Fresno State Athletics
Who Says Dreams Don't Come True
1/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 27, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - It is a fairy tale story of a little girl with dreams deemed unachievable. A girl who fought against every societal norm of her time just to play softball. A testament to a woman who grew stronger from obstacles set before her. It is the biography of Margie Wright and the road she traveled to reach even higher than her original dreams as a little girl could have ever imagined.
On Nov. 3, 1999, Wright was inducted into the Fresno State Hall of Fame for her unmatchable 14-year coaching career with the Bulldogs and her unmistakable contributions to the Fresno community- not to mention bringing home Fresno States first ever national title in 1998. Achievements that the little girl who was kicked out of Little League because of her gender, then had to lie about her age to play softball, may never at the time, had believed she could accomplish.
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame has given me the opportunity to reflect on everything I've had to go through as a pioneer in this sport," Wright said. "It's made me reflect on the good old days when things weren't so easy but all those memories make this moment worth it."
Wright's memories of hard work include such achievements as developing the Fresno State Bulldog softball program into one of the nation's elite, earning ten Women's World Series appearances in the past 14 years along with ten conference titles, and the pinnacle- defeating the No. 1 seeded Arizona in the national championship game in 1998. Wright lobbied to build the nation's top softball facility at Fresno State and has since drawn the nation's highest total and average attendance to Bulldog Diamond. In the spring of 1999 the Bulldogs reset its own NCAA attendance record hosting 55,746 fans in Bulldog Diamond.
Needing no further padding on her resume, Wright's accomplishments span further than the Fresno city boarder. Wright assisted as the pitching and catching coach for the 1996 U.S. Olympic gold medallist softball team consisting of five of Fresno State's own athletes.
Thirteen wins away from tying the NCAA Division I record in career softball coaching victories at 900, Wright said she is honored to be considered on par with Fresno states greatest heroes, athletes and coaches.
"They are superstars," Wright said. "It lifts me up to be a part of it. Having my work recognized as important to the community is very special."
Wright's efforts have touched more than just the school and community however, her players will vouch not only for her past successes, but for her tenacious dedication to her team and players.
"She's an incredible person," Laura Berg, who played under Wright from 1994 to 1998 and was on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, said. "She is hard nosed, competitive and inspirational. She stands up for what she believes in, fights for her girl's and teaches us to do the same." Berg said she admires Wright for developing her players into great athletes as well as strong people who succeed in life after they leave Fresno State.
"She teaches us to put our heart and soul into everything we do," Berg said. "She's all about getting the job done, playing with guts and not waiting for things to happen- but making them happen. Every athlete who has played under her has gone on to be successful because of her." Berg can attest to that as she holds a national title and an Olympic gold medal in her possession. Setting her sights on winning another gold medal in the 2000 Olympics, Berg remembers the day the Bulldogs won the national championship game under Wright and said "It meant everything to win the title for her. Coach deserves all the recognition and success that she gets for her work with the softball program."
That success includes her induction into the Hall of Fame.
As Wright prepares to begin her 15th year coaching the Bulldog softball team she will do so as the 15th woman in Fresno State's history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as well as the only coach in the university's 88 years of existence to garner a national title in any team sport for the Bulldogs. Achievements that defined and confirm Wright's own position as a Fresno State "superstar." A title, surly, the little girl fibbing about her age just to play softball with the big kids could never have imagined.
