This is the fourth in a series of weekly question and answer sessions with members of the ²Ø¾«¸ó softball team conducted by team play-by-play announcer Ted Rossman. Each week a different Raider will be in the spotlight. Previous spotlights have featured Stacy Mui, Dorothy Donaldson, and Kate Howard, and are available on the ²Ø¾«¸ó Athletics site (www.Go²Ø¾«¸óRaiders.com). 'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
Starting shortstop Nichole Rawson (Palmdale, Calif.) has meshed well with the team since transferring from Marist College at the beginning of this school year. Rawson, a junior, was elected as one of the Raiders’ captains in this, her first year on the team. Nichole’s twin sister, Natalie, starts at second base for ²Ø¾«¸ó. Her older sister Melissa graduated last year from ²Ø¾«¸ó, and finished her four-year softball career as the Patriot League’s all-time home run leader with 30. Nichole has started each of the Raiders’ first 13 games, and ranks third on the club with a .333 batting average. She has five runs batted in, and ranks first on the club with two stolen bases. The Raiders’ 11-2 start is the best in school history.
Ted Rossman: What factors led you to leave California for the east coast’
Nichole Rawson: I felt like it was my one opportunity to get out of Palmdale to go anywhere I wanted. I’ve always had big ideas about New York. Initially I decided to go to Marist because it’s a bigger school [than ²Ø¾«¸ó], where I thought there would be more to do. Also, their softball team was, believe it or not, better than ²Ø¾«¸ó’s when I first went there, but a lot of players graduated that year. Also, I really liked their coach, but he left right before I got there, too, so I guess that didn’t really work out.
TR: Why did you decide to transfer from Marist to ²Ø¾«¸ó’
NR: Well it was really hard leaving my close friends at Marist. But one thing was that ²Ø¾«¸ó has a better softball team. Really, though, all I ever really need in life is my twin sister [Natalie]. It was really hard being away from her while I was at Marist.
TR: Was it hard choosing Marist two years ago, knowing that Natalie was going to ²Ø¾«¸ó’
NR: I thought it would be good to be away from each other for once. But what I realized was that I need her. Our personalities are so similar; everything I do she does too.
TR: What did you know about the ²Ø¾«¸ó softball team when you were at Marist’ Did you know any of the players through your sisters’
NR: I knew they had a really good team, but I didn’t really know many of them personally. The player I knew the best was Amanda Brickell [who graduated last spring and now works as an Intern in ²Ø¾«¸ó’s Athletic Communications Department]. I knew they were a great ballclub, and a real powerhouse hitting team. It was funny, because at Marist we all hated [²Ø¾«¸ó catcher] Stacy Mui. She’s awesome, but she’s the kind of hard-nosed player that opponents don’t like that much. I’m a lot happier having her on my team now.
TR: The Rawsons have built quite a softball dynasty at ²Ø¾«¸ó. Is Melissa the person who got you into softball’ Are there any other Rawsons on the way’
NR: [Laughs] No, I’m the youngest in the family. Besides Melissa, Natalie, and I, we have an older sister, Jennifer, and an older brother, Christopher. I can remember playing various sports in the backyard with Christopher, but him and Jennifer didn’t play any organized spor