Alicja Wolny: From the States to Great Britain
October 31, 2014 | Softball
By Awndria Baker
The sport of softball has a following that spans all age groups from youth sports to adult leagues. Since the first indoor softball game in Chicago, Ill. in 1887, softball has increased in popularity not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Although the game is played the same, softball teams from around the world have unique ways of tying the game with its culture.
"Before the game, you meet at the pitcher's mound and go to home plate to give the other player a gift as a sign of respect. Then you listen to both the national anthems for each country, which is really cool," said Alicja Wolny.
Wolny is a University of Louisville graduate and currently a player for the Great Britain National Softball team. Wolny played softball at UofL from 2010 to 2013, having a successful four seasons. After her career at Louisville, and with a rare case of dual citizenship (her mother is a native of England), Wolny was selected to play on the Great Britain National Team.
"I trained very well here in Louisville because I have such great support, just from being a player here," said Wolny.
In her four years at UofL, Wolny was 2013 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America second team selection, two-time All Great Lakes Region First Team selection, and four-time All-BIG EAST selection.
"I think Alicja is a very confident person. I think when she sets her minds to things, she goes after it, and I think by that time period she had grown into such a confident hitter, that she just never doubted herself," said Coach Sandy Pearsall of Louisville. "She knew she was going to hit the ball and she knew she was going to get the job done. She's a tremendous competitor. She's just not going to quit, and that's a huge key."
Since being on the Great Britain National Team, Wolny has played in two tournaments: the European Championships in 2013 and, more recently, the ISF Women's World Championships. In 2013, Wolny was second in RBIs with a total of nine for the European Championships and had the top batting average of her team at .529. In the ISF Championship, Wolny was held to play five games due to a leg injury and strep throat, but came out with an even better batting average of .583 and a slugging percentage of .913.
"My teammate came behind me, she was doing a horseplay type of thing, and hit the back of my knee and it dislocated my kneecap," said Wolny. "I played, I think, four innings in the Netherlands game after that... and then that night I got strep throat."
Wolny also said they have talked about her getting surgery, but she wants to wait until she is completely finished with softball. "This is my third time it's dislocated, so it's one of those things where I can just keep playing through it."
Although Great Britain struggled in the ISF Championships, Wolny is eager about the future for her team. With a number of players coming up from their under-19 program, Wolny sees great potential in the future. The idea of softball and baseball being back in the Olympics only excites her more. "We're hoping that it will be back in the Olympics because, well one, it helps with funding, and two, who doesn't want to go to the Olympics?"
Wolny's journey has only just begun and although she's endured multiple knee injuries, retirement is not on her mind.
"I remember we played Poland, and there was a girl who was like 50. I don't think I'll play till I'm 50, but as long as I'm healthy, and I think long term with my knee injury that it won't affect me later in life, I'll continue to play," said Wolny. "When you've played a sport that you've grew up to love, it's hard to let it go. I'm just thankful that I still get to do it."
