OU Sooner Girls Softball-Why "heart" KN on visors
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:38 am
OU girls just won the 17 inning game one of the Women's World Series.
Many people are wondering what the "heart KN" hand drawn on their visors signifies.
It is an interesting story with a League City, Tx tie in and a great example of what college sports is all about.
"After Nicole Nalepa (National Championship 2000) graduated from OU, she became a teacher, got married and had two kids — 10-year-old Kellen and 8-year-old Kelsey.
Kelsey was an outgoing, helpful, spitfire of a little girl who cared about her friends and family.
Kelsey was also a budding softball player on the League City, Texas’ girls softball team.
This year was the year that she was really making some strides,” Nicole said. “She was playing a little bit of third base, stopping some balls and really making some plays and hitting the ball hard.”
Then everything changed.
The family was stopped at a red light on the way to Kelsey’s game when their car was rear-ended by a drunk driver. Kelsey, who was buckled in the backseat, hit her father’s seat when it dislodged.
She died on April 9 due to severe head trauma.
Firsts — from first days of school, first cars, first loves or the first time to do anything — always makes an impression. Nicole Myers Nalepa, Coach Gasso’s first signee at Oklahoma, did just that.
Nicole was on the National Championship team in 2000. She was a great defender, had big moments on the field, and her work ethic played a role in turning OU softball into what it is today, Gasso said.
“From day one, it was home,” Nicole said. “It felt like family, and I enjoyed every minute there.”
The team still prides itself on being a family and staying in touch with those who have come through the program. When Nicole needed her softball family nearly two months ago, it was there.
Associate Head Coach, and Nicole’s former teammate, Melyssa Lombardi first heard about the accident while the Sooners were in Austin to play Texas. She passed on the news to Gasso.
The team put Kelsey’s initials on their visors to show their support, then Gasso and Lombardi made the trip to League City.
Gasso brought the family her visor with Kelsey’s initials and an Oklahoma batting helmet signed by the entire team and spent some time at the Nalepas’ home. She and Lombardi also went to the candlelight vigil at the school Kelsey and Kellen attended and Nicole teaches.
Nicole’s family was there. They were being supported. They weren’t alone.
“It meant a lot,” she said. “It meant more than I can even explain.”"
http://www.oudaily.com/sports/oklahoma- ... c1aa1.html
Many people are wondering what the "heart KN" hand drawn on their visors signifies.
It is an interesting story with a League City, Tx tie in and a great example of what college sports is all about.
"After Nicole Nalepa (National Championship 2000) graduated from OU, she became a teacher, got married and had two kids — 10-year-old Kellen and 8-year-old Kelsey.
Kelsey was an outgoing, helpful, spitfire of a little girl who cared about her friends and family.
Kelsey was also a budding softball player on the League City, Texas’ girls softball team.
This year was the year that she was really making some strides,” Nicole said. “She was playing a little bit of third base, stopping some balls and really making some plays and hitting the ball hard.”
Then everything changed.
The family was stopped at a red light on the way to Kelsey’s game when their car was rear-ended by a drunk driver. Kelsey, who was buckled in the backseat, hit her father’s seat when it dislodged.
She died on April 9 due to severe head trauma.
Firsts — from first days of school, first cars, first loves or the first time to do anything — always makes an impression. Nicole Myers Nalepa, Coach Gasso’s first signee at Oklahoma, did just that.
Nicole was on the National Championship team in 2000. She was a great defender, had big moments on the field, and her work ethic played a role in turning OU softball into what it is today, Gasso said.
“From day one, it was home,” Nicole said. “It felt like family, and I enjoyed every minute there.”
The team still prides itself on being a family and staying in touch with those who have come through the program. When Nicole needed her softball family nearly two months ago, it was there.
Associate Head Coach, and Nicole’s former teammate, Melyssa Lombardi first heard about the accident while the Sooners were in Austin to play Texas. She passed on the news to Gasso.
The team put Kelsey’s initials on their visors to show their support, then Gasso and Lombardi made the trip to League City.
Gasso brought the family her visor with Kelsey’s initials and an Oklahoma batting helmet signed by the entire team and spent some time at the Nalepas’ home. She and Lombardi also went to the candlelight vigil at the school Kelsey and Kellen attended and Nicole teaches.
Nicole’s family was there. They were being supported. They weren’t alone.
“It meant a lot,” she said. “It meant more than I can even explain.”"
http://www.oudaily.com/sports/oklahoma- ... c1aa1.html