AU Athletics -- By the Book: Everman's Success On Basketball Court Translates Into Classroom
February 24, 2005

By Paul Carmany, AU Sports Information

Looking to add some depth in the post in the spring of 2001, Ashland University head women’s basketball coach Sue Ramsey signed the point guard from the 2000 Division 4 state runnerup Marion Local Flyers, Beth Everman (Maria Stein, OH/Marion Local).

Why did Ramsey recruit a small-school point guard when she was looking for some size? Everman was an atypically tall point guard, standing 6-0. She did possess the intelligence and composure on the court desirable for a floor general and accordingly succeeded at that position. Ramsey was intrigued by Everman’s potential on the court and in the classroom and hoped that those characteristics would carry over to her career at Ashland. In short, Ramsey has not been disappointed.

On the court, Everman has helped the Eagles capture three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division titles in her four years at Ashland. Last season’s team became the first in AU history to reach the NCAA Division II Tournament, and, at 18-8, this year’s team is seeking a return trip to the “Big Dance.”

Everman has aided in that success in a variety of ways. She began her career at the “3” position. Then, when center Jackie Mason (Olmsted Falls, OH) went down with a broken foot just before the 2002-03 season, Everman was inserted into the starting lineup as the “4.” Her transition to the new position was seamless as the sophomore averaged 11.6 ppg. and 5.6 rpg.

Last season, when Mason returned to the lineup, Everman willingly accepted a reserve role and helped the team go 23-8. This year, Everman has returned to the starting lineup as the “4” and has flourished. She is averaging a career-best 12.8 ppg., and is sixth in the GLIAC in both rebounds per game (7.8) and field goal percentage (.545).

Ramsey explains her success and versatility on the court in the following way: “Beth pays attention to details. On the court, she knows the details of every drill and knows how to run every play from every position. She might not be the flashiest player, but she does all of the little things right. Her intelligence on the floor also translates into the academic world.”

As well as Everman has done on the court, she has done even better in the classroom. A physical education major also seeking adapted physical education endorsement, Everman has a 3.69 GPA. She is poised to earn GLIAC All-Academic accolades for the third straight year and was nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-America laurels this season.

These figures are even more impressive considering the fact that basketball season overlaps both academic semesters. Everman and her teammates are annually forced to miss important classes near the end of the fall semester as well as throughout the first half of the spring semester.

“When you miss class, you can still get the information. However, it’s not the same as being in class,” explained Everman.

The senior forward has found a number of strategies to help her keep up with her studies.

“I’ve learned that you have to be organized, set a routine for yourself and communicate well with professors,” Everman observed. “I try to write things down and try to work ahead and plan ahead.”

Everman is no exception among the women’s basketball players when it comes to academic excellence. The team ranked among the top 25 in the nation in cumulative GPA after each of her first two years before tallying “only” a 3.204 GPA a year ago.

Ramsey can also make the impressive claim that in her coaching career (now in its 19th year), every player that has played four years for her has graduated. Everman will help her maintain that statistic. She will complete her student teaching in the fall and is in line to graduate in December 2005.

The team’s emphasis on academics starts from day one, according to Ramsey.

“Academics is something we talk about in the recruiting process and we make it a point of emphasis when we talk about team goals,” noted Ramsey.

While the coaches can try to help their players in the classroom until they are blue in the face, the commitment has to come from within the team. For the Eagles, this is certainly the case.

“The greatest focus on academics comes from within the team,” stated Ramsey. “They have set a standard and the team puts a lot into it.”

It does not hurt to have an example like Everman, one of this year’s captains, to look up to on the court and in the classroom.

“From what I’ve observed, the incoming freshmen have a tremendous respect for Beth as a player and as a person,” said Ramsey. “Her influence has really been felt the last two years.”

With Everman’s career as an Ashland Eagle quickly drawing to a close, Ramsey can only hope that the recruiting trail leads her to a complete student-athlete like the one she found in that Marion Local High School point guard.