Fresno State Athletics
An Idol Within
3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Athletes are not born, but created. No person can develop into an athlete completely alone. All athletes growing up must look to someone to help them attain a successful future, a mentor - an idol. Some are lucky to find those idols nearby, and even luckier to find them in their own family.
Sophomore pitcher Lindsay Foster was one of those lucky ones. Foster found her source of athletic inspiration in her parents.
"My mom and dad have been the largest impacting force on my life," Foster said. "I developed a strong source of determination early in life. That determination was fed by parents who were always there to push me when I needed it most."
The six-foot-tall, St. Louis, Mo. native found very few softball players to look up to while growing up. There were few outlets for the sport at that time, especially in her Midwestern home state.
"Softball's popularity out here is what helped me to choose Fresno State," Foster said. "It is only just starting to grow back home, and I was so excited to see it have such an excitement behind it."
The tables have now turned on Foster. Instead of looking for an idol she is now become one. She has made a place for herself on what is considered to be one of the strongest teams in the nation. Instead of being considered as a work-in-progress as most freshman athletes, last season Foster was seen as a secret weapon.
"She adds a great deal to the pitching staff," head coach Margie Wright said. "She has worked really hard, and she exhibits some strong skills."
Being such a strong piece of an already incredibly team, Foster is now feeling the other side of a little heroine worship.
"You try not to notice it, but you look in the crowd and there are a lot of little girls sitting there cheering," Foster said. "All these years growing up and I always struggled to find someone to look up to. Now, I see all these girls looking up to me. It's cool but kind of a lot to deal with."
Foster needs to embrace her additional role. She has three seasons ahead of her to be an impact as a Bulldog. The future holds nothing to fear for Foster and her tireless struggle to find a role model has ended. She has found that idol in that last place she thought to look - in herself.
