
Maria Dehne
Alumna
Class of 2006
Being a student-athlete while attending Ashland is my overarching "Ashland Story." The memories and friendships that came from playing women's basketball were all life-changing. People who were once strangers from different places all over the world soon become teammates-turned-best friends and extended family. Juggling everything involved with being both a student and an athlete can be very challenging and demanding. But having teammates and coaches going through it all with you was so helpful and also rewarding. I was able to travel the country, and even the world, while attending and playing for Ashland, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunities and doors AU opened for me as an athlete and as a human being. The Ashland Women's Basketball program has had so much NCAA tournament success since I graduated, and I'm so thankful that it can never be taken away from our teams. I was part of leading the way by being on the first team in school history to make it to the NCAA tournament. It was such an honor to be coached by Hall of Fame Coach Sue Ramsey and it's incredible to see the women my teammates have become since attending AU. The lessons, stories, friendships, ups/downs and more that occurred while being a basketball student-athlete are forever etched in my mind and heart.