Foose to attend Shawnee State

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On Monday, March 8, Washington High School senior Brooklyn Foose announced her college choice.

Foose, a multi-sport athlete at WHS, has chosen to attend Shawnee State University, where she will continue her education and her athletic career.

Foose signed a letter of intent to attend Shawnee State, located in Portsmouth, Ohio, where she will be a member of the women’s tennis and bowling teams.

“I decided on going to Shawnee State after I recently visited,” Foose said. “It’s close to my grandparents, which is where I’ll be staying and commuting to college. They live about 10 minutes away from the school.

“I plan on going into the occupational therapy program at Shawnee State,” Foose said. “I went on a few tours and it seems like a pretty good program. I’m interested in health sciences; anything dealing with sports or being an athletic trainer, any therapy program dealing with sports.

“Coach (Anthony) Amore taught me everything I know about bowling,” Foose said. “He taught me my form and where to hit my mark and I just listened to him. He told me I’d become like a great player and that I should play in college.

“I already wanted to play tennis in college,” Foose said. “That’s always been one of the things I’ve been interested in doing. I love tennis. It’s like my favorite sport. Coach (Samantha) Bihl and coach Seth (Leach) motivated me a lot. They taught me how to brush up on the ball, put some spin or more power on it. I just listen. I listen to my coaches and they really help.

“I’d like to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to get interested in sports in the first place,” Foose said. “They’re the ones who’ve been taking me to practices, getting me into softball, tennis, bowling, basketball. They’ve always been there for whatever sport I choose to play and helped me to become a good athlete, overall.”

In the classroom, Foose said her favorite subjects are either chemistry or physics.

“I’m just into science a lot,” Foose said. “I also like anatomy and biology, all of those classes. My favorite teacher would have to be Mr. (Shane) Donnenwirth. He motivates me to write. This is actually the first year I’ve ever been interested in reading. I think it’s because of all the discussions we have and the seminars we do.”

“Brooklyn was a four-year varsity member of our tennis team,” Washington High School girls tennis coach Samantha Bihl said. “She had an outstanding career. She qualified once to the District tournament. She played first singles for us her junior and senior years.

“She was a great leader for us,” Bihl said. “We’re really excited to follow her at Shawnee State. We think she’ll do really well there.”

“Tennis is going to be her first sport, but she’s also going to do bowling, as well,” Washington High School girls bowling coach Anthony Amore said. “She has the skills and the drive to be successful in a college setting. The patterns that they are going to be bowling on are going to be a lot more difficult. One of the things I believe she does well is picking up her spares. The most important thing is to pick up spares every single time and not become frustrated when you’re not getting a lot of strikes.

“We’ve had some experiences where that’s been the case,” Amore said. “Where she won’t get the strikes that she wants to get, but she’s able to pick up the spares and get the scores she needs to get.”

“We were actually recruiting another young lady (at Washington High School) and Brooklyn reached out to us,” Shawnee State head bowling coach Bryan Sturgell said. “She mentioned she was going to be playing tennis and was looking to be a two-sport athlete for us. I talked to Coach Boone (Shawnee State head tennis coach) and we’re willing to work with her and give her the opportunity.

“I met Brooklyn at her District tournament and watched her throw some,” Sturgell said. “She expressed her interest and we’d like to give her the opportunity, so, here we are.”

“Brooklyn actually approached me, about this time last year,” Shawnee State head tennis coach Steve Boone said. “We started e-mailing, which is my normal operating mode, if you will. We kept in contact and she kept me apprised of what was going on here, although an abbreviated season with COVID and everything.

“At the girl’s high school Sectional tournament, which is held at our place, I got to watch her play,” Boone said. “I met her mom and dad and the relationship just developed from there. She fell in love with Shawnee State from an academic standpoint and I’m happy to have her on the team and looking forward to having her for four years.

“She’ll be participating right away,” Boone said. “I’m anticipating probably losing three (players). I’ve got one senior and two other ladies who probably won’t be back because of the rigors of the studies they are in. She’ll have a chance to earn her stripes right away.

“We’ll get her acclimated to the challenges of college tennis versus high school tennis,” Boone said. “With the players I have coming back, she’ll get a good understanding of what it takes to play at the collegiate level.”

What about the challenge of a full class load and playing multiple sports in college?

“I’m just going to listen to what the coaches have to say,” Foose said. “I’m going to meet new friends, more teammates who are going to motivate me more than I already am.

“It’s been a good experience in high school,” Foose said. “I’ve been around the same people since kindergarten. Both of my parents have taught here. I grew up here. This is where I’m from. This is my hometown.”

Foose is the daughter of Tessa Distel and Rick Foose. She has a younger, brother, R.J. Foose, a sophomore at Washington High School.

Washington High School senior Brooklyn Foose, seated, second from left, on Monday, March 8, 2021, signs a letter of intent to attend Shawnee State University, where she will continue her academic and athletic careers. She was joined for the occassion by her parents, Tessa Distel, left and Rick Foose and her brother, R.J. Foose and (standing, l-r); Shawnee State tennis coach Steve Boone, Washington High School assistant tennis coach Seth Leach, Washington High School head tennis coach Samantha Bihl, Washington High School girls bowling coach Anthony Amore and Shawnee State bowling coach Bryan Sturgell.
https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2021/03/web1_Brooklyn-Foose-signing-pic.jpgWashington High School senior Brooklyn Foose, seated, second from left, on Monday, March 8, 2021, signs a letter of intent to attend Shawnee State University, where she will continue her academic and athletic careers. She was joined for the occassion by her parents, Tessa Distel, left and Rick Foose and her brother, R.J. Foose and (standing, l-r); Shawnee State tennis coach Steve Boone, Washington High School assistant tennis coach Seth Leach, Washington High School head tennis coach Samantha Bihl, Washington High School girls bowling coach Anthony Amore and Shawnee State bowling coach Bryan Sturgell. Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald photos

Foose
https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2021/03/web1_Brooklyn-Foose-mug-pic.jpgFoose Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald photos

By Chris Hoppes

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