(Editor's Note: This is part of a series of stories of the RUDY Award finalists. Two winners – one male and one female – will be announced at the conclusion of the end of the R.UD.Y.S. Awards Banquet on Monday.
R.U.D.Y.S. stands for Recognition and celebration of University of Dayton student-athletes Year-end Showcase. It is hosted by the UD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dayton Athletics administration for the student-athletes to recognize individuals and teams for their accomplishments this past year.
These stories were written by students in Dr. Haozho Pu's HS 353 Sports Media class.)
Written by Matt Andres, Kevin Tedeschi, Emma Vargas, and Grace Burkholder
Emma Sparling, a senior golfer at the University of Dayton, has built a career defined by hard work, discipline, and steady progress, qualities that make her a strong candidate for the RUDY Awards.
Sparling, a communication management major from Plain City, Ohio, graduated from Dublin Jerome High School before continuing her academic and athletic career with the Flyers. Over four years, she has been a consistent contributor to the women's golf team, with her best season coming as a senior. During that season, she competed in 17 rounds over six events and posted a 78.94 scoring average.
Sparling's collegiate career reflects steady growth. As a junior, she represented Dayton at the inaugural Atlantic 10 Championship and was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after recording her first career top-10 finish at the Wofford Low Country Intercollegiate. Her academic achievements were also recognized with Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar honors.
Earlier in her career, Sparling earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors and multiple selections to the Commissioner's Honor Roll. She also recorded a season-low round of 75 at the Butler Fall Invitational.
In addition to her performance on the course, Sparling is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she works to strengthen the connection between student-athletes and the broader campus community. Outside of athletics, she enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, and reading, hobbies that reflect her balanced lifestyle.
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
A: Competitive, honest, and empathetic are the three words I'd use to describe myself.
Q: What does being a Flyer mean to you?
A: I think for me, personally, coming into school, everyone preaches about community. But our two golf teams are really close, and I don't think a lot of programs have that, not only with our teams individually but also collectively as a whole. From the athletic department to teams to just education in general. I think there is just a strong sense of community in Dayton, and I think that's what makes it so special.
Q: What is one of the most influential moments in your athletic career?
A: For me, I think it would be when I broke my back my freshman year and was forced to take a medical redshirt. So, being able to adapt and grow from that experience and be resilient, I think, taught me a lot of life lessons. But being able to go from that spot to the position that I am in now has been really impactful. It's just working hard and knowing there are going to be setbacks, but there can be improvements, and you can flourish.
Q: How has being a student-athlete contributed to your personal growth and development?
A: It's helped me a lot with time management and discipline. Balancing school, golf, and a social life has prepared me for the job market and building my resume.
Q: What are your future goals and aspirations after graduating from UD?
A: I'm going to travel around Europe for 5 weeks. And then, after that, I accepted a job in Charlotte, North Carolina, working for Cintas in their management trainee program.
Q: Has it been challenging to balance being an athlete and also a student at times throughout your 4 years at Dayton?
A: I think Dayton does a good job at helping us manage our time, but also we are missing class when we play on Mondays and Tuesdays, so being able to communicate with our professors is key to success.
Q: How do you handle pressure from competition, school, and expectations?
A: Just the social support that Dayton has given me has been really impactful on how we're able to handle pressure. If you don't perform to expectations, that's okay; just keep working… working hard, and eventually results will show.
