How has Women In Flight given you a more fulfilling experience as a student-athlete?
I think Women In Flight has given me a more fulfilling experience as a student-athlete by giving me and my team more experiences to build a stronger bond together, rather than just at practice.
We can actually go out and explore Eugene together, and get to know each other rather than just through a sport.
What are some of your favorite memories with your teammates?
One of my favorite memories with my team connected through Women In Flight would have to be when we went on a team-bonding trip to a cabin. That was really fun!
We all had separate cabins and got to meet up in one. We cooked together, played games, and just got to learn a different side of each other.
How do your teammates inspire you?
My teammates inspire me by wanting to do more every day, not just coming in and doing what I need to do. It’s more about coming in and finding what I can do to be better than I was before.
What has Title IX allowed you to accomplish as a female student-athlete?
Title IX has allowed me to be here, to continue my sport throughout childhood, and then actually being able to do it in college.
What is something you’re passionate about outside of your sport?
I love to cook! I love to cook for myself just because homemade meals always taste better when you do them. And it’s also an easy way to get you and your friends and family together.
With my teammates, we had a nacho night one time. We look on Pinterest and try new recipes all the time.
Can you tell us a specific story about a time Women In Flight has done something important for you or a teammate?
The most important thing for me that Women In Flight has done for me and my team is mainly allowing us to understand who we hang around every day, other than just knowing your background of what sport you came from, like gymnastics or cheerleading. So it’s nice to know who the people are rather than just what their background is.
How would you describe the way you perform in your sport versus your style of clothing?
I think the difference between my style of play and style of clothing. I like to go for the more comfy look with my clothing, rubber bats, like sweatpants and a sweatshirt or even leggings.
But when it comes to play, I like it to be nice and tidy. I always tuck in my tank top on one side. My shorts can’t go too low or too high. I just have to be nice.
If you could go back and tell your younger self something, what would that be?
I would tell little Mariah, you’re going to be fine. Through all the ups and downs and all the adversity that you’re going to go through, you’re going to be okay. It all works out.