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Printer-Friendly ModeSoftball pitcher uses spare time to help out hospital patients
PLAYER PROFILE
September 21, 2009 —
Jade Fulton, a physical therapy junior, shoulders many responsibilities as the starting pitcher for the SVSU women’s softball team and co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Fulton’s most important responsibility for SAAC this year is the Cards Who Care program.
“Student-athletes from SVSU have partnered with Covenant Hospital to volunteer,” explained Fulton.
Every Monday evening student-athletes will visit patients and their families in the hospital. Cards Who Care aims to help the ailing patients in any way possible.
“We will do whatever the patients want to do. We just want to spend time with them,” Fulton said.
Finding extra time in Fulton’s schedule does not come easily. She spends at least 20 hours a week practicing and training for softball. As a student she holds a 3.8 Grade Point Average, with 16 credit hours this semester. She works 12 hours a week in observations to complete her physical therapy degree.
“I really enjoy observations, so it’s not a burden,” Fulton said.
Observations are training hours spent working with of physical therapy clinics. It seems helping others is second nature to Fulton.
Pitching with tremendous success also is natural for the pitcher. During her freshman and sophomore seasons she compiled a 30-9 record, with 373 strikeouts and only 61 earned runs allowed in 316.1 innings pitched. In 2009 she was named to the ALL-GLIAC Second Team and All Midwest Region second team from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Great pitching is vital to success in softball, so it is no surprise that the softball team has won back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. Despite all her personal success on the mound, Fulton’s favorite memory has been sharing the joy of these championships with her team.
“Seeing [the seniors] get to live their dreams by extending their careers just a little longer,” has been Fulton’s favorite moment as a Cardinal.
The softball team may have lost important seniors, but Fulton remains confident in the team’s ability to succeed this season.
“We just need to believe in ourselves,” she said. The team has plenty of talent to repeat yet again, and it works together to improve through game-oriented practices every week. Keeping the team healthy is also a priority.
“I do everything I can to keep myself as healthy as possible,” Fulton said.
This includes hours of physical training every week, as well as making sure she is mentally focused in the midst of her hectic weekly schedule.
“Taking an hour out of my day to relax,” Fulton said, can be a very helpful exercise. This helps her remain calm while switching from student, to athlete, to athletic trainer, to hospital volunteer all in one day.