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The
All-American, All-Around Award
by
M.E. Clayton
 If
I could create a new award, it would be the "All-American All-Around"
award.
My first nominee
would be Emily Darger Deans, captain of the 2001 Colorado
State University women's volleyball team. The award would be for
— as defined by me since I am creating it — being one
of the best in the nation in several fields. Emily not only has
achieved excellence in her volleyball career, (her team finished
last season ranked 10th in the nation), but she also
achieved excellence in academics and in representing the Church
as well.
Background
Emily grew up in Boise, Idaho, one of five children that were
sports enthusiasts. Emily's first love was dancing. She played basketball
in high school, but admits that she was a "ballerina when playing
defense," which rendered her ineffective on the hardwood.
She eventually
chose volleyball because she enjoyed it and, more importantly, because
it allowed her to continue dancing and to sing in the choir. In
high school, she lettered three seasons and was a two-time All-Southern
Idaho Conference recipient, earning all-State honors her senior
season. Also during her senior season, she was a first-team All-Intermountain
Region selection and was named to the all-region high performance
team.
It's the disparate
nature of her awards that makes Emily my nomination for the first-ever
All-American All-Around award.
For example,
she was voted most inspirational her senior year and was ranked
No. 1 in her senior class academically while in high school. Not
only did she strive for success in her athletic career, but she
worked diligently in her academic and personal endeavors as well.
Her decision about which college to attend is representative of
this balance.
The College
Decision
One of Emily's main concerns in choosing a college was ensuring
that she could maintain her priorities. Several schools told her
it would be too difficult for her to be both an active member of
a church organization and an athlete. One of the biggest influences
in her recruiting decision was Colorado State's All-American volleyball
player, Janie Penfield.
Penfield balanced
being one of the best collegiate volleyball players in the nation
and her responsibilities as Institute of Religion president. Her
example showed Emily that it was possible to balance her priorities.
It was Penfield's example as the only member of the Church on the
CSU team that helped influence Emily to sign with the Rams.
The CSU Volleyball Team
Photo Credit: Chris Parkinson
Ram Tough
Emily played outside hitter for the Rams, earning a starting
spot her senior year. When she entered the CSU volleyball program
in 1998, the team was in a building phase. By the end of her senior
season in 2001, however, the team finished with a 29-4 record and
a trip to the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Her volleyball
career finished with a close four-game loss to 3rd ranked
Nebraska (31-29, 21-30, 26-30, 24-36) on Dec. 7, 2001.
In Retrospect
When I asked Emily what the favorite memories of her collegiate
volleyball career were, I anticipated hearing about the huge wins
over rivals like the University of Colorado or BYU or the excitement
of playing in the Sweet Sixteen. Instead, she told me that her happiest
moments were the conversations she had with her teammates. This
is how she weighs her success.
Emily was the
only member of the Church on the CSU volleyball team her freshman
and sophomore seasons, but she believed the key to success was in
the team being able to work together despite lifestyle differences.
"The goals of
the team came above the individual interests of the players," Emily
said. "I always believed that if we all lived with integrity, we
could respect each other's lifestyles."
Not only did
she excel athletically, but she was an excellent student as well,
carrying a 4.0 GPA in Business Marketing. She was also awarded Academic
All-American her senior year and was very involved with the Institute
program.
It was the opportunity
to share her beliefs by example that excited Emily. She presented
a teammate with a Book of Mormon once and occasionally brought the
CSU football team's quarterback to church. For Emily, it was the
combination of these experiences that made her college days a success.
Emily and Logan Deans
Photo Credit: Chris Parkinson
The Fairytale
Ending … er, Beginning
Emily and Logan Deans of Englewood, Colo., were married
this past February in the Boise Idaho Temple. Logan is a red shirt
freshman running back for the BYU football team. He scored two touchdowns
in the Blue-White Scrimmage on March 30.
Their fairytale
began a couple of years ago when a friend of Emily's from the CSU
football team decided that he had found the person Emily was going
to marry. "His reasoning was, ‘You are Mormon, and he is Mormon
— you have to get married'," Emily recalled.
After a year
of being called "Logan's wife," Emily finally met Logan while visiting
her sister in Provo. She introduced herself as his future wife,
and they jokingly began making wedding plans. Their first date was
to a Church Education System fireside. When she returned to Colorado,
she found roses from Logan with a note that read, "One flower. New
beginning."
In September
of 2001, as she came out from volleyball practice, Emily found Logan
sitting on her car with roses and a ring.
Emily graduated
from CSU this past December and is considering graduate school.
Most of all, she is excited about her role as the dutiful football
wife.
Advice
"As far as being a missionary, the best way is to show a lot
of love and to be a good friend," Emily advised. "If you're doing
those things, you'll have the opportunity to share your beliefs.
Being a non-judgmental, unconditionally loving kind of person is
the best way to touch people's lives."
If
you are aware of an LDS athlete that deserves recognition in Meridian
Sports, please e-mail the sports writer at sports@meridianmagazine.com
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