This season, BAND went on the look for exceptional young athletes who empower and inspire everyone around them. We asked coaches to tell us about an athlete that has inspired them and the rest of their teams to work harder and push forward in the face of challenges.
We were amazed by the incredible stories that coaches from all over the country sent in about their athletes. The amount of love and passion felt by the coaches who submitted was clear in every entry, and it has been very difficult to narrow down the list of deserving and qualified athletes.
BAND is very pleased to present our Recommended Athlete Scholarship to Mansfield Christian Varsity Basketball team captain Ashley Maiyer.
Congratulations, Ashley!
Based on her skill, sportsmanship, and perseverance, Ashley has been awarded the ‘Recommended Athlete’ Scholarship by everyone here at BAND. We hope she continues to uplift her teammates and helps them to band together!
When she was little, Ashley Maiyer was not expected to be able to play sports. Born with hip dysplasia, Ashley’s hip joints make it difficult and sometimes painful to move her joints.
Born into a family of athletes, this didn’t stop Ashley. Even at a young age, she was jumping into sports with her siblings. She started playing soccer early on and moved on to other sports as she grew older.
Ashley and her family live in a small town called Mansfield, centered between Cleveland and Columbus Ohio. She and her siblings attend Mansfield Christian, a small private K-12 with graduating classes of around 40–50.
Up until recently, Mansfield Christian was primarily a soccer school, but they’ve been pushing to improve their girls' basketball program. Due to Ashley’s physical condition, some of her coaches struggled to understand how to play her. Even after her surgery, Ashley still moves with a bit of the limp on the court and plays through pain because of her love of the sport.
“You can see the pain, but she pushes through it.” — Coach Megan Young
Even during the offseason, Ashley continues to run and practice on the side, and helps out at local youth sports summer camps and the Bitty Ball Program to help teach basketball to young children.
Her and her siblings help out at their parents business in town, and Ashley is shadowing at the local hospital to prepare her for college. She hopes to become an x-ray technician so she can care for people who are struggling with serious physical conditions like hers.
This year, Ashley has been made Captain of the Varsity basketball team. She helps inspire the rest of the team because they know what she’s struggling through. Ashley will also represent the team in a school leadership program.
Ashley will never fully outgrow her hip problems. Due to some recent problems, she’s taking this soccer season off but is continuing to do conditioning and working out to prepare for basketball in the Winter.
At BAND, we are inspired by Ashley’s perseverance and dedication to the world of athletics both with her team and her personal life. We hope that this scholarship will inspire Ashley and the rest of her community to continue pursuing their passions and band together!
A great coach inspires their athletes, but great athletes inspire their coaches.
Coaches, do you have an athlete that inspires you and your team? There are still a few weeks left in the Coaches Recommendation Contest for you to submit their story for the chance to win a ‘Recommended Athlete’ Scholarship from BAND.
