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Herndon Graduating Early to Chase Professional Dream
11/16/2016 2:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
It takes an extremely dedicated person to complete an undergraduate degree in only three-and-a-half years. It takes an even more dedicated person to graduate early, all while overcoming the obstacles every Division I college athlete faces: intense competition, a rigorous travel schedule, and very limited free time. But that's exactly what senior forward Ashley Herndon plans to do.
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After only three-and-half years, Herndon will graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports and Recreation Management this December in order to clear her spring schedule, as she pursues her dream of playing soccer professionally.
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The National Women's Soccer League draft takes place in January, while try-outs for the NWSL and opportunities to play professionally in Europe both take place in the spring. By graduating a semester early, Herndon is making herself readily available to play soccer on the professional level.
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Getting to this point in her academic career, however, was not a smooth journey. While her teammates were taking a break from the strenuous life of college athletics, Herndon was loading up on extra credits and classes during the off-season and summer months.
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"The hardest thing was probably trying to figure out how to finish all my classes," Herndon said. "From the beginning I was taking five classes each semester so that helped out a lot. Last semester, though, I was in seven classes at one time. Over the summer I took 10 credits, which was probably the hardest thing."
Â
Herndon attributes some of her academic success to her field of study. In the Sports and Recreation Management major, she was only required to take 45 credits, 13 required classes, one practicum, and one internship.
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Herndon said, "I could've had a little bit of a harder major with more outside classes to do, and more studying, so my major kind of helped out with that. I did originally have a coaching minor but I had to drop that because I wouldn't have had enough time to finish. But I try to take my harder courses in the off-season. I'm only in five classes now in the fall while we're in season to make it easier for myself."
Â
Still, graduating in three-and-half years is not something that every student, let alone a student athlete, can accomplish with ease. In fact, head women's soccer coach, Dave Lombardo, recognizes the rarity of Herndon's feat.
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"I have been coaching for 35 years and I have never had a player graduate in three-and-half years," Coach Lombardo said. "What she's doing is very, very rare. I don't know how many other athletes across the board have done that, so what she's doing is really remarkable. She's done a very good job of clearing the slate to really go after this goal--this life-long goal--of hers to play professionally. It gives you insight into what kind of person she is. She's very driven, very goal-oriented, very motivated, and laser focused," Coach Lombardo said.
Â
Herndon has cultivated her extreme dedication and motivation, as well as her athletic abilities during her four seasons as a Duke. In her tenure, Herndon tallied 37 goals and 27 assists, starting all 84 contests across her four-year career. She will go down as one of the best players in program history, after ending her career ranked fourth all-time at JMU in career goals, tied for fifth in career assists and tied for third in career points (101).
Â
With her craft nearly perfected and her academic requirements satisfied, Herndon is eager to play soccer professionally following graduation in December. Last May, Herndon was invited to play in the U-23 Women's National Team training camp, where she showcased her skills and dedication. The camp was held during finals week at JMU, so Herndon had to reschedule all seven of her exams and take each one early. It was then that all her hard work started to pay off.
Â
Herndon said, "It went really well. I guess they saw something in me because I got invited back for the trip to England with the U-23 National Team, and that was a really cool experience."
Â
While it is still too early to predict the draft exactly, Coach Lombardo feels certain that in the upcoming months, we can expect to see Herndon playing professionally, either in the NWSL or on a professional team overseas.
Â
"Right now she's projected to go somewhere in the second round [of the NWSL draft]," Coach Lombardo said. "I think it's safe to say next spring and next summer, she will definitely be playing professionally whether it's here in the United States or somewhere in Europe."
Â
In the meantime, Herndon plans to work hard, finish out her "easy" semester with five classes, and keep chasing her dream.
Â
Â
After only three-and-half years, Herndon will graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports and Recreation Management this December in order to clear her spring schedule, as she pursues her dream of playing soccer professionally.
Â
The National Women's Soccer League draft takes place in January, while try-outs for the NWSL and opportunities to play professionally in Europe both take place in the spring. By graduating a semester early, Herndon is making herself readily available to play soccer on the professional level.
Â
Getting to this point in her academic career, however, was not a smooth journey. While her teammates were taking a break from the strenuous life of college athletics, Herndon was loading up on extra credits and classes during the off-season and summer months.
Â
"The hardest thing was probably trying to figure out how to finish all my classes," Herndon said. "From the beginning I was taking five classes each semester so that helped out a lot. Last semester, though, I was in seven classes at one time. Over the summer I took 10 credits, which was probably the hardest thing."
Â
Herndon attributes some of her academic success to her field of study. In the Sports and Recreation Management major, she was only required to take 45 credits, 13 required classes, one practicum, and one internship.
Â
Herndon said, "I could've had a little bit of a harder major with more outside classes to do, and more studying, so my major kind of helped out with that. I did originally have a coaching minor but I had to drop that because I wouldn't have had enough time to finish. But I try to take my harder courses in the off-season. I'm only in five classes now in the fall while we're in season to make it easier for myself."
Â
Still, graduating in three-and-half years is not something that every student, let alone a student athlete, can accomplish with ease. In fact, head women's soccer coach, Dave Lombardo, recognizes the rarity of Herndon's feat.
Â
"I have been coaching for 35 years and I have never had a player graduate in three-and-half years," Coach Lombardo said. "What she's doing is very, very rare. I don't know how many other athletes across the board have done that, so what she's doing is really remarkable. She's done a very good job of clearing the slate to really go after this goal--this life-long goal--of hers to play professionally. It gives you insight into what kind of person she is. She's very driven, very goal-oriented, very motivated, and laser focused," Coach Lombardo said.
Â
Herndon has cultivated her extreme dedication and motivation, as well as her athletic abilities during her four seasons as a Duke. In her tenure, Herndon tallied 37 goals and 27 assists, starting all 84 contests across her four-year career. She will go down as one of the best players in program history, after ending her career ranked fourth all-time at JMU in career goals, tied for fifth in career assists and tied for third in career points (101).
Â
With her craft nearly perfected and her academic requirements satisfied, Herndon is eager to play soccer professionally following graduation in December. Last May, Herndon was invited to play in the U-23 Women's National Team training camp, where she showcased her skills and dedication. The camp was held during finals week at JMU, so Herndon had to reschedule all seven of her exams and take each one early. It was then that all her hard work started to pay off.
Â
Herndon said, "It went really well. I guess they saw something in me because I got invited back for the trip to England with the U-23 National Team, and that was a really cool experience."
Â
While it is still too early to predict the draft exactly, Coach Lombardo feels certain that in the upcoming months, we can expect to see Herndon playing professionally, either in the NWSL or on a professional team overseas.
Â
"Right now she's projected to go somewhere in the second round [of the NWSL draft]," Coach Lombardo said. "I think it's safe to say next spring and next summer, she will definitely be playing professionally whether it's here in the United States or somewhere in Europe."
Â
In the meantime, Herndon plans to work hard, finish out her "easy" semester with five classes, and keep chasing her dream.
Â
Players Mentioned
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