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Softball Alumnae Check-In: Jill Ferraro
9/22/2020 9:45:00 AM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Following the third year as a program, the youngest Duke softball alumna Emilie Cieslak catches up with other alumnae and learns about their experiences. Jill Ferraro was the first Blue Devil to graduate from the program in 2018.
Ferraro came in as a fifth-year transfer when she enrolled at Fuqua. After playing down the road at North Carolina, she was the oldest and most experienced player at the collegiate level on Team One.
Here's some of the dialogue between Emilie and Jill.
Emilie: What did you gain from being a student-athlete at Duke and a member of the softball program that has helped postgrad?
Jill: Two major things – you learn from Coach by the way she handles her own life and holding yourself to a higher standard. One thing I really loved about Coach Young was the fact that she's a mom, a coach and someone you can look up to. She taught us that you can do it all – you don't have to pick having a career over a family. Coach was really big on having the tough conversations and doing tough things. Fitness tests are tough, lifts are tough, and practices are supposed to be tough that way the games are easy, but all those things transition into life, too. Because we did those things in college, it comes more natural to us.
Emilie: As an alumna, what was it like for you to watch Team Three?
Jill: I joke around, but anyone who knows me knows how obsessed I am with Duke softball. One thing I love, especially with some of the older girls, is that they've been through it all. Team One was a struggle in a good way, but we had to set the precedent for everything. It was a year of growing pains. You'd think from Team One to Team Three there wouldn't be such a massive difference, but there was. You could tell everyone had it together. You guys cheered so much louder, the energy from running on and off the field and the way you stepped into the box – these are all little things, but it's the difference from having swag and not.
#GoDuke
Ferraro came in as a fifth-year transfer when she enrolled at Fuqua. After playing down the road at North Carolina, she was the oldest and most experienced player at the collegiate level on Team One.
Here's some of the dialogue between Emilie and Jill.
Emilie: What did you gain from being a student-athlete at Duke and a member of the softball program that has helped postgrad?
Jill: Two major things – you learn from Coach by the way she handles her own life and holding yourself to a higher standard. One thing I really loved about Coach Young was the fact that she's a mom, a coach and someone you can look up to. She taught us that you can do it all – you don't have to pick having a career over a family. Coach was really big on having the tough conversations and doing tough things. Fitness tests are tough, lifts are tough, and practices are supposed to be tough that way the games are easy, but all those things transition into life, too. Because we did those things in college, it comes more natural to us.
Emilie: As an alumna, what was it like for you to watch Team Three?
Jill: I joke around, but anyone who knows me knows how obsessed I am with Duke softball. One thing I love, especially with some of the older girls, is that they've been through it all. Team One was a struggle in a good way, but we had to set the precedent for everything. It was a year of growing pains. You'd think from Team One to Team Three there wouldn't be such a massive difference, but there was. You could tell everyone had it together. You guys cheered so much louder, the energy from running on and off the field and the way you stepped into the box – these are all little things, but it's the difference from having swag and not.
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— Duke Softball (@DukeSOFTBALL) September 22, 2020
What was it like to be the first alum in program history? Find that out and more as our newest alum, @emiliecieslak, catches up with the first graduate in Duke softball history, @j_ferraro24!
#GoDuke pic.twitter.com/hLWSjJzaQS
#GoDuke
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