SHAWNEE – Junior
Shay Morgan of Kansas City is ready to get back on the field this upcoming spring. Shay comes to Oklahoma Baptist from Lee's Summit North and enters her third year with the team. We caught up with Shay in the second edition of Bison Profile.
What other institutions recruited you out of high school or junior college and why did you choose OBU?
"I was recruited by Rockhurst University, Maryville University, Midland, Benedictine, Ottawa and Missouri Western University. I chose OBU because I could see that this school had the academic rigor that I was looking for, and a team that had heart, but needed to reach its full potential. My grandparents live very close to here, and I have been coming to Oklahoma regularly since I was born, so it already felt like a second home for me. Going to OBU Lacrosse camps the summers before I came here helped me to know the people I would be playing with and get a taste of what it would be like to attend OBU."
Describe your love for the sport of lacrosse.
"I love lacrosse because it is one of the most fast paced, and entertaining sports to not only play, but also to watch. It is so unique because of the use of the stick, but also because of how it combines aspects of so many other popular sports into one. The feeling I get after making an assist, or scoring a goal is like no other. The love that my teammates and I share for the sport of lacrosse is what helps me to enjoy the sport. Without my teammates, lacrosse would not have meaning, but because of them, I play harder, and cherish every moment I get to play with them."
What is your favorite memory from playing lacrosse?
"My favorite memory is anytime we have scored a goal in a high-pressure situation during a game. This is because of how excited and happy my teammates and I are. The celebration immediately after the goal is so amazing and full of love."
Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
"My dad has been the biggest influence in my life, and without him, I would not be where I am today. He helped found the first youth lacrosse team in my hometown and was my head coach from then until I graduated high school. He knew nothing about lacrosse, and still coached us to victory so that we could play the sport that we love. He worked so hard for no pay outside of his regular job to organize, coach and support us daily. He is also the vice president of the Kansas City girl's lacrosse association, and has helped to grow the sport as a whole in the Kansas City metro area."
Who is your all-time favorite athlete and why?
"Patrick Mahomes is my favorite athlete of all time because of how he carries himself outside of the world of football. Of course, he is an amazing quarterback, and many people see him as a celebrity, however he is so humble in real life, and carries himself as a normal person. I have heard many stories of his life in KC where he has shown kindness to others, and simply acted as a patron of KC, not hyping himself up, or expecting special accommodations for his fame."
What's your favorite pre-game meal?
"I love anytime that we go to the Surf Bar before a game because I can get a smoothie or a bowl of oatmeal and fruit, which is perfectly light and energy fueling to prepare me for a game."
What is your spirit animal and why?
"I would say that my spirit animal is a dog, because they are not only active and determined, but they also enjoy being silly and having fun when the time is right. They can be very disciplined and loyal, but know how to let loose."
What is your favorite pump up song?
"I would have to say that my favorite pump up song is The Sound of Silence by Disturbed. This is solely because it is my dad's favorite song of all time, and he and I would listen to it before all of my high school games to get pumped up."
