kennard, MNU softball coach, explained,  Whitney is now a lot more aggressive and confident player. <br>During the summer of 1998, Coach Cross wanted Whitney to start training a little, try some Olympic competitions and see how she liked it. Whitney said,  If I didn't like it, I didn't have to stick with it. But I love competition. I decided to go for it. <br>Whitney has won gold medals at every Olympic meet she's attended and she passed her Level One U.S.A. Weightlifting Club coaching course.  I never thought I'd be winning gold medals. I didn't think I'd do very well. You should have seen me when I started. It was pretty ugly, laughed Whitney.  But I've worked at it. It's not something that has come easy. <br>One of Whitney's major goals is to qualify for next year's collegiate national meet. She currently has a 67.5 Clean and Jerk and a 45 kg Snatch for a total for 112.5 kilos (247 pounds). Whitney needs only 7.5 more kilos to qualify.<br>Coach Cross says,  She'll get there if she wants it bad enough. Whitney competes regularly in St. Joseph, Missouri which is a national hot bed for Olympic lifting. Whitney praised,  Wes Barnett (national champion) and Dennis Snethen have helped greatly. I'd like to give them credit. <br>Whitney lifts twice per week during her softball season and states with conviction,  You are not going to get big muscles from the way I train. I've lost body fat and gained muscle. My clothes are not as tight and I'm faster and a lot stronger and more flexible. I believe I have improved my looks through lifting. I just want to hit them over the fence and I want to gun'em at home. That's the best feeling. <br>Whitney is majoring in athletic training and wants to be a strength coach.  Coach Cross has built my confidence. He threw me into coaching here with some of our athletes and at clinics. I've really enjoyed it. <br>Coach Kennard said,  Whitney is a 3.1 student. She always studies on the bus when we travel. Whitney is serious.<br>Whitney believes the spiritual side of life is important and one should always keep trying to progress.  My family is so important, reflected Whitney.  My mother and father are still together and that has brought stability and security. They provided a strong work ethic growing up on a farm. Also, here at MNU we have chapel service twice a week in the morning. We have an FCA chapter. With our dorm life we have devotion once a week and Wednesday we have a church service.<br> Being on the softball team is really great because we have bible study. It's also a time we get to share our feelings. We develop a bond and just want to stick together. We also have a team chaplain that is with us before games. On Sunday, of course, we have a number of services. <br>MidAmerica Nazarene University was founded in 1966 and is a c