Q & A with Youngstown State's Junior Tiffany Patteson

Oct. 15, 2004

Youngstown State University softball junior Tiffany Patteson excels at the sport. Patteson, a two-time first-team All-Horizon League selection, set YSU single-season records with 19 doubles and 37 runs scored this past season. As a freshman, she set the YSU single-season triples record with nine and ranked fifth in the nation with .38 triples per game. Patteson, whom has played softball since she was four-years-old, has had experiences about which some athletes only dream. Originally from Guelph, Ontario, she has the opportunity to play for Canada in the World Softball Games in Florida this October. Horizonleague.org wondered about her experiences not only with collegiate athletics, but with playing for Team Canada.

Q:What role has athletics played in your collegiate experience?

A:Being from Canada, athletics have allowed me to do all sorts of things that wouldn't have necessarily been possible for me in Canada. Since Canadian schools do not give scholarships, I wouldn't have been able to keep playing softball in Canada while attending college. I couldn't imagine what college would be like if I didn't play softball. It would be far less enjoyable.

Q:What kind of experiences have you had with collegiate athletics?

A:My past two-and-a-half seasons have definitely been memorable. I am fortunate to play for a team who competes with anyone and also has fun while doing it. There have been so many memories and friendships made that I never want my collegiate career to end.

Q:What experiences have you had playing on the Canadian Developmental Team?

A:My first experience with the Canadian team was actually playing with the Senior Women's Olympic team. I played with them in 2003 and traveled to Hawaii and the Dominican Republic for the Pan Am Games where we won a silver medal. I have played against the Gold medal winning US Olympic softball team five times while playing with Team Canada. I also played against all the teams in the Olympics this year, such as Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Greece. I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world for a sport that I love and am grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

Q:How did you get to play for the Canadian Developmental Team?

A:I have been in the Softball Canada program for the past two summers now and this team is a team put together to represent the future of Canadian softball. I was chosen to play by coaches and other Softball Canada members.

Q:How excited are you to play for Canada in the World University Softball Games?

A:I am very excited. Having a chance to wear your country's jersey is an unbelievable feeling. Every time I wear the jersey I feel a sense of pride and honor. I am looking forward to playing the top countries in the world as well as meeting the other girls from around the world. I am also excited to be reunited with the girls I played with this past summer in the Canada Cup. We all became close friends but never see each other, since we all live and play softball across either the US or Canada.

Q:What conflicts will you have with the games?

A:Since the games are in the middle of a school year, I will miss seven days of classes. My professors have all been reasonable letting me go and are excited for me as well. I was told that we will have study table hours while there because most of the girls on the team, including myself, are concerned with missing that many classes. But it shouldn't be hard to stay up with my classes.

Q:What are the chances that you will play for Canada's Olympic team in 2008?

A:I don't want to jinx myself. I think if I continue to improve and continue to have the chance to play international competition every summer with Team Canada there is a good possibility I will get a chance to play for them in the 2008 Olympics. It is certainly a dream of mine, and already having a taste of what the Olympics is like by going to the Pan American Games is definitely something to motivate me to keep playing softball even after my collegiate career and hopefully play in the Olympics in Beijing.