By: Starting on National Girls & Women in Sports Day on February 7 and throughout the rest of the month, we will recognize some of our past Doris B. Hopper Award winners.
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – February 7 marks the 32nd anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sports Day. In honor of that achievement, we have contacted past Doris B. Hopper Award winners and asked them to recount some of their past experiences in athletics and how playing sports has changed their lives. These profiles will run every weekday through the end of the month.
Our next profile is Martha (Vest) Blakeley from the Class of 1999. Blakeley was the winner of the 2000 Doris B. Hopper Award and was named First Team All-Midwest Conference three times in her career. She is one of 13 players in women's basketball history to have scored 1,000 points, ranking 11th all-time at Illinois College with 1,071 in her career.
Who was your female sports idol growing up?
I loved watching all sports growing up, but if I had to say who blazed a trail for me it would be my mom, who also played college basketball (back when they thought women couldn't run full court); my two aunts, who were a swimmer and a softball player, respectively; and my two older sisters who both played college volleyball. Seeing them not only participate but succeed in sports helped me to see a path to my own success.
How did you get started in athletics?
My parents, sisters and extended family are all athletes and encouraged me from a very young age to participate in sports. I played every sport growing up and then really fell in love with volleyball and basketball in high school at Decatur MacArthur. I decided to focus on basketball my freshman year at IC with the goal of adding volleyball after that. However, I realized quickly that if I wanted to meet my academic goals of getting into graduate school for physical therapy I was going to have to give up the idea of volleyball. My junior year, though, they decided to add women's golf so I decided to join the team and had a great experience.
How has athletics impacted your life?
Participating in sports has added to my life in ways that I never could have imagined. Learning to be a part of a team let alone be a leader on a team has helped to grow me as a person in all aspects of my life. As a leader (captain) on a team, I was able to learn skills that have helped to this day in my career and as a productive member of my community. Besides developing leadership and teamwork skills, sports have provided a way to be more involved with my three children and their development in sports. I love volunteering as coach of each of my children's basketball teams, along with teaching them the sport of golf. The time spent with my two sons and daughter, along with their friends, on their respective teams has been one of my favorite ways to pass on my love of sports.
Have you taken anything from athletics into your career field?
In respect to my career as a physical therapist, being an athlete myself allows me to better motivate and encourage my patients because I know what it takes to reach their goals. Having the experience of being a part of a team, with all the highs and lows that come with that, better prepared me to be a part of a department and work well with others. My job is also somewhat physical, so having the history of having to push myself and stay mentally tough has really helped to sustain me in my career.
What was your most memorable moment as a student-athlete?
Aside from teaching me life skills, basketball has allowed me to travel all over the Midwest and even the world; after graduating high school (right before starting at IC) I was chosen to travel to Australia as an Illinois All-Star to play basketball against Australian all-stars--it was amazing! At IC, one of my favorite memories was beating Lake Forest College, who had been our rivals, in the Midwest Conference play-offs to get to the championship game.
Past Profiles
February 15 -
Addie (Ahlemeyer) Ince
February 14 -
Abbey (Suter) Wacaser
February 13 -
Adrienne (Dickerson) Range
February 12 -
Lindsay (Stauder) Howard
February 9 -
Candace (Norville) Scheuers
February 8 -
Melissa Norville
February 7 -
Hannah McGinnis
